5 most surprising Mets playoff heroes in franchise history

Todd Pratt #7
Todd Pratt #7 / Al Bello/GettyImages
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Donn Clendenon winning the 1969 World Series MVP might have been only a slight surprise. The biggest trade deadline acquisition by the New York Mets in the year they would win their first championship, he was meant to do big things for them down the stretch and into the postseason.

The same thing happened with Ray Knight in 1986 before he won the World Series MVP. Certainly a hero of the postseason, it doesn’t quite much up with some other iconic Mets heroes who seemed to come from out of nowhere.

It’s these five Mets who we should look at most as the surprising playoff heroes the franchise has gotten big hits, big catches, and huge moments from.

1) NY Mets get a big home run from Al Weis in 1969

Of all the people to hit a home run for the Mets in the World Series, Al Weis was probably the last one anyone suspected. It was in the bottom of the 7th with two outs when Weis hit a home run to help tie the game against the Baltimore Orioles up 3-3.

The Mets would then score two more in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead for good before closing out the game and winning a World Series.

Exactly what makes this home run so impressive? Weis did, after all, have a pair of dingers in the regular season in 269 trips to the plate. In 800 career games, he only ever rounded the bases 7 times in the regular season. His one postseason home run couldn’t have come at a better time.

2) NY Mets backup catcher Todd Pratt hits a walk-off home run

The year was 1999 and the Mets were finally back in the playoffs. Mike Piazza was out with an injury. In stepped Todd Pratt to replace the most irreplaceable member of the roster.

The Mets were hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS with a 2-1 series lead. A win and they’d advance. It was Pratt who, in the bottom of the 10th with one out, took a Matt Mantei pitch over the wall. It gave the Mets a win.

Pratt was a much more impactful offensive player than Weis was during his time in the league. However, backup catchers are like the second-string quarterbacks. You don’t expect much from them. When they do deliver, it’s a moment that lives forever.

3) NY Mets pitcher Bobby Jones tosses a one-hitter in 2000

It was Bobby Jones who took the mound in the 2000 NLDS to help try and seal a victory for the Mets. They were, for the second straight year, up 2-1 in the series. This time, their opponent was the San Francisco Giants. Could they win and advance yet again?

Jones pulled off one of the most impressive NLDS starts in franchise history. A one-hit gem made it an easy day for the Mets—more so their fans. The win was absolute clutch as it helped seal the series.

The Mets didn’t even have home field advantage and they even lost the opener of this NLCS matchup. Behind Jones, who was far from the best pitcher on this World Series-bound ball club, they were feeling a little more confident in just how far they could go.

4) Greatest catch in NY Mets history belongs to Endy Chavez

A little deeper into the postseason than the Pratt home run or the Jones start came the greatest defensive play in Mets history. It was left fielder Endy Chavez who instantly became a Mets postseason hero.

It was on the top of the 6th in the 2006 NLCS Game 7 when Chavez leaped up and stole a two-run home run away from Scott Rolen. Not only that, Jim Edmonds was convinced he’d get a chance to score on the play. He was doubled up at first base following Chavez’s near-franchise altering catch.

Sadly, the Mets went on to lose this game in a hugely disappointing fashion with the bases loaded. Nevertheless, Chavez became a Mets playoff hero forever.

5) NY Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy finds new power

There wasn’t a singular moment from Daniel Murphy in the 2015 postseason that stands out as much as his constant home run barrage does. Murphy was a secondary participant to the Mets for many years leading up to the 2015 campaign. While he did have some good season prior, it was his 2015 playoff run fans enjoyed most.

Murphy swatted 3 home runs in the NLDS and another 4 in the NLCS. He drove in 11 total runners with batting averages of .333 and .529.

The 2015 Mets were much more known for their young pitching but it was Murphy’s bat that made the biggest difference on their journey to the World Series. He may not have hit much at all in the World Series. However, it’s those two

Next. Best walk-off home runs in Mets history. dark

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