Remembering Mets Opening Days (1987) Mets Raise the World Championship Flag at Shea Stadium

 A week before the 1987 season was to begin, the reigning World Champion New York Mets suffered a big blow, when their star pitcher Dwight Gooden checked into drug rehab for cocaine. Earlier that year he was arrested in Florida for resisting arrest & battery. 

Gooden was to miss his first opening day start in three seasons. On Opening Day, he would be about twenty minutes away from Shea Stadium at Smithers Drug Treatment Center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Quotes- Keith Hernandez: "I never saw anything wrong with Dwight. I didn't read anything
into his pitching patterns. Even if I had suspicions, I might have kept quiet. But no I was shocked".

Quotes- Ron Darling: "I don't know if I'm blind, but I couldn't believe it. I love Dwight like a brother & I don't care if he ever pitches again. I just want him to get better."

Since the already high profiled start studded Mets, team had one the World Series, many players reaped in the benefits of being world champions. 

For Keith Hernandez it was his second Championship, his legend grew even bigger. For Gary Carter it was his first championship which gave him even more endorsements & topped off his Hall of fame career. 

For the young stars like Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Wally Backman & Lenny Dykstra, the party continued but there would be consequences down the road, some sooner others later.

In the off season, the Mets traded Kevin Mitchell to his hometown of San Diego thinking he was a bad influence on Gooden & Strawberry. Mitchell would move on to San Francisco & win the 1989 NL MVP Award. The Mets got Kevin McReynolds in exchange. 

They also made a great trade with Kansas City sending backup catcher Ed Hearn, Rick Anderson & Mauro Gozzo to the Royals in exchange for rookie pitcher David Cone who had just 11 MLB games under his belt.

The mighty Mets entered the season, once again as favorites to win it all as many believed a dynasty was just beginning.

Mets manager Davey Johnson filled the Gooden void giving pitcher Bobby Ojeda the ball for opening day. Ojeda had led the '86 Champions starters in victories (18) & ERA (2.57) matching Gooden & Ron Darling with two shut outs. In the post season he was 2-0 with a win both the NLCS & World Series posting a 2.33 ERA.

The Opening Day Festivities included the Mets raising the World Championship flag high above Shea Stadium.

Tuesday April 7th, 1987: In the top of the 1st, the Pirates Johnny Ray & Bobby Bonilla collected two outs base hits, Bobby Ojeda struck out Andy Van Slyke to end the inning. 

In the bottom of the 1st, Mookie Wilson singled to start the Mets season. Tim Teufel then reach on catcher's interference. With two outs, Darryl Strawberry hit a three HR over the right center field wall putting the Mets up 3-0. 

Darryl Strawberry Trivia: Strawberry would hit a career high 39 HRs (3rd most in the NL) that season, setting a new Mets record at the time. He also drove in 104 runs (7th most in the NL). He also had career bests in hits (151) doubles (32) batting average (.284) & stolen base (36) making his fourth straight All-Star team. 

The Pirates would put two men on in each of the next two innings, with Ojeda getting out of the
jams. He then retired eight in a row into the 6th inning. Andy Van Slyke tripled & scored on Jim Morrison's base hit to left field.

The Pirates Bob Patterson didn't give up any more runs after the Strawberry HR, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out three & walking one in six innings of work. Patterson pitched just 15 games that year going 1-4 with a 6.70 ERA.

Pirate pitchers Brian Fisher & John Smiley closed out the game with two scoreless innings. John Smiley was in his first full season & was a reliever. The following season he became a starter & in 1991 was a twenty-game winner for the NL Eastern Champs.

The Mets Bobby Ojeda had a fine start to his season, allowing one run on ten hits in seven innings of work. he gave up a walk & collected a strike out. Ojeda would like many of the Met's starters, go down with an injury that season & pitch just ten games going 3-5 with a 3.88 ERA.

After a scoreless 8th inning, Jesse Orosco gave up two lead off singles in the 9th, then with one out he walked Barry Bonds to load the bases. 

Junior Ortiz then dribbled a grounder to the third base side of Orosco, he couldn't make the out as Ortiz reached first & Sid Bream scored.

Now with one out & two on, Orosco stepped up to his top form. He got Johnny Ray to pop up to second base & then got Bobby Bonilla to ground out to Teufel to end the game & earn the save.

The 1987 Mets won their first three games but never got off to the start they had the previous year. They would chase the rival Cardinals all season, get within 1.5 games by September 19th but go 7-7 in the final two weeks & finish second three games back.