Former New York Giants minority owner Joan Whitney Payson fronted a group that was awarded one of the first two expansion franchises in modern NL history. She was soon joined by two former New York Yankees officials, new GM George Weiss and field manager Casey Stengel. The name “Mets” was chosen in March 1961 over Rebels, Skyliners, NYBs, Burros (for the five boroughs), Continentals, Avengers, Jets and Islanders.

National League baseball returned to New York City for the first time since 1957 as the Mets opened their first season. On April 11, the Mets fell in their first game, 11-4 to the St. Louis Cardinals on the road, despite Gil Hodges hitting the first home run in franchise history. After the city threw a parade to welcome the team on April 12, the Mets opened at the Polo Grounds on April 13 but fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3. Their first win came on April 23 as Jay Hook tossed a complete game in 9-1 win over the Pirates on the road. The first home win in Mets history came on April 28 against the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-6.

The Mets played their first game at Shea Stadium, a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ron Hunt had the first Mets hit and scored the first run. The game also marked the debut of Mr. Met as an in-person mascot. The first Mets win at Shea came on April 19 when Al Jackson shutout the Pirates, 9-0. The Mets would call the ballpark home for 45 seasons. In July, the Mets hosted the MLB All-Star Game with Hunt as the first All-Star starter in team history.

Tom Seaver, Cy Young Award winner for 1969, retired each of the first 25 Chicago Cubs he faced before giving up a single to reserve outfielder Jim Qualls as the crowd of more than 59,000 looked on. Then 15-year-old Howie Rose kept score and reacted as most Mets fans did — “Dammit.”

After never placing higher than ninth place in the National League in their previous seven seasons, the “Miracle Mets” posted 100 wins and won the NL East. In the first ever National League Championship Series, the Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves, 3-0, and won the NL pennant!

The “Miracle Mets” shocked the baseball world by defeating the powerhouse Baltimore Orioles in the World Series, 4-1. World Series MVP Donn Clendenon hit three home runs including one in Game 5 to start a Mets rally. Other heroes included Tommie Agee, Ron Swoboda and Al Weis along with star pitchers Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Gary Gentry and Nolan Ryan. New York celebrated with a ticker tape parade that dwarfed the recent one thrown for the Apollo 11 astronauts.

On the day he received his 1969 Cy Young Award, Tom Seaver became the second pitcher in NL history to strike out 19 batters in a nine-inning game as the Mets defeated the San Diego Padres at home, 2-1. Seaver closed out the game in style, striking out the final 10 Padres he faced to preserve the narrow lead, the first pitcher in modern AL/NL history to punch out 10 straight batters. David Cone tied Seaver’s 19 strikeout franchise record in October 1991 with a one-hit performance.

Star reliever Tug McGraw famously coined the rallying cry “Ya Gotta Believe” as the Mets and manager Yogi Berra roared up the NL standings late in the regular season to earn the club’s second NL East division title. In the NLCS, the Mets pulled off a 3-2 upset over the mighty Cincinnati Reds for the team’s second NL pennant. The Mets put up a good fight against the Oakland Athletics in the 1973 World Series but ultimately lost in seven games.

Dwight Gooden, who was 20 years old during the 1985 season, became the only Mets pitcher to win the NL Pitching Triple Crown by leading the league in wins (24), ERA (1.53) and strikeouts (268). It was arguably the best pitching season in modern MLB history as his 12.2 Wins Above Replacement in 1985 remain the most by any pitcher since 1913.

After a franchise-record 108 wins and the team’s third NL East championship, the Mets defeated the Houston Astros, 4-2, in what many call the “Greatest NLCS of All Time”. Lenny Dykstra’s walk-off home run won Game 3 for the Mets. Dwight Gooden outdueled Nolan Ryan in Game 5. The incredible 16-inning Game 6 needed a 9th inning Mets rally to tie and incredible bullpen work by Rick Aguilera, Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco to lift the Mets to a 7-6 win and the team’s third NL pennant.

The Mets defeated the Boston Red Sox in the iconic 1986 World Series, 4-3. New York rallied from 0-2 down with outstanding pitching performances from Bob Ojeda and Ron Darling in Games 3 and 4 on the road. After a Game 5 loss, the Mets faced elimination in Game 6 in what became one of the most incredible games in baseball history. New York made three comebacks, capped off by Mookie Wilson’s dribbler in the 10th inning to score Ray Knight in a wild win at home, 6-5. World Series MVP Ray Knight’s home run put the Mets ahead in Game 7.

