In 2009, Flashback Friday commemorated the milestone anniversaries of previous Mets seasons ending in 9: 1969, 1979, 1989 and 1999 with a series subtitled I Saw The Decade End. Here, for handy reference (a year after the fact, because I sort of forgot to give it its “Best of FAFIF” cataloguing treatment last December), is a guide to the epic Mets days of ’69 and ’99…as well as the lesser Mets days of ’79 and ’89. Remember: you don’t need to make the playoffs to generate a good story. Click on any for whichever trip back in time might intrigue you.
1999
Our Days Got Numbered: Cosmetic changes are all around
Team Building Exercise ’99: The unlikeliest Met, from the vantage point of 1988
Wallworthy: Why some things are bigger than titles
Never Gonna Win Another Game: An eight-game losing streak that feels much longer
Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough: The Mets who stayed crunchy, even in milk
The Fab Four: The Best Infield Ever coalesces
Freaks and Geeks: Setting September’s stage
Baseball’s Most Magical Date: October 3 comes to its logical conclusion
Prelude, Playoffs & Postscript: Whacking the Diamondbacks
A Beautiful Ride: Coming up short against the Braves
The Days After: Picking up the pieces
Amazin’ Medley: A musical homage
1989
Showing Some Fight: Darryl takes on Keith, while I take on beverages
Last Summer in Long Beach: Getting around to coming of age
Dykstra & McDowell for Samuel: Potentially advantageous trade goes horribly awry
Intermittently Sweet Music: Frank Viola, not quite the answer
As Mookies Go & Eras End: Exiting the Eighties
1979
When Shea Would Go ‘Boom!’: Fireworks Night explodes in Flushing
Generation Pre-K: Going cheap, going young
The Willie Mays Bridge: Spanning New York’s National League generations
Livin’ It Up (Friday Night): When Mets vs. Yankees was as much conjecture as rock vs. disco
Dock Ellis to Doc Gooden: Counting our lucky All-Stars
Dave Kingman Appreciation Day: Surrendering three homers, gaining one win
¿’79 or ’93: Cuál es Mas Mal?: Which wretched season is more bad?
1969
Before & After: If it occurred before I met the Mets, it hardly counts
Living in the Moments: How does a miracle lose its currency?
Donn of a New Era: Clendenon makes an impact
Duffy Deserves His Ring: The ultimate backup catcher
Born Again: Before there was Jimmy Qualls, there was Don Young
It’s A Family Affair: Uniquely Met immortals
Rites of Passage: Bar Mitzvah in the morning, Old Timers at night
You Never Forget Your First: Why 1969 still resonates
Across The Decades
Don’t Pitch to Kevin Young: A fan born in 1969 revels in 1999
Rickey and Jesse Would Always Know How to Survive: A Met rookie from 1979 crosses paths with a Met star from 1999
Euphoria and the Infinite Sadness: The long and winding road from 1969 to 1979
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