June 16, 1997 was a historic day in the chronicles of the New York Mets. On that date, they played their first regular season game against the cross-town rival New York Yankees, defeating the Bombers in the Bronx by a 6-0 score.

On June 13, 1997 the Mets played their first regular season Interleague game in franchise history, losing 8-4 to the Boston Red Sox at Shea Stadium. The Red Sox would take two of three in that series, before the Mets boarded the buses northward on Monday, June 16.

Entering the inaugural Subway Series, the Mets were off to a surprising start with a 36-30 record, after finishing the disappointing 1996 season at 71-91. The Yankees, 37-29 going into the game, were the reigning World Series champions and on their way to a 96-66 finish in 1997.

The Mets sent 29-year old Dave Mlicki, who was in his fifth major league season, to the mound against the Yankees’ Andy Pettitte, who had gone 2-1 in the 1996 postseason. This night, in front of over 56,000 fans, Yankee Stadium belonged to Mlicki.

The right-hander from Cleveland tossed a complete game shutout, allowing nine hits, walking two, striking out eight, and ending the game with a called third strike on Derek Jeter.

The Mets handed Mlicki a three-run lead before he took the mound. In the top of the first inning, John Olerud doubled in Bernard Gilkey for one run, then Carl Everett drove in Olerud. The Mets got their third run on a steal of home by Todd Hundley.

Olerud, who hit .294 in 1997 with an .889 OPS, struck again in the seventh inning when he singled in Matt Franco and Luis Lopez to give the Mets a 5-0 lead. The Mets scored their final run in the top of the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Gilkey.

The Mets would lose the next two games of the series, which was their only one against the Yankees in 1997. Since Interleague play began, the Yankees have had the upper-hand against their rivals from Queens. winning 74 of 128 games played.

June 16, 1997 was Mlicki’s pinnacle moment as a Met. He finished the 1997 season with an 8-12 record. Over four years in Flushing, he posted 24 wins against 30 losses.

Mlicki pitched a total of ten seasons in the major leagues, going 66-80 with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. In addition to the Mets, he pitched for the Indians, Dodgers, Tigers, and Astros.

While Mlicki had a modest career, he came up big on a night that made New York baseball history. If you’re a Mets fan, that night felt extremely special.