Five Surprising Facts About the New York Yankees-Mets Rivalry
It's Subway Series time in the Bronx, as the Mets come to town to battle the Yankees Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It's been an exciting rivalry, as despite not playing each other before 1997, the two teams have combined to create a lifetime of memories.
Fast forward from '97 to 2021, both the Yankees and Mets find themselves on a bit of a skid. The Yankees find themselves in 4th place in the American League East, having just dropped two of three to the Los Angeles Angels after being swept by the Boston Red Sox. The Mets, meanwhile are still leading the National League East, but their lead has dwindled down to two games after losing four of the last five games, all to division opponents.
Needless to say, this is a very important series for both teams, both for this season, and for the legacy of the cross-town rivalry. Here are a few facts to know about the Subway Series ahead of first pitch this evening.
1. The Mets Hold a One Game Winning Streak
Back on September 3, 2020, Pete Alonso hit a walk-off home run to win the final meeting between the two teams by a 9-7 total. The teams split the 2020 season series, three games each.
2. The Yankees Have Won MANY More Games Overall, Though
The Yankees have won TWENTY more games in the regular season, leading the all-time series, 74-54. They've only met once in the playoffs, back in 2000, and both fan bases remember exactly what happened then.
3. The Mets Won The First Ever (Official Game) on a Complete Game Shutout
A player by the name of Dave Mlicki toed the rubber for the Mets on June 16, 1997. Nine innings later, Mlicki was still on the mound. He went the distance for the Mets, striking out eight while not allowing a run. The Mets won the game, 6-0.
4. 26 Players Have Played For Both Franchises
The first player to double-dip? Marv Throneberry, who joined the Mets in 1965. Currently, the Mets have two traitors, in Robinson Cano and Dellin Betances, while the Yankees have Justin Wilson.
5. Even Chris Christie Weighed In...
"OK, here's what I don't understand about Yankees fans: The Mets stink. We're awful. And the Yankees are usually really good. So why do you boo us? You should feel badly for us. We root for this awful team that never wins and yet the Yankees fans boo us. I don't understand that. - Chris Christie to ESPN"
I, for one, am relieved that Christie was able to comment on this. We can all sleep soundly.