Remembering Mets History (1986) World Series Game #7

Monday October 27, 1986 World Series- Game #7- Shea Stadium, NY: After the unbelievable Game Six comeback, the Mets and their fans couldn’t wait to play Game #7. It was understood in New York that there was just no way the Mets could lose. Confidence was at an all-time high.

from centerfield: My story first: It rained on Sunday and the game was postponed until Monday. My Game #6 ticket has a seven strategically placed on it in an attempt to get in, it didn’t work. I was determined to get in to this game, I had to be there as the Mets were going to win a World Series.

After many attempts, I finally bribed a ticket taker with a ten-dollar bill wrapped around a lot of ones. He said he had let to many people in that way in already, but I said there’s a lot of money here, he took it & he let me in. A good man to me. I wasn't greedy as I ecstatically ran up the escalator, to the upper deck. Somehow, I found the only empty seat in Shea Stadium that night and I was there for the entire game.

Mets manager Davey Johnson sent Ron Darling to the mound for his third World Series start. In his first two games Darling was outstanding; he did not allow an earned run in 14 innings of work. He had allowed seven hits with 12 strike outs & nine walks going 1-1. He took a heart-breaking loss in Game #1 on an unearned run, by Tim Teufel's error.

Tonight, the Sox sent Bruce Hurst to the mound, Hurst had pitched well in two Series starts & kept the Mets bats quiet, giving up just two runs in 17 innings giving up 14 hits with 14 strike outs & six walks.

After a quiet 1st inning, the Red Sox struck.

In the top of the 2nd, Darling got into trouble giving up back-to-back HRs to Dwight Evans & Rich Gedman to start the inning. A walk to Dave Henderson, a sacrifice bunt & a single from Wade Boggs quickly made it 3-0 Boston.

In the home 2nd, the Mets got a base hit from Ray Knight but that was it. Both teams went down in order in the 3rd inning.

In the 4th, Darling hit Dave Henderson with a pitch & with two outs Davey Johnson came out & removed Darling. On the night he gave up three runs on six hits, walked one & didn't strike any one out. But in 17 innings pitched in the World Series, he only gave up those three earned runs, good for a 1.53 ERA.

The turning point of the game came right here in that 4th inning when Sid Fernandez came on to pitch.

"El Sid" who had not gotten a start in the World Series would shut down the Sox through the 6th inning, retiring seven batters in a row.

In the 5th inning, Fernandez struck out Jim Rice & Dwight Evans. Fernandez struck out four of the eight batters he faced.

He walked off the mound to a standing Shea ovation to end the top of the 6th inning.

Boston’s Bruce Hurst was tough on the Mets, in the first five innings allowing only one hit, a single to Ray Knight in the 2nd.

Keith Hernandez delivers Big Two Run Single

In the home 6th, the Mets began their come back. After Rafael Santana grounded out, Lee Mazzilli pinch hit for Fernandez.

Mazzilli singled to left field, Mookie Wilson then singled to left as well putting two men. Bruce Hurst then walked Tim Teufel to load the bases.

The Mets best hitter, Mr. Clutch Keith Hernandez came to bat against Hurst, still on the mound. The Shea crowd began to get excited, making some noise, Keith Hernandez came through in the big situation, he singled up the middle scoring Mazzilli & Wilson with two runs making it a 3-2 game.

Trivia: In the 1982 World Series playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, Hernandez tied Game #7 of the World Series, with a 6th inning bases loaded single off Milwaukee's Bob McClure. Hernandez had homered & drove in four runs of Game #6 as well.

Lee Mazzilli Scores on Keith Hernandez Base Hit

Wally Backman came in to pinch run for Teufel. Gary Carter then hit a short fly to right field.
Dwight Evans dove for the ball but could not come up with it. Backman crossed the plate with the games tying run.

Keith Hernandez had to wait until a delayed call was made by the umpire, to see if Evans caught it or not. He was thrown out at second base & was livid on the field yelling at the umpire Harry Wendelstedt.

In any event, Shea Stadium was now going wild & there was no looking back, it was a different place than it had been an inning before & the crowd was now a huge factor.

Roger McDowell came on and retired the side in order in the 7th. He struck out Tony Armas, then got Wade Boggs & Marty Barrett to ground out.

Ray Knight Game #7 HR

After a wild 7th inning stretch, Calvin Schiraldi came on to pitch again for Boston. Bruce Hurst went six, allowing three runs on four hits. He struck out three & walked one. His World Series ERA was 2.13.

Ray Knight led off the inning with a HR over the left center field wall, probably his biggest hit in his Mets career. This sealed Knight as the World Series MVP.

Trivia: Ray Knight batted .391 going 9-23 with a HR, a double, four runs scored & five RBIs.

Lenny Dykstra then pinch hit for Kevin Mitchell and singled to right field.

