Reversal of Misfortune...A Mets Dynasty

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Giants swept Baltimore in the 1977 World Series, outscored them 20-7, in the four-game set.

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Have to admit, didn't see this one coming...yet. Thought he had a few more years left in him. A massive hole to fill in our rotation. Wilbur exceded expectations during his time in Flushing and the Mets are forever grateful for his contributions to our dynamic level of success.

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His numbers were outstanding, including a pair of Cy Young Awards. The organization's decision to retire his number instantly upon his retirement speaks volumes to his impact on the Mets and his influence in five World Series titles.

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LF Warren Cromartie was the recipient of a Gold Glove.


Bruce Sutter becomes latest Met to win Fireman of the Year in the NL.


P Steve Carlton, 2B Joe Morgan and CF Ron LeFlore all earned Silver Slugger Awards.

And, Nolan Ryan wins the NL Cy Young Award.

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If so, pass it over to the Mets, who just took a bath at the arbitration hearings.

Players go 7-1 at the bargaining table with Charlie Hough being the only one who was ruled against.

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Mets have offered free agent RHP Burt Hooton a five-year deal worth $4.95 million. Awaiting his response.

Hooton's initial asking price was eight years at $8.8 million.

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A nine-game winning streak fuels Mets to the top of the NL East at the end of April.


Offense is humming


Numbers on the bump

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Despite a spiraling seven-game losing streak, which included a three-game sweep in Philadelphia that temporaritly vaulted the Phillies into first place, the Mets regained form and reclaimed first place by the end of May 1978.

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Reggie Smith was such an instrumental piece in our championship run and letting him go during free agency was a tough decision.

He's making that choice sting over in the American League.

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If you recall, we offered Burt Hooton during free agency period.

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For the second time in three years, 2B Joe Morgan has suffered a significant injury that will most likely take him out of the picture for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs.

Morgan suffered a broken hand on Aug. 21 and the recovery time is anywhere from two to three months.His absence is a morale buster as the Mets gradually point their attention toward closing out the division.

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One day after losing Joe Morgan, George Brett suffers a mild abdominal strain and is listed as day to day.

In the meantime, what was once an 11 1/2-game cushion is slowly shrinking.

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How much can we take?

Nolan Ryan (18-8, 2.49 ERA) has a strained elbow and is expected to miss the next three weeks, meaning the balance of the regular season and, most likely, the first round of the playoffs.

Mets are limping into the home stretch put together with rubber bands and paper clips.

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Another day at the infirmery. Add closer Bruce Sutter to our MASH unit. This is unreal.

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It came at the expense of some big pieces, but the Mets did secure another NL East title.

It will be New York vs. Los Angeles in the NL and Detroit vs. Oakland in the AL.

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Nolan Ryan exhibited grit over seven exceptional innings and Jim Rice delivered a timely, long-ball swing to push the Mets to a 5-2 victory over Los Angeles in Game 1 of the NLCS in Chavez Ravine.

Ryan yielded two runs on four hits and fanned seven to earn the decision. Late-season acquisition Mike Scott threw scoreless innings of relief to nail down the outcome.

The Mets loaded the bases in the top of the third and Rice emptied them with a grand slam to stake New York to a 4-0 edge.

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Vida Blue tied the Dodgers up in knots over eight quality frames and flaunted his bat work as well as the Mets scored a 5-2 victory to sweep the first two games of the 1978 NLCS in Los Angeles.

Blue's RBI single in the fourth snapped a 1-1 tie and the Mets led for the balance of the contest.

Johnny Bench, who had been in the depths of a chilly spell at the plate, snapped out with two hits, including an opposite-field, solo home run in the eighth. Ron LeFlore added a homer with the bases empty, part of a 4-for-5 performance.

Series heads back to Shea.

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Tom Seaver went the distance, series MVP Jim Rice picked up a pair of hits and drove in a run and Johnny Bench proved once more his value in the post season as the Mets completed a sweep of the Dodgers in the 1978 NLCS with a punctuating 6-1 win.

Seaver scattered four hits, fanned eight and walked a pair to pocket the decision.

New York scored four times in the fifth - all with two outs - to break a 1-1 deadlock. Seaver sparked the rally with a base hit and eventually scored when Rice lined a single up the middle. A two-run double from Bench was backed with an RBI triple by George Brett.

The Mets move in pursuit of their sixth world championship but face a tall order in the Detroit Tigers, who swept past the Oakland A's in the ALCS.

Game 1 matchup