The Mets couldn’t have picked a better time for its second four-game losing streak. By dropping three straight in Philadelphia and one of two in St. Louis, they delayed their inevitable crowning as National League East champions—ensuring that victory party would be held in Queens. The Shea Stadium grounds crew wished it happened somewhere else.

This wasn’t a matter of if, but when. The Mets left the rest of their division in the dust, opening up an astounding 22-game lead by September 10. It was total domination of their competition, just like their manager said would happen in spring training.

It was Dwight Gooden who drew the assignment of locking up what had been a formality since around May. The Chicago Cubs were the casualty of this ceremony. Doc had few troubles in casting the Cubs aside, tossing a complete game by striking out eight in a 4-2 victory.

While Gooden had a typically solid night on the mound, the Mets first baseman had a typically impressive night at the plate. Well, not that first baseman.

Keith Hernandez had been stricken with a bout of the flu. Taking his place was Dave Magadan, called up from Triple-A to make his first big-league start. All he did was go 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI.

“I had a pretty good year at Tidewater,” Magadan said, “but didn’t even know if I’d come up. I was out there trying not to think about my other times at-bat. So I didn’t have a chance to think back on the game. I was trying to relax.”

Hernandez was well enough to convince manager Davey Johnson to allow him to take his usual spot in the ninth as a packed house eagerly awaited to celebrate beyond the confines of the stands.

With two outs and holding a two-run lead, Gooden got Chico Walker to ground slowly to Wally Backman at second. Even before Backman completed his toss to Hernandez for the final out, hundreds of fans were streaming onto the field.

Seconds later, a sea of humanity engulfed Mets players.

“I could see the wave coming, but I ran into the pile,” said Hernandez. “I’m not going to run for my life. Somebody stole my cap, my gamer, and they tried to take my glove right off my hand, but they didn’t realize how strong my hand is.”

As members of the team sifted through the mob scene and made their way into the clubhouse, fans chewed up the turf—taking grass (and even bases) as souvenirs.

The Mets were on to the postseason and, thankfully, so was Shea.