The 3 best Mets moments against the Reds in team history

The New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds have a somewhat colorful history. They have had some very popular players who have spent time with both clubs…including Art Shamsky, John Franco, Ray Knight, George Foster, and, of course, Tom Seaver.

And when you share that kind of history, there are bound to be some moments that immediately come to mind. Well…these two clubs have had a number of matchups that have led to some of the most memorable moments in Mets history.

Probably the most memorable moment of any New York Mets fan, that involved the Cincinnati Reds, is the clash in the 1973 NLCS

The Mets had been decimated by injuries and had a down year. But they managed to rally back in a weak Eastern Division so that they could meet up with the Big Red Machine, now heavily favored to run right over the Mets in the NLCS.

The problem was that the Mets had a lot of momentum on their side…and a lot of fight left in them.

The fight that people most remember is the battle between Pete Rose and Bud Harrelson in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.

The Reds and Mets had split the first two games of the Series at Riverfront Stadium. They were able to squeak past Tom Seaver in Game 1, winning 2-1, but were shut out by Jon Matlack while getting wacked 5-0 in Game 2.

The Big Red Machine was being completely shut down by the Mets superior pitching while the Mets offensive was showing similar superiority. The Mets scored 5, 7, and 9 runs in the games they won, while the Reds were held to a total of 8 runs in the five games.

It’s unfortunate that most fans and the media don’t actually recognize the dominance the Mets showed over the Reds over the entire Series and, instead, the focus almost always remains on the fight between Harrelson and Rose.

The New York Mets battled the Cincinnati Reds in 1986 in one of the strangest games in Mets history

The 1986 season was exciting…it was a bit crazy…and gave fans a season to remember. And on July 22, 1986, the Mets had a game to remember, one that truly stands out in that special season.

The Mets were already dominating the National League and were intent on making a statement…no matter how they had to do it.

In a bizarre move, Red player/manager Pete Rose sent himself up to pinch hit in the bottom of the 10th inning in a tie game at Riverfront Stadium. Rose would get a single and send Eric Davis in to pinch run. When Davis when hard with a slide into third baseman Ray Knight, the former Red, Knight took objection and all hell broke loose.

A number of ejections took place and the Mets would be shorthanded….short of position players to be on the field.

In the end, Gary Carter would remove the gear and have to play third base, with Ed Hearn replacing him behind the plate. And manager Davey Johnson would have relief pitchers Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell alternating between right field and the pitcher’s mound.

Believe it or not, whether it was just that kind of season, the Mets would shine. Orosco and McDowell would alternate and field their position – in right field – flawlessly. Keith Hernandez would make the play that has become an eternal highlight reel, charging hard for a bunt, fielding it on the run, throwing it to Carter covering at third base who would then relay it on to second baseman Tim Teufel covering at first to complete a double play.

Howard Johnson would hit a three-run homer in the top of the 14th inning that would hold up and the Mets would win 6-3.