NY Mets: Three worst heartbreaking pitches thrown in franchise history

A single swing can change the course of a season, a team, and of MLB history. The same is true for a lone pitch. Unfortunately, not every ball thrown by a New York Mets pitcher did what it was supposed to do.

In the franchise’s history, there have been some incredibly memorable catches, home runs, and walk-off victories. I’d like to dive into the darker side of Mets lore and focus on some heartache.

These three pitches delivered from the mound to home plate were supposed to go differently for the Metropolitans. Instead, they live in infamy.

Reggie Jackson has his Mets revenge in the 1973 World Series

There is a lot of history to this Mets pitch. It all began in 1966 when the Mets drafted Steve Chilcott first overall. Selected right behind him was Reggie Jackson, the future Hall of Famer.

As it has been told, the Mets didn’t draft Jackson for the most backward reason of all: his race. It’s a scar on the history of the franchise.

Jackson did have his revenge. Chilcott is known as one of the biggest draft busts of all-time while Jackson remains a legendary slugger. He got his direct revenge on the Mets in the 1973 World Series on one poor pitch from Jon Matlack.

The Miracle Mets of 1973 took the series against the Oakland Athletics all the way to Game 7. Mets starter Jon Matlack was sailing smoothly until the third inning. A two-run shot by Bert Campaneris opened up the scoring. Three batters later, Jackson put the game a little more out of reach.

With one on and two out, Jackson drove a pitch from Matlack over the outfield wall for the second two-run home run of the inning. Like that, the Athletics led 4-0. It was the last pitch Matlack threw that day.

New York went on to lose the game 5-2.

Jeurys Familia’s quick-pitch gone wrong

A slight change from the other bad pitches in Mets history on this list, this one came in Game 1 of the World Series. The Mets had plenty of time to overcome it. They weren’t able to.

The Mets went into the final inning leading the Kansas City Royals 4-3. Closer Jeurys Familia entered, prepared to record the final three outs. New York would lead 1-0. With their pitching, there was a chance they could win the whole thing.

After retiring Salvador Perez, Familia worked a 1-1 count to outfielder Alex Gordon. Getting a little too “cute” for his own good, Familia tried a quick-pitch.

Gordon wasn’t fooled. He nailed a line drive home run to tie the game up at 4. It’s a pitch that still aches for many Mets faithful.

The game did continue into the night. It was an Eric Hosmer sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 14th inning against Bartolo Colon which eventually sealed the win for the Royals.

Familia’s quick-pitch certainly didn’t cost the Mets the game. They had opportunities to come back and never did.

The first flaw shown by Familia in the 2015 postseason, it’s one of those moments we think of first whenever his name scrolls across our eyes. He told us to hold his beer the very next year when he gave up a three-run home run in the ninth to Conor Gillaspie. Those were the only three runs surrendered by either team in the game.

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Which other Mets pitches live in infamy in your mind?