Mets: Top ten teams of all time

By Rich Sparago

Dec 31, 2016

Oct 21, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A detailed view of the World Series logo on the hat of New York Mets third baseman David Wright (5) after the New York Mets defeated the Chicago Cubs in game four of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

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What they did: Won the National League East with a 100-62 record

Key Players:

Tom Seaver (25-7, 2.21 ERA)

Jerry Koosman (17-9, 2.28 ERA)

Donn Clendenon (12 HR, 37 RBI-after June 15th acquisition)

Cleon Jones (.340 BA, 12 HR, 75 RBI)

What made them special: The Mets had been the laughing stock of baseball from 1962-1968. From nowhere, the Mets won their division, swept the favored Braves in the NLCS, and beat the heavily-favored Orioles in five games in the World Series.

While I was too young to have any recollection of the 1969 season, people still talk about the achievements of that group of Mets. The whole line about “putting a man on the moon before the Mets win a World Series” came true, as Neil Armstrong did his thing in July and the Mets completed theirs in October.

They relied on young starting pitching, and it’s interesting that this model has always been at the center of the organization’s success.

Number 2: 1969