NY Mets World Series teams ranked: Who was truly great and who got lucky?

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OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 1973: John Milner #28 of the New York Mets slides into third base against the Oakland Athletics during the World Series in October 1973 at The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Athletics won the series 4-3. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

The New York Mets have sent five teams to the World Series as of 2021. It’s not a bad number. Fans surely hoped for more.

The team has won a pair of championships and seen three instances where they were the first-place loser. Among those five teams to make it to the World Series, which ones got lucky and which were truly great?

We’ll start with the former.

5) 1973 Mets

The National League East was competitive with no one but each other in 1973. At 82-79, the Mets were able to squeak by the 81-81 St. Louis Cardinals. That’s right. Out of all of the teams in the division, only the Mets won more than they lost.

It was a year of injuries and stellar starting pitching. Cleon Jones was limited to 92 games and Jerry Grote played in 84.

Only John Milner, with 23, hit more than 20 home runs. Rusty Staub led the squad with 76 RBI and Felix Millan, thanks to his 185 hits, scored a team-best 82 runs. Looking over their offensive output, this was not a team to win it all.

Pitching came through for the team. Tom Seaver won the Cy Young but he had help from Jerry Koosman, Jon Matlack, and George Stone behind him. The bullpen, while not phenomenal, was usually reliable.

Although they are my “worst Mets team to appear in the World Series,” this team did take down the Big Red Machine in the NLCS and came a victory away from winning the whole thing in the World Series versus the Oakland Athletics.

Baseball was a little different back then. This Mets team had a little extra grit and chemistry.

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 30: Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets pitches against the Kansas City Royals during Game Three of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field on October 30, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

4) 2015 Mets

A team younger Mets fans adore, the 2015 squad has some similarities with the 1973 one. This team was not a powerhouse by any stretch. It wasn’t until late in the year when it became apparent they had a shot to win.

Trade deadline acquisitions of Yoenis Cespedes and several relief pitchers put them in prime position to go far. Add in their elite-level starting pitching, it’s clear why the 2015 Mets were able to go as far as they did.

None of the regular season numbers from the offense are stupendous. Only what Cespedes did in the final two months are somewhat jaw-dropping and even those overall statistics are only home run-heavy. If anything, Cespedes was more clutch and able to turn the mindset of the team around.

The pitching, on the other hand, remains one of the best group of starters we have seen. Highlighting the efforts were Jacob deGrom (14-8, 2.54 ERA), Matt Harvey (13-8, 2.71 ERA), and Noah Syndergaard (9-7, 3.24 ERA). Even Steven Matz (4-0, 2.27 ERA) put together a memorable season, albeit, a much shorter one because of the time when he did eventually get called up.

A little lost in the 2015 season, the Mets also received 14 wins and a 4.16 ERA from their team leader in innings pitched, Bartolo Colon. Jon Niese added 9 more victories and pitched to a 4.13 ERA.

There was a lot to like about the 2015 Mets, however, much of the magic didn’t begin until the final three months, including October. Their trip to the World Series was well-deserved, but three other pennant winners were better.

The team would go on to lose to the Kansas City Royals in the World Series in part because of some huge mistakes on the mound and in the field. Many hoped this was the beginning of several trips to the World Series. Unfortunately, the team hasn’t won a playoff game since.

The New York Mets celebrate their shutout over the St. Louis Cardinals in game five of the National League Championship Series 16 October, 2000 at Shea Stadium in New York. The Mets won the game 7-0 to take the series 4-1. AFP PHOTO Henny Ray ABRAMS (Photo by HENNY RAY ABRAMS / AFP) (Photo by HENNY RAY ABRAMS/AFP via Getty Images) /

3) 2000 Mets

The 2000 Mets were the first in my lifetime to actually make it to the World Series. They came close a year earlier in 1999 when they suffered a tough loss to the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. Fortunately, they didn’t have to face the Braves this time. Instead, they rolled through the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals on their way to the World Series against the New York Yankees.

Of course, the Mets fell to the Yankees and all of the good times came to an end. Despite the heartbreak, the 2000 team was the third-best in club history to ever make it to the World Series.

What made the 2000 Mets team so special was their incredible balance both on offense and on the mound. Mike Piazza and Edgardo Alfonzo both had memorable years at the plate. Add in the production from the rest of the regulars, we have one of the better offensive teams in club history.

The pitching staff was vastly improved from the year prior. Five starters won double-digit games. In his one season with the club, Mike Hampton went 15-10 with a 3.14 ERA. Lefty Al Leiter was 16-8 with a 3.20 ERA.

I’ve written about the 2000 Mets a lot on Rising Apple and I am convinced this team had what it takes to win a championship. Match them up with a team other than the dynasty Yankees, people in their 20s might have a World Series in their memory.

Scenes from the final game of the 1969 World Series between the NY Mets and the Baltimore Orioles. October 16, 1969World Series Ny Final Game Oct16 1969 21 /

2) 1969 Mets

Finally, a championship team! The 1969 Mets did the impossible. They won the whole darn thing in a decade full of losing seasons.

The team swept the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS then won against the Baltimore Orioles 4-1 in the World Series. An underdog through much of the year, this Mets team was exactly that: a team.

The offense was far from dynamic yet they always seemed to find a way to score just enough runs to win. Cleon Jones hit .340 for them while Tommie Agee led the team in home runs (26) and RBI (76). Those two were the lone men on the roster to score more than 50 runs.

Truly a team built on starting pitching, this club had a lot of depth on the mound both in the rotation and bullpen. Tom Seaver had one of his greatest seasons, going 25-7 with a 2.21 ERA. Jerry Koosman was awesome, too. He was 17-9 with a 2.28 ERA.

I don’t think I need to go through every single number to make the point that this 100-win team was a great one. This was a team that you would never guess on paper had what it took to go as far as they did. A few lucky bounces, great managing, and top-tier pitching helped make them the second-best World Series team in Mets history.

FLUSHING, NY – OCTOBER 27, 1986: Ray Knight #22 of the New York Mets being interviewed by Marv Albert after the Mets win Game 7 of the 1986 World Series against the Boston Red Sox in Shea Stadium on October 27, 1986 in Flushing, New York. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) /

1) 1986 Mets

No surprises here, the only team left to choose from is the one from 1986. The second Mets team to win the World Series, they are the best group of the Amazins to ever appear in the championship round. For the record, they are the best team in Mets history.

I find it impossible to argue against this 108-win team. The position players were a mix of high-average guys, sluggers, and elite-fielders. No shortage of leadership, this New York ball club had plenty of star power.

From the long home runs by Darryl Strawberry to the Gold Glove defense from Keith Hernandez to the perfect platoon of Lenny Dykstra and Mookie Wilson in center field, what’s not to love?

The starting pitchers, ranging from 21-28 years old, were young and talented. All five of the guys to make 20+ starts won double-digit games and lost 7 games or less. I know people like some of the other World Series rotations but this one feels unmatched.

The romance fans have today with the 1986 Mets continues to burn. They had so many all-time franchise greats, you could make an argument that eight position players are top five at the place they played most often. Four of the starters are also top-ten-worthy.

Next. 15 greatest starting pitchers in Mets history

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I’m sure you already knew the 1986 Mets were the top-ranked ones on this list. The most recent to give fans a parade, they were a wild bunch that fans who weren’t even born yet still enjoy reminiscing about.

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5) 1973 Mets

4) 2015 Mets

3) 2000 Mets

2) 1969 Mets

1) 1986 Mets

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