The Mets of 1987 discovered that defending a championship isn’t nearly as easy as pursuing one. Injuries and infighting were the main cause for New York having to play catch-up with the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL East for most of the year. The starting pitching — so strong in ’86 — was decimated in ’87.
Dwight Gooden missed the first two months due to drug problems. Bob Ojeda got hurt. Sid Fernandez got hurt. Ron Darling struggled to win as frequently. The “godsend,” as the NBC broadcast put it, was Terry Leach, a submarining right-hander who picked up his sixth win in as many decisions when he beat the Phillies in late June.
For some reason, this video has the game repeated, making it a nearly five-hour video. Here are some highlights:
- The visiting Mets are wearing their one-off “New York” script road uniforms, used only during the ’87 season.
- Check out the aviator sunglasses sported by Mookie Wilson at 5:12
- Philadelphia’s lineup features a future Met bust (Juan Samuel) and a future Hall of Famer (Mike Schmidt).
- At 12:43, Keith Hernandez (who was given a day off) appears to not have as full a mustache as usual.
- Leach is a savior once more, going eight innings and having allowed two runs on four hits without a walk.
- Jesse Orosco comes in for the save, but finds instant trouble at 2:05:25 with a pinch-hit moonshot from Chris James, and then a one-out double from Mike Schmidt.
- Roger McDowell relieves Orosco and has his own difficulty closing the Phils out. He finally does at 2:19:40 with the tying run aboard.
