Every NY Mets playoff clinching date in team history

Achieving the initial goal of clinching a playoff spot represents a significant milestone for any New York Mets team. While winning it all is the ultimate goal, making it into the postseason brings a sense of accomplishment, validation, and a tangible reward for their efforts, even as the team still strives for the ultimate prize. It’s the road to the championship and as they say, you have to be in it to win it.

The Mets have punched their ticket to the postseason 11 times in their history. Each team was unique. Each time was celebrated. Each one created memories that will last for a lifetime.

September 24, 1969, Shea Stadium

The Miracle Mets clinched the NL East pennant for the first time, behind Gary Gentry's 6-0 shutout of St. Louis. The fans stormed the field and literally tore it to pieces. The team that had been known as the lovable losers had won 100 regular season games. They went on to beat the Atlanta Braves in the first ever NLCS and then defeated the Baltimore Orioles in 5 games to win the 1969 World Series.

October 1, 1973, Wrigley Field, Chicago

The Mets were in last place on August 30 but beat the Cubs 6-4 on a cold, gray Chicago day but yet still clinched the playoffs despite having a record of only 82-79. Behind Tug McGraw’s Amazing Mets rallying cry of “Ya Gotta Believe” they beat a 100-win Reds team in the first round highlighted by a Bud Harrelson-Pete Rose rumble but then lost the World Series to the A’s in 7 games.

September 17, 1986, Shea Stadium

With the Mets having a 20-game lead since June, this clinching seemed inevitable as well as a little anticlimactic. They beat the Astros in a nail biting six game NLCS, After the famous Mookie Wilson -Bill Buckner game 6 comeback, they went on to defeat the Red Sox in 7 games in one of the most celebrated World Series Championships of all time..

September 22, 1988, Shea Stadium (I was there)

Mets clinched the NL East with a 3-1 win over Philadelphia to cap a 100 win regular season. However, they were eliminated in the NLCS as the Dodgers won a decisive game seven, Orel Hershiser was the difference in this series as the Dodger pitcher either started or relieved in what seemed like almost every game,.

October 4, 1999, Cinergy Field, Cincinnati

The Mets faced the Reds in a one game playoff for the National League Wild Card spot as the two teams had finished the regular season with identical records. The Mets won this game 5-0 behind a magnificent 2-hit, complete game, shut out by lefty Al Leiter, truly a game that will live forever in NY Mets history, The Mets would beat the D-Backs in the NLDS but lose to the Braves in the NLCS.

September 27, 2000, Shea Stadium

The Mets secured the NL Wild Card with a 6-2 win over the Braves and clinching their spot in the playoffs. Their postseason would continue, winning the NL Pennant and reaching the World Series, However, they would lose to their crosstown rivals Yankees in 5 games in what became known as the Subway Series. This was the first time the Mets would reach the playoffs in back-to-back years.

September 18, 2006, Shea Stadium

The Mets clinched the NL East with a 4-0 win over the Marlins. They beat the Dodgers in the NLDS but lose to the Cardinals in the NLCS in 7 games. It was the last postseason to be played at Shea Stadium. The series ended with Carlos Beltran looking at a strike 3 pitch with the bases loaded. Ask any Mets fan and they’ll tell you all about it.

September 25, 2015, Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati

The Mets clinched the NL East title by defeating the Cincinnati Reds 10-2. Behind a young pitching staff, this team would go all the way to the World Series where the would unfortunately lose to the Royals in 5 games. This was the first postseason ever played at Citi Field.

October 1, 2016, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia (I was there)

In front of a somewhat friendly crowd (for Philadelphia) the Mets defeated the Phillies 5-3 to clinch a Wild Card playoff spot. The euphoria was short lived as the Giants, behind a 4-hitter from Madison Bumgarner, defeated the Mets 3-0 in a one game playoff only 4 days later.

September 19, 2022, American Family Field, Milwaukee

The Mets beat the Brewers 7-2 to clinch a playoff spot. The game was also pitcher Max Scherzer’s 200 career win. This would eventually become a Wild Card spot as the 101-win Mets team faltered down the stretch, lose a tie breaker for the division to the Braves, and were quickly eliminated in the Wild Card round by the Padres.

September 30, 2024, Truist Park, Atlanta

The Mets clinched a playoff berth with a dramatic 8-7 comeback victory against the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of a doubleheader. The playoff-clinching moment was sealed by a walk-off, two-run, ninth-inning home run from Francisco Lindor. They went on to defeat the Brewers and Phillies before eventually losing to the Dodgers in the NLCS, 

Will the locker room champagne flow again this season? As Tug McGraw would say "Ya Gotta Believe!"