New York Mets

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Lore & Background

The Mets were founded in 1962 after the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants relocated to California. The team's nickname 'Mets' is a shorthand for the 'New York Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc.', referencing the earlier 'Metropolitans' team. In their inaugural season, the Mets posted a record of 40–120, the second-most regular-season losses since MLB went to a 162-game schedule. The 'Miracle Mets' defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the 1969 World Series, considered one of the biggest upsets in World Series history despite the Mets having won 100 games that season. The Mets have qualified for the postseason eleven times, winning the World Series twice (1969 and 1986) and winning five National League pennants (most recently in 2000 and 2015), and six National League East division titles.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Richard Gardner's time between these two teams centers on a specific transaction in June 1967. After starting that season in the minors, he was shipped to the Chicago Cubs on June 12 in exchange for a minor league player to be named later and pitcher Bob Hendley. His tenure in Chicago lasted only one season, during which he went 0–2 with a 3.98 ERA. This brief stint ended just prior to the start of the 1968 season when he was traded again, this time from the Cubs to the Cleveland Indians for Bobby Tiefenauer. The source does not describe any specific games between the Mets and Cubs during this era, nor does it mention fan reactions or stadium atmospheres related to a rivalry; it strictly records Gardner's statistical output and movement between organizations.

Reader's Guide

For the 1962 and 1963 seasons, the Mets played home games at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan before moving to Queens. From 1964 to 2008, the Mets played their home games at Shea Stadium, named after William Shea, the founder of the Continental League. Since 2009, the Mets have played their home games at Citi Field next to the site where Shea Stadium once stood. Since 2020, the Mets have been owned by billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen, who purchased the team for $2.4 billion. As of 2025, Forbes ranked the Mets as the sixth most valuable MLB team, valued at $3.2 billion. As of the end of the 2025 regular season, the team's overall win–loss record is 4,899–5,227–8 (.484).

Did You Know?

• The Mets' colors evoke the blue of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the orange of the New York Giants.
• The Mets were founded in 1962 as one of baseball's first expansion teams.
• The 'Miracle Mets' won the 1969 World Series against the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles.
• The Mets have won two World Series titles (1969 and 1986) and five National League pennants.