Howard Johnson (36 home runs, 32 stolen bases) and Darryl Strawberry (39 home runs, 36 stolen bases) became the first pair of teammates in baseball history to each have 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season. They remained the only MLB teammates to turn the trick until fellow Mets Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto did so in 2025.

Tom Seaver had his No. 41 retired in a pre-game ceremony. He was also inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame. Nicknamed “The Franchise,” Seaver remains the franchise leader in wins (198), strikeouts (2,541), complete games (171), shutouts (44) and Cy Young Awards (3). In 1992 he became the first player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame wearing a Mets cap.

Darryl Strawberry homered twice to lead the Mets to an 8-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at home for the teams 100th win of the season. It was the third 100-win season in team history and second in three seasons. The Mets also captured their fourth NL East crown that season, and Strawberry was voted runner-up for the NL MVP Award. He matched his then-club record of 39 home runs and earlier that year passed Dave Kingman (154) to become the team’s all-time home run leader, a mark he held until 2025.

After a 20-year absence from the Shea Stadium stands, Mr. Met was again a sight to see in Queens. Mr. Met has since remained a fixture at Mets home games. Mrs. Met (formerly Lady Met) returned briefly in 2003 and 2005 before returning full-time in 2013. The two have remained some of the most iconic mascots in baseball history. In 2007 Mr. Met was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame, and Mrs. Met has been nominated as well.

U.S. President Bill Clinton, Mrs. Rachel Robinson and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig all participated in ceremonies at Shea Stadium to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s breaking of the color barrier. In the ceremonies before the Mets game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Selig announced that the No. 42, would be retired across baseball, a first in North American pro sports.

It took an Al Leiter gem in a one-game playoff against the Cincinnati Reds, but the Mets returned to the postseason for the first time since 1988 as the Wild Card. The Mets defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Division Series, 3-1, thanks to late-game home runs from Edgardo Alfonzo in Game 1 and Todd Pratt in Game 4. New York dropped the NLCS to the Atlanta Braves but not before beating John Rocker in Game 4 and Robin Ventura’s 15th inning “Grand Slam Single” ended Game 5.

The Mets made the most of the club’s first consecutive playoff appearances with their fourth National League pennant. New York eliminated the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS, 3-1, behind heroes like John Franco, Darryl Hamilton, Benny Agbayani, Edgardo Alfonzo and Bobby Jones. In a 4-1 series win over the St. Louis Cardinals, NLCS MVP Mike Hampton won two game and tossed 16 shutout innings. Agbayani became the first Met to have a 12-game hitting streak in a playoff season.

In the first baseball game in New York City following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Mike Piazza hit a two-run home run in the 8th inning to lift the Mets to a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves. At a time when Shea Stadium was also being used to stage relief supplies and house first responders, Piazza’s home run lifted the city and the country.

With a 1st inning home run against the San Francisco Giants, Mike Piazza passed Carlton Fisk (351) for the most homers hit by a catcher in MLB history. Piazza ultimately hit 220 home runs with the Mets (200 as a catcher) and his 396 home runs by a backstop remains the most in MLB history.

Steve Traschel and three relievers combined on a four-hit shutout over the Florida Marlins at home, 4-0. José Valentín clubbed two home runs and Cliff Floyd made a diving catch in the 9th inning to secure the win. With the victory, the Mets clinched the NL East for the first time since 1988, the fifth division title in team history. The Mets swept the LA Dodgers in the NLDS but fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in a classic NLCS, 4-3, most remembered by Mets fans for Endy Chavez’s incredible catch in Game 7.

After closing out Shea Stadium in 2008 with a record four million fans, the Mets opened their new home at Citi Field. Just as they did for the final game at Shea, Tom Seaver delivered the ceremonial first pitch to Mike Piazza. David Wright had the first hit and first home run at the new ballpark, but the Mets fell to the San Diego Padres, 6-5. The first Mets win at Citi Field came two days later against the Padres behind Oliver Pérez’s pitching and Carlos Delgado’s hitting, 7-2.

