The 1973 New York Mets: From Mediocrity to Miracle

The 1973 New York Mets remain one of the most unlikely and beloved teams in Mets history. A squad plagued by injuries and underwhelming performance during much of the regular season somehow caught fire at the right time. Powered by dominant pitching, smart baseball, and sheer resilience, the Mets came within one win of an improbable World Series title — a run that stands as a testament to grit over glamour.

The Regular Season: Stumbling Into October

The Mets stumbled through much of the season and finished with a modest 82–79 record, the worst by a postseason team in MLB history at the time. With injuries to key players like Rusty Staub, Bud Harrelson, and Cleon Jones, the Mets hovered near the bottom of the National League East for much of the summer.

By August 30, they were in last place. But a red-hot September surge (20–8 in the final month) allowed them to squeak past the Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs, and Expos in a historically tight five-team race. Yogi Berra, who took constant criticism early in the year, held the clubhouse together with his calm demeanor and unwavering faith.

The team’s slogan became “Ya Gotta Believe,” coined by reliever Tug McGraw, and it became the spiritual heartbeat of the roster as they clawed their way to the division title.

Pitching Wins Championships — And Nearly Did

The Mets’ strength was their pitching, led by a rotation that could shut down anyone in baseball:

• Tom Seaver (19–10, 2.08 ERA, NL Cy Young winner)

• Jon Matlack (14–16, 3.20 ERA, but clutch in October)

• Jerry Koosman (14–15, 2.84 ERA)

• Tug McGraw (25 saves, 3.87 ERA, emotional leader)

Despite the low win totals, those ERAs tell the story: the Mets often lost due to lack of offense, not poor pitching.

1973 New York Mets: Road to the Pennant

NLCS: Slaying the Big Red Machine

The Mets shocked the baseball world by defeating the 99-win Cincinnati Reds — the powerhouse Big Red Machine — in five games in the National League Championship Series.

Game 1: Reds 2, Mets 1

Jack Billingham outdueled Seaver in a tense opener in Cincinnati.

Game 2: Mets 5, Reds 0

Jon Matlack silenced the Reds with a complete-game two-hit shutout.

Game 3: Mets 9, Reds 2

New York’s offense came alive behind Jerry Koosman.

Game 4: Reds 2, Mets 1 (12 innings)

Pete Rose homered, and a brawl with Bud Harrelson made headlines.

Game 5: Mets 7, Reds 2

Seaver redeemed himself, and the Mets advanced to the World Series.

World Series: The Nearly Completed Miracle

The Mets faced the defending champion Oakland A’s, who were stacked with stars: Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, Sal Bando, Bert Campaneris, and more. Oakland was a juggernaut, and few gave New York a chance.

But what followed was a seven-game classic, with the Mets battling toe-to-toe.

Game 1: A’s 2, Mets 1 (11 innings)

A Jerry Grote throwing error helped Oakland win in extras.

Game 2: Mets 10, A’s 7 (12 innings)

A wild comeback game. Tug McGraw pitched six innings of relief as the Mets stole a game in Oakland.

Game 3: A’s 3, Mets 2

Catfish Hunter and Rollie Fingers locked down the Mets in a tight game at Shea.

Game 4: Mets 6, A’s 1

Matlack was again brilliant, while the Mets bats struck early.

Game 5: Mets 2, A’s 0

Jerry Koosman and McGraw combined for a shutout. The Mets took a 3–2 lead heading back to Oakland.

Game 6: A’s 3, Mets 1

Reggie Jackson homered, and Oakland forced Game 7 with Catfish Hunter shining.

Game 7: A’s 5, Mets 2

Matlack, starting on short rest, was knocked around early. The Mets fell behind and couldn’t rally.

Legacy: The Team That Came Within One

The Mets didn’t win the title — but they nearly pulled off a miracle. Their pitching held the mighty A’s to just 21 runs in 7 games. What separated them from glory was a cold offense and a lack of depth compared to Oakland’s star power.

Still, their run from last place in late August to the seventh game of the World Series stands as one of the great underdog stories in sports.

Key Contributors

• Tom Seaver – Aces don’t always get the win, but Seaver was brilliant.

• Jon Matlack – Dominated Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 4 of the World Series.

• Tug McGraw – The emotional engine of the team.

• Rusty Staub – Played through injury, hitting .423 in the NLCS and belting 11 RBIs in the postseason.

• Willie Mays – Though far from his prime, the legend made his final MLB appearance in this World Series, a symbolic closing chapter.

Final Thoughts

The 1973 Mets proved that heart, pitching, and belief can carry a team far — even to the brink of a championship. They didn’t get the ring, but their legacy lives on in New York lore as one of the most beloved and inspiring teams the city ever embraced.

“Ya Gotta Believe!” still echoes as a reminder that no odds are insurmountable.