Most famous Mets rally: Wild Pitch, E3.

The New York Mets came into existence in 1962. The Mets have won the World Series twice in those 58 years: 1969 and 1986.

In the previous millennium the Boston Red Sox won the World Series most recently in 1918, led by Babe Ruth. After Ruth set the season home run record in 1919, his contract was sold to the New York Yankees.

In 1986 these two teams played in the World Series. The Mets won in seven games. The Red Sox were up in games 3-2 with a two run lead in game 6 in the 10th inning:
5-3
2 out
0 on base

Starting Lineups

 

Red Sox

1	Wade Boggs	3B
2	Marty Barrett	2B
3	Bill Buckner	1B
4	Jim Rice	LF
5	Dwight Evans	RF
6	Rich Gedman	C
7	Dave Henderson	CF
8	Spike Owen	SS
9	Roger Clemens	P

Mets

1	Lenny Dykstra	CF
2	Wally Backman	2B
3	Keith Hernandez	1B
4	Gary Carter	C
5	Darryl Strawberry	RF
6	Ray Knight	3B
7	Mookie Wilson	LF
8	Rafael Santana	SS
9	Bob Ojeda	P

The Red Sox managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by using extreme measures. Here are the most impactful plays in that game, all in the 10th inning:

Inn	Score	Out	RoB	Pit(cnt)	R/O	@Bat	Batter	Pitcher	wWPA	wWE	Play Description
b10	4-5	2	1-3	7,(3-2)	R	NYM	Mookie Wilson	Bob Stanley	41%	60%	Wild Pitch; Mitchell Scores; Knight to 2B
b10	5-5	2	-2-	10,(3-2)	R	NYM	Mookie Wilson	Bob Stanley	40%	100%	Reached on E3 (Ground Ball); Knight Scores/unER
t10	3-3	0	---	2,(0-1)	R	BOS	Dave Henderson	Rick Aguilera	-35%	15%	Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF Line)

Dave Henderson led off the top of the 10th with a home run and Boston added another run.

Bottom 10:
Wally Backman flies out.
Keith Hernandez flies out.
Gary Carter singles.
Kevin Mitchell pinch hits for pitcher Rick Aguilera and singles.

5-3 Red Sox, two out, two on.

Calvin Schiraldi is pitching his third inning for Boston. He allowed the tieing run in the 8th, then held the Mets scoreless in the 9th.

Ray Knight singles, Carter scores, Mitchell to third.

Bob Stanley replaces Schiraldi pitching.

Pause. Take a deep breath. What follows embarrasses Red Sox fans but not Met fans. It should.

Mookie Wilson batting. Stanley throws a wild pitch. Mitchell scores the tieing run, Knight goes to second.

Wilson hits a grounder to first base that 90% of soccer players could field. Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner acts as if he just arrived from another planet. The ball goes right between his legs and Knight scores an unearned run all the way from second. E3.

Saturday, October 25, 1986

Start Time: 8:30 p.m. Local

Attendance: 55,078

Venue: Shea Stadium

Game Duration: 4:02

Night Game, on grass

Mets 6, Red Sox 5 in 10 innings

2 Met runs are unearned. Series tied 3-3. Mets win game 7 the next day. Unearned is an understatement.