Alright, so today I finally got around to this Mets history thing that’s been in the back of my mind. Honestly, I didn’t know much about the early Mets beyond they lost… a lot. But hey, gotta start somewhere, right?
Getting Started Was Kinda Messy
First thing I did? Typed “Mets 42” into my search bar. Big mistake! Half the results were about this year’s record or last season’s stats. Totally not what I wanted. I was trying to dig into the actual history, like the really old stuff. Figured I needed to be way more specific.
Started adding words like “key events” and “famous moments early Mets“. That helped a bit, but wow, some sites looked like they were built in the 90s. Tiny font, weird layouts. Kinda cool for nostalgia, but tough to read!
Stumbling Onto the Good Stuff
Eventually, hit a page talking about the team forming back in the early 60s. 1962! That’s where it all began. My notes started simple:
- Born in 1962 – Expansion team replacing the Giants and Dodgers leaving NYC. Tough shoes to fill right off the bat.
- First Game Ever: Lost to the Cardinals. Kinda sets the tone, doesn’t it?
- The Name: Short for Metropolitans. Okay, cool, didn’t know that was the full name.
Finding the Gold – Banner Day!
This was a total surprise. Kept seeing mentions of this thing called “Banner Day” popping up. Sounded weird. Dug a little deeper. Apparently, fans used to make these huge homemade banners and parade them across the field before the game at Shea Stadium. That sounds absolutely wild! Can you imagine letting thousands of fans with giant signs just walk around out there today? Different times, man. Found this amazing picture of this sea of people and banners – just chaos and pure fun. Definitely marked this down as a “key player moment” – well, player maybe not, but definitely a fan moment! Felt like I’d struck gold.
The “Miracle” Hit
Obviously, you can’t talk Mets history without hitting 1969. Everyone knows they won the World Series. Duh. But I wanted to find how it felt, you know? The build-up. Stumbled on stories about the “Black Cat Incident.” Basically, a black cat walked right near the Cubs’ dugout during a crucial series at Shea when the Cubs were leading the division. Mets fans went nuts seeing it as a huge curse against Chicago. The Mets swept that series! Superstition or not, it felt like a turning point. Then, finding footage of Cleon Jones catching the final out in the World Series… goosebumps. That celebration on the field looked pure joy. Wrote a note: “Pure magic moment – underdogs win everything.”
Wrapping It Up & What I Learned
After about an hour or two of clicking around, reading blurbs, and watching some super grainy old videos, I stepped back. My head was buzzing. The Mets weren’t just some team; their early history is full of these wild, almost unbelievable moments. Sure, they were terrible at first, but that just makes the ’69 win sweeter. The Banner Day thing especially blew my mind. Who knew fans basically had the run of the field like that?
Overall, it was kinda cool piecing it together. Learned it’s not always about knowing the big names right away, but finding those little weird moments – like a cat cursing a rival or a stadium full of homemade signs – that show the real heart of the team’s past. Definitely need to dig deeper on some of these later! Maybe find more stories from the actual players back then.