The 1986 Mets are one of just three National League teams (the other two are the 1975 champion Cincinnati Reds and the 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers) to have won twice as many games as lost in the regular season since 1909.

[1] Darryl Strawberry and Ron Darling made their debuts in 1983, followed by Dwight Gooden and Sid Fernandez in 1984, and Lenny Dykstra and Roger McDowell in 1985.

The Mets hired Davey Johnson to manage the ballclub in 1984, resulting in a solid season with 90 victories and a second-place finish.

In the 1985–86 offseason, general manager Frank Cashen brought in Tim Teufel, a right-handed hitting infielder from the Minnesota Twins and Bob Ojeda, a left-handed pitcher from the Boston Red Sox.

The 1986 New York Mets held spring training at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida for the 25th season.

The Mets had a rocky start with a 2–3 record (including two extra-inning losses to the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies respectively).

Dwight Gooden's first half performance was good enough for him to earn the honor of being named starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star Game in the Astrodome.

In the top of the ninth, Dave Parker dropped the ball that could have been the final out for the Reds, allowing the Mets to tie the game.

Former Mets favorite Lee Mazzilli was resigned after Pittsburgh released him, filling Foster's spot in the roster.

During the series, Mets fans at Veterans Stadium became unruly and damaged seats in the upper deck (the 700 level).

[21] The Phillies ended up being the only team in the league to post a winning record against the Mets, going 10–8, with a 7–2 mark at Veterans Stadium.

[25] The Mets went 21–11 during the final two months to end the season with a record of 108-54 while winning the NL East division by 21.5 games.

= Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; SV = Saves October 8 (Astrodome, Houston) October 9 (Astrodome, Houston) October 11 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York) October 12 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York) October 14 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York) October 15 (Astrodome, Houston) NL New York Mets (4) vs. AL Boston Red Sox (3) One of the most famous games in baseball history is Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

Reliever Calvin Schiraldi had loaded the bases with one out and had a 3–0 count on Carter, who swung away at the next pitch to hit the fly ball.

In the ninth inning, after a walk and an error put two men on with nobody out, Howard Johnson was sent to the plate to sacrifice the winning run to third.

In the top of the 10th inning, Dave Henderson homered to pull the Sox within three outs of a world championship, and Barrett singled in Wade Boggs to make it a 5–3 lead.

Before his at-bat, Mitchell was on the phone in the locker room making plane reservations to fly home to San Diego, thinking the game was over.

He had already gotten out of his uniform and was in street clothes, and, when he was told he was batting, got off the phone and hurriedly got dressed, not even bothering to put his cup back on.

[citation needed] The Red Sox replaced Schiraldi with Bob Stanley to face left fielder Mookie Wilson.

Bill Buckner, with his chronic bad ankles and knees, moved to field the ball in an effort to beat the speedy Wilson to first base, and finish the inning.

Infielders Outfielders Catcher Pitchers Coach LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Columbia[28] ESPN 30 for 30 released a four-part documentary on the 1986 Mets entitled Once Upon a Time in Queens,[29] in September 2021.