1973 New York Mets season


The 1973 New York Mets season was the 12th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Manager Yogi Berra led the team to a National League East title with an 82–79 record and the National League pennant, though they were defeated by the Oakland Athletics in the World Series. Their.509 winning percentage is the lowest of any pennant-winner in major league history. Having won only 82 games during the regular season, they, along with the 2005 San Diego Padres, qualified for the postseason with the fewest regular season wins since Major League Baseball expanded to a 162-game season in 1961, and the fewest of any team since 1885. The season was well known for pitcher Tug McGraw's catchphrase "Ya Gotta Believe!!!"

Offseason

Season highlights

Initial turmoil

The 1973 Mets were much improved from their "miracle" 1969 team. They had a group of young proven stars—including Jon Matlack, Rusty Staub, John Milner, and Félix Millán—mixed in with veterans from the 1969 club, such as Jerry Grote, Cleon Jones, Wayne Garrett, and Bud Harrelson. Their pitching staff, led by Tom Seaver, was among the finest in baseball. But injuries hampered the Mets throughout the entire season.
The Mets got off to a 4–0 start to the season, and were still at first place by April 29 with a 12–8 record. But then, injuries to their key players caused turmoil. By July 26, the Mets were in last place, yet still only games behind. On August 16, they were 12 games below.500, with 44 games to play.
On August 30, the Mets were in last place, with only a month left to play. However, the division was so tight-knit that the last place standing consisted of only a 6.5 game deficit. At the completion of August, the Mets were in fifth place, nine games under.500, but, in the balanced mediocrity of that year's Eastern Division, just games out of first. The mathematical inequities of divisional play were beginning to show up. On September 11, the Mets were in fourth place, five games under.500, but just three games out. Ahead of them were the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Montreal Expos.

"You Gotta Believe!!!"

With Tug McGraw urging his teammates on and celebrating victories with what soon became the catch phrase of 1973, "You Gotta Believe!!!" the Mets kept zigging and zagging away from would-be tacklers, and taking an occasional side-swipe, headed for this most unlikely of pennants. Down the stretch, Yogi Berra, veteran of many a pennant race, ran four starters at the league: Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Jon Matlack, and George Stone, with the suddenly unhittable McGraw coming out of the pen with boisterous - and justified - confidence..

The unexpected clincher

After sweeping a three-game series from the Pirates at Shea on September 21, the Mets' record stood at an even 77–77, but that.500 record was good enough for first place and a half-game lead. Illustrating just how dense the crowd was at the top, fifth-place Chicago was just out. The Mets won five of their last seven to finish as National League East Division Champions. The Cardinals finished second, games behind, Pittsburgh third at, Montreal fourth at, and Chicago fifth, 5 games out.
This was the only NL East title between 1970 and 1980 not to be won by either Philadelphia Phillies or the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day starters

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
2B153638185.290337
3B140504129.2561658
RF152585163.2791576
LF9233988.2601148
1B129451108.2392372
C8428573.256132
CF9326260.229221
SS10635692.258020

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
1B-LF10028468.239135
SS-OF9226367.255114
CF-1B6620944.211625
C7018935.18519
3B-SS4512429.234011
C4512733.260118
3B7611025.227214
LF4511630.259115
OF389222.239010
1B506117.279014

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
3629019102.08251
3526314152.84156
3424214163.20205

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
271481232.8077
31116.2543.3987
3896.2843.3563
2380.1385.3838

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO
6056253.8781
300436.2322
242743.8635
70008.105
1000∞0

Postseason

NLCS

Game 1

October 6: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

Game 2

October 7: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

Game 3

October 8: Shea Stadium, New York City

Game 4

October 9: Shea Stadium, New York City

Game 5

October 10: Shea Stadium, New York City

World Series

Awards and honors

All-Star Game
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Memphis