NY Mets: 3 most memorable games with the black jerseys

The New York Mets are bringing the black jerseys back! However you feel about them: excitement, disgust, or apathy, you do have to admit there was a time when some huge Mets moments took place in the darkened uniforms.

Although the lifespan of the black uniforms included some lean years, they came around just as the team was getting competitive in the late 1990s.

The black jerseys have been worn during some memorable franchise moments. Bobby Valentine’s “disguise game”, Robin Ventura’s impression of Mike Piazza during the rain delay, and even some record-setting events such as Piazza’s home run to make him the all-time leader for catchers. I’m not going to consider those for this list because those are moments from games we don’t really remember much about. Instead, I would like to focus on the big blackout games.

October 17, 1999 – Mets win on Robin Ventura’s walk-off grand slam single

Easily one of the most memorable playoff moments in Mets history that had nothing to do with actually clinching, the Game 5 walk-off grand slam single off the bat of third baseman Robin Ventura had an opportunity to be a major momentum shifter.

After losing the first three games to the Atlanta Braves, the Mets came won Game 4 to stay alive. In Game 5, it took them until the 15th inning to finally take the victory.

It all started with a Shawon Dunston single and a stolen base. A walk, a sacrifice bunt, and an intentional walk loaded the bases for Todd Pratt. Trailing 3-2, the Mets desperately needed a run. Pratt patiently waited for his pitch to hit and never got it. Instead, he drew a bases loaded walk.

This brought Ventura to the plate where he famously smacked one over the center field wall for a grand slam! Except, his teammates mobbed him in between first and second base nullifying the opportunity to cross home plate.

The Mets won 4-3 and managed to stay alive for another night.

October 8, 2000 – Bobby Jones throws a one-hitter in the NLDS

About a year after the grand slam home run, the Mets found themselves in a much different position. Rather than being one game away from elimination, they were one game away from advancing to the next round.

It was on October 8, 2000 when Bobby Jones took the mound versus the San Francisco Giants. The Mets led the best of 5 series 2-1 and were looking to advance to the NLCS for the second straight year. They had an opportunity to do it at Shea Stadium.

Jones threw 116 pitches for the Mets. Not dazzling in the box score with only 5 strikeouts and a pair of walks, the number that stands out is the single hit Jones allowed.

This happened in the top of the fifth when Jeff Kent led off the inning with a double. The Mets were up 2-0 at the time and the Giants were threatening. Jones managed to get a fly out, walk a batter, get another fly out, and then walk another batter to load the bases. A pop out from pitcher Mark Gardner ended the inning and gave Jones his only non-perfect inning of the game.

The Mets tacked on two more runs and went into the ninth with a 4-0 lead and the top of the Giants order coming up. Naturally, the game ended with Barry Bonds at the plate. Instead of extending the game at least another batter, Bonds lined out to end the game and put Jones in rarified air.

Although it wasn’t a no-hitter, this was one of best-pitched postseason games in club history. It all happened with the Mets wearing black.