Johan “No-han!” Santana threw the first no-hitter in franchise history in an 8-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. Santana pitched a complete game, recording 8 strikeouts and 5 walks on 134 pitches. Queens native Mike Baxter crashed into the wall in the 7th inning to track down a fly ball, injuring himself on the play but preserving the no-hitter. Ten years later, the second Mets no-hitter came — a combined effort of five pitchers!

Citi Field hosted the All-Star Game in 2013! It was just the second time the Mets hosted the Mid-Summer Classic and the first time since 1964. David Wright started at third base while Matt Harvey became the fourth Mets pitcher to start an All-Star Game. Harvey pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three. Wright had a hit in three at bats, though the National League fell to the American League, 3-0.

Led by “Captain America” David Wright, “The Dark Knight” Matt Harvey and “Thor” Noah Syndergaard, the Mets claimed their sixth NL East title and fifth National League pennant. Jacob deGrom won two games to lead the Mets over the LA Dodgers in the NLDS, 3-2. NLCS MVP Daniel Murphy became the first player to homer in six straight playoff games as the Mets dispatched the Chicago Cubs in a four-game sweep.

Mike Piazza became the second player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame wearing a Mets cap on his plaque. The star catcher was a 12-time All-Star (six with the Mets) and 10-time Silver Slugger Award winner (four with the Mets). On July 30, Piazza’s No. 31 was retired by the Mets, just the second player so honored.

David Wright was on a path to Cooperstown. His first nine seasons saw him average 26 home runs and 105 RBIs while earning two Gold Glove Awards for his defense at third base. But injuries, notably spinal stenosis, robbed him of the back half of his career. After missing more than two seasons, Captain America made a dramatic return to Citi Field for one final curtain call. The appreciative home crowd saluted Wright, who ended his career as the franchise leader in hits (1,777), RBIs (970), runs scored (949) and doubles (390).

Jacob deGrom became the 11th pitcher and first Met to win the Cy Young Award in consecutive years. In 2018, deGrom recorded the second-best ERA for a Mets pitcher in history as his 1.70 mark led the National League. He followed that effort with a National League-leading 255 strikeouts in 2019 and his second straight Cy Young Award. deGrom’s 2.52 career ERA remains the best in team history, and he is the only qualified pitcher in team history to average 10 or more strikeouts per 9 innings and the only one to allow less than 1 baserunner per inning.

Pete Alonso clubbed his 53rd home run of the season, setting an MLB record for the most by a rookie and a franchise record for any player in Mets history. Alonso beat the previous National League rookie record by 14 home runs and was named the NL Rookie of the Year. He also became the first Met to win the Home Run Derby outright at the MLB All-Star Game in July.

Long-time Mets fans Steve and Alex Cohen became the primary owners of the team, ending a long period of uncertainty and marking the return of the club to the elite in the National League. One of their first priorities was to reintroduce the team’s fans to its history, including commissioning a statue of Tom Seaver, re-opening the team’s Hall of Fame and liberalizing the team’s policy on retiring uniform numbers.

Mark Canha and James McCann homered, and Trevor Williams pitched six strong innings to lead the Mets to a 9-2 win over the Washington Nationals at home. It was the team’s 101st win of the season, marking the second highest total to that point in team history, trailing only the 1986 team. The Mets were led by All-Star Francisco Lindor, NL RBI leader Pete Alonso and NL batting champion Jeff McNeil.

In one of the most entertaining seasons in Mets history, the team came from 10 games under .500 to make the playoffs. The team rallied behind beloved McDonald’s mascot Grimace and danced to shortstop Jose Iglesias’s chart-topping hit “OMG.” The Mets didn’t qualify for the playoffs until the last day of the season and needed a stunning six-run rally late in the game to do so. New York defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card Series, 2-1, on a three-run go-ahead home run by Pete Alonso in Game 3. Francisco Lindor’s grand slam in Game 4 led the Mets to a 3-1 NLDS win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the first playoff matchup between the division rivals.

Pete Alonso crushed two home runs to pass Darryl Strawberry (252) for the most home runs in club history. The Mets hit six home runs and defeated the Atlanta Braves at home, 13-5. Alonso’s rise to the top of the charts was nothing short of meteoric as he reached the mark in 965 games or nearly one full season (141 games) sooner than Strawberry did. Alonso’s 264 home runs remain the franchise record.