*For the first time that I could recall at a spirting event, the crowd began to sing the words to
Queen's “We Will Rock You” as the P.A. system played the drum beat to the song, which is similar to the 'Lets go Mets" chant. It certainly rattled reliever Calvin Schiraldi.

The Queen song soon turned into Shea Stadium taunts of “Caaaaalvin” "Caaaalvin" answering back the taunts to Daryl Strawberry at Fenway Park in Game #3.

Schiraldi then threw a wild pitch & Len Dykstra advanced to second base. Then the light hitting short stop, Rafael Santana chimed in as well, he singled to right field scoring "Nails" from second base to make it 5-3. Keith Hernandez added his third RBI of the night with a sac fly to centerfield.

It was now 6-3 Mets & only a matter of time, to celebrate the long-awaited championship. But the Sox were not going quietly.

In the top of the 8th, the Sox got three straight hits off Roger McDowell to start the inning. First Bill Buckner & Jim Rice both singled, then Dwight Evans doubled making it a 6-5 game. Nothing was coming easy in this World Series.

Davey Johnson came out & pulled McDowell, giving the ball to Jesse Orosco. Once again it was time for Orosco to close out the big game. Orosco got Rich Gedman to line out to Backman at second for the first out. He then struck out Dave Henderson & got pinch hitter Don Baylor to ground out to short to end the inning. The Mets were three outs away.

In the bottom of the 8th, with Al Nipper was now pitching for the Red Sox, Daryl Strawberry added to the World Series heroics leading off with a monstrous HR to right field. The Shea crowd roared & went into an absolute frenzy.

Next Ray Knight got his 9th hit of the Series, a single to center. He moved up on an intentional walk to Santana in order to get to the pitcher's spot.

In a rare plate appearance, Jesse Orosco came up & singled to center field. It was Orosco's only post season at bat. It scored Knight with the final run of the World Series making it 8-5 New York.

Boston's Steve Crawford came in to pitch and hit Mookie Wilson with a pitch. There was no brawl & no drama. Wally Backman & Keith Hernandez were retired, then it was on to the 9th inning to close it out.

Wade Boggs Cries in a Sad Boston Dug Out

In the top of the 9th, Jesse Orosco got Ed Romero to pop out in foul territory to Keith Hernandez. The crowd were on their feet throwing confetti, rolls of toilet paper & anything else in celebration.

Wade Boggs was out #2 as he grounded out to Wally Backman.

Jesse Orosco then struck out Marty Barrett for the final out.

He threw his glove in the air and fell to his knees, as his teammates came running out of the dugout to celebrate, piling on top of him on the mound. The dream had come true again, the Mets were World Champions.

This time around, there were no fans able to run on the field, as the NYPD had mounted police officers surrounding the playing field.

*from centerfield- On a personal note- I found strength I didn’t know I had, as I ripped my actual seat right off its support. I still don’t know how I did, it but I still do have that seat. Maybe I can't prove it without any authenticity, but I know what it is.

Mets Stats:

In the World Series Ray Knight was named the MVP going 9 for 23 (.391) with a HR, two walks & five RBIs.

Gary Carter led the team with nine RBIs, he also hit two HRs, going 8-29 (.276) and could have also been a good candidate for Series MVP.

Lenny Dykstra also hit two HRs & drove in three runs, he was 8 for 27 (.296) with two walks & four runs scored.

Keith Hernandez was 6-26 (.231) with five walks good enough for a .344 on base %, & four RBIs.

Darryl Strawberry hit the only other Mets HR. Straw only had one RBI in the series, going 5 for 24 (.208) but did draw four walks & scored four runs.

Wally Backman collected six hits, with three walks, stole a base & scored four runs.

Danny Heep & Rafael Santana both had a pair of RBIs, as Jesse Orosco & Tim Teufel both added
an RBI each.

Mookie Wilson stole three bases, as he collected seven hits in 26 at bats (.269) he had a double a walk & scored three runs.

Jesse Orosco saved two games, allowing no runs on two hits, as he struck out six, walked no one in 5.2 innings of work in four appearances.

Ron Darling started three games, going 1-1 with a 1.53 ERA. He allowed four runs on 13 hits, as he struck out 12 walked ten in 17.2 innings of work.

Bob Ojeda made two starts & was 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA allowing three runs on 13 hits in 13 innings of work with nine strike outs & five walks.

Roger McDowell was credited with a win as he led the team with five appearances, he posted a 4.91 ERA, allowing five runs on ten hits in 7.1 innings of work. He struck out two & walked six.

Rick Aguilera was credited with the Game #6 win, but in two games he posted a 12.00 ERA giving up four runs on eight hits in three innings of work.

Sid Fernandez made three appearances & posted a 1.35 ERA allowing one run on six hits, while
striking out ten & walking just one.

Dwight Gooden had a rough series taking two losses (0-2) he posted an ERA of 8.00 allowing ten runs on 17 hits, nine K's & four walks in two games.

Mookie Wilson Celebrates - Forever A Mets World Series Hero