Mets Madness Series Preview: 1997 Mets vs. 1969 Mets

MMO has partnered with Out of the Park Baseball to bring you a 16-team Mets Madness competition that will be simulated over the next few months. The managers of the teams are comprised of MMO writers and editors, one MMO commenter (Mike Lloyd), and we conducted a giveaway for the final manager spot (the 2015 team).

Each round will be best-of-seven. We will post only a series recap of the first round and then will be more detailed in our posting as we get deeper into the competition. We will also be giving folks access to 10% off coupons for downloading the game and giving away codes to download the game for free.

The next series preview belongs to the 1997 Mets (Jorge Eckardt) and the 1969 Miracle Mets (Michael Lloyd).

1997 Mets

The 1997 New York Mets were a bit of an enigma. The 1997 team proved to be a playoff contender…

That fact shouldn’t detract from the ’97 team ushering in a new era of winning Mets baseball under manager Bobby Valentine.

Offensively, the team was led by the likes of a newly acquired John Olerud, Todd Hundley, Butch Huskey, and rookie 3rd baseman Edgardo Alfonzo.

Defensively, the real wizard, SS Rey Ordonez and the aforementioned Alfonzo, teamed up with John Olerud to give the team top notch infield defense.

And finally, on, Rick Reed and Bobby Jones were the top starters, while John Franco led a good bullpen with former Brave Greg McMichael and future starter, the late Cory Lidle…

1969 Mets

1969 New York Mets were coined ‘The Miracle Mets’ for a reason. The team finished 100-62 and in first place in the newly formed National League Eastern Division.

After a whirlwind divisional race vs the Chicago Cubs, the Mets managed to dispatch the Atlanta Braves, 3 games to none, and then completed their miracle turnaround, from expansion team seven years earlier to World Champions. The Mets beat the vaunted Baltimore Orioles 4 games to 1 to secure the Mets franchise 1st World Championship.

Offensively, the 1969 Mets were led by National League batting champion, Cleon Jones, (.340) CF Tommie Agee, (.271, 122 OPS+) and mid-season acquisition Donn Clendenon.

The pitching was anchored by future HOF pitcher Tom Seaver, who won his first Cy Young with an incredible 25-7 season. Young starters Jerry Koosman and Gary Gentry, Don Cardwell and swingman, future HOF pitcher Nolan Ryan. The bullpen featured LHP Tug McGraw and RHPs Ron Taylor, Cal Koonce and lefty Jack DiLauro. The ’69 Miracle Mets live on in history as legends…