Appreciating an iconic NY Mets moment that tends to get overshadowed

September 30, 2024, was a day where the New York Mets managed to clinch a playoff berth on the final day of the MLB regular season. They weren’t even supposed to be there that day against the Atlanta Braves, but rain forced the NL East rivals to play a double-dip on Monday to determine who makes the playoffs and where.

Finishing with identical 89-73 records, the Mets took the first game to seal a playoff berth with Atlanta stealing the second to do the same for themselves. Because the Braves owned the tie-breaker over the Mets, they got the better Wild Card seed (not that it mattered). The Arizona Diamondbacks were then eliminated because the Mets and Braves each owned the tie-breaker over them.

In the top of the ninth with one out, Francisco Lindor hit one of the most important home runs in franchise history. He made an impending 7-6 loss an 8-7 game. While certainly memorable because of how recent it was, this crucial swing isn’t memorable for a couple of reasons.

Francisco Lindor’s clutch HR vs. the Braves quickly became less iconic

In the moment, it was exhilarating. Quickly, it became one of the lesser moments of the 2024 season. A home run in game 161 to send the Mets to the playoffs should be talked about daily.

A few things happened after. Because the Mets basically bowed to the Braves in game two and all each team needed was a win, we can figure the Mets had a chance to slink into the playoffs regardless of whether or not they won game one. The Mets just happened to choose the more fun route while the Braves collected their ticket almost by default.

Even so, bigger Mets moments were on the way.

Up against getting eliminated in Game 3 versus the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card round, the Mets received an even bigger home run out of Pete Alonso. 

The Lindor dinger had barely landed by the time Alonso gave us a season-saving home run that, without it, would have surely eliminated the Mets from the playoffs. Coming against Devin Williams as opposed to Pierce Johnson, there was an added bonus of defeating a pitcher with that kind of reputation.

The Mets survived Milwaukee and went on to face the Philadelphia Phillies. Apparently not wanting to be forgotten, Lindor crushed a grand slam to break a 1-0 game wide open. This, while not as dramatic as the homer in Atlanta, became his larger signature on the season.

It’s hard for any regular season home run to compare to one in the playoffs. Wilmer Flores’ in 2015 and Mike Piazza in 2001 had other implications than just the postseason. Bartolo Colon’s in 2016 was one that had to be seen to be believed.

Needed and memorable, Lindor’s home run in Atlanta sliding backwards in terms of favoritism just goes to show how much fun we all had with the team in 2024.

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