Queens Own Mets Take Their Shot At The Millennium Top Spot

"Wait till next year," the faithful fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers used to lament. They cried this tedious sentence because they knew no matter how good they were, no matter how many times they threatened or actually trekked into the postseason, they would always have to wait for the ultimate prize, as it was usually their cross-town rivals who blocked their paths as "Da Bums" would peer on with heartache.
Now, after 14 years of waiting themselves, the Mets may face a similar situation, as the Yankees, winners of 25 World Championships, look to block what seems to be the Mets destiny to complete their own dynasty.
Within a week the city should expect to engulf itself in a war, but for now the Amazin’ Mets are ecstatic that they have been able to capture their fourth pennant in team history and are on their way to staking their claim on the new millennium.
Traveling to the World Series was no easy journey for the 2000 Mets. While they had a successful off-season, in trading for the ALCS MVP Mike Hampton, memories of the epic showdown with the Braves last year would haunt them throughout the season. They were continually told that they could not beat Atlanta nor their loudmouth closer John Rocker, and that without defeating them in the regular season, they would never beat them in playoffs. They never had that problem. While they were creating another memorable series with two extra-inning victories over the San Francisco Giants, St. Louis tore down the Braves in three games.
So onto St. Louis. Opening in Cardinal’s Busch Stadium, the Mets let it be known right from the get-go that they were a wild card team to be reckoned with. Behind their speedy new outfielder Timo Perez, a rejuvenated Mike Piazza, and Hampton, who wound up throwing 16 scoreless innings in the series, the Mets climbed on top of the Cardinals 2-0 heading into Shea.
Despite carrying baseball’s best home record at 59-26, the Mets wound up losing the first game as Rick Reed suffered a rare rough post-season outing. After capturing the next game 10-6, setting a record with four consecutive doubles in the first inning, the Amazin’s closed the series out in style, destroying the Cardinals 10-0. Now they wait to see if the series the fans have dreamed of for nearly half a century comes true.
"It’s a great time to be a Met fan," said Chris Evans, who watched the game from the big-screens at Bayside’s First Edition restaurant, as he was unable to get tickets for the game. "Now I want the Yanks. It’s a risky thing to ask for, because we’ll never be able to live it down if (the Yankees) win, but I have faith in my team. This is a night I’ve been dreaming about for years."
If the Mets continue on their current path, they will no longer have to wait, for they will be crowned the first champions of the new century in what might be the most exciting and anticipated Fall Classic baseball has ever seen.