Established
1962
City
New York
League History
2000 – Present / Major League Baseball
1962 – 1999 / National League
Team History
1962 – Present / New York Mets
Nickname
Mets – Baseball is one of America’s favorite pastimes, and the New York Mets are a beloved team in Major League Baseball (MLB). But where did their nickname come from? The origins of the Mets nickname have been shrouded in mystery for years, but there is an interesting story behind it.
The name “Mets” actually comes from two sources: firstly, it was chosen as a tribute to the former New York Metropolitans baseball club who played at the Polo Grounds before moving to Shea Stadium; secondly, "Met" was derived from "Metropolitan," which had become popular slang for describing something that was related to or originated in New York City. So when looking back on history, you can see why this great team has been called “the Mets” since its inception!
The origin story might be simple enough, but what makes this even more remarkable is how much pride fans take in being part of such an iconic franchise. From Citi Field's home run apple to Mr. Met himself - these symbols all help make up what we know today as 'Mets Nation.' With each game day bringing new memories and experiences with friends and family alike – there isn't anything like watching your favorite MLB team play ball!
Championship
World Series 2
1986, 1969
Stadium
2009 – Present / Citi Field
1964 – 2008 / Shea Stadium
1962 – 1963 / Polo Grounds
Owner
2020 - Present / Steve Cohen
2002 – 2019 / Fred Wilpon
1986 – 2002 / Nelson Doubleday, Jr. & Fred Wilpon
1980 – 1986 / Doubleday & Co.
1975 – 1980 / Charles Shipman Payson
1962 – 1975 / Joan Whitney Payson
- 1962
- 1964
- 1969
- 1986
- 2009
-
New York Mets Team Formation
After the 1957 season, the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants relocated from New York to California to become the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, respectively, leaving the largest city in the United States with no National League franchise and only one major league team (the American League (AL)’s New York Yankees). With the threat of a New ... -
Shea Stadium
For the first two years of its existence, the team played its home games at the historic Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan. In 1964, they moved into the newly constructed Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens, where the Mets played through the 2008 season. William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea, was a stadium in ... -
World Series Winner 1969
The 1969 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Mets prevailing in five games to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles squad was considered to be one of the finest ever and still is by some baseball pundits. The World Series win earned the team ... -
World Series Winner 1986
The 1986 World Series pitted the National League champion New York Mets against the American League champion Boston Red Sox. The Mets won the Series in the seventh game, after overcoming a nearly hopeless deficit in Game 6, culminating in a late-game error by Boston’s first baseman Bill Buckner. Game 6 was also cited in the legend of the “Curse ... -
Citi Field
The 2009 season was the Mets’ first season at Citi Field, a retro park following current architectural trends in stadium design. It follows the brick and steel-truss trend begun by the Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 1992. The exterior facade resembles Ebbets Field, the former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Mets’ first exhibition game at Citi ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Mets
The New York Mets are one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball. The team was founded in 1962 and has become a beloved part of the city’s culture. They have won two World Series Championships, five National League Pennants, and six division titles throughout their long history. They have also been home to baseball’s greatest players, such as Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Dwight Gooden, and David Wright, including MLB Greatest Player.
In 1969 the Mets shocked everyone by winning their first-ever World Series title against an incredibly talented Baltimore Orioles squad that included Hall Of Famers Frank Robinson and Brooks Robinson, among others. This championship would be followed up with another title just seven years later when they defeated the heavily favored Boston Red Sox in what is now known as “the Miracle on Grass." This incredible run cemented them into baseball lore forever, more for all generations to remember fondly for many years to come!
The Mets remain competitive today despite not having made it back to a world series since 2000 when they lost four games straight against cross-town rivals The Yankees after leading 2-0 early on in that series. Despite this recent lack of success, fans still show up faithfully each season at Citi Field, hoping for better days ahead for their beloved team. With new ownership taking over recently, there is much hope amongst die-hard Met supporters that brighter times may be around the corner soon enough!
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
14 / Gil Hodges
17 / Keith Hernandez
31 / Mike Piazza
37 / Casey Stengel
41 / Tom Seaver
42 / Jackie Robinson
SHEA / William A. Shea
- / Ralph Kiner
*Blue is this team’s history