The New York Mets celebrated the 40th anniversary of their 1986 World Series-winning team at Citi Field on Saturday, a squad that Mookie Wilson described as "special" and one that met lofty expectations.
Despite diverse personalities and differing team cultures, the 1986 Mets achieved a rare harmony that led to their second championship in franchise history. "It’s unusual to find that many different personalities come together and play in harmony," Wilson said. "We found a way to win. We all wanted to win."
Manager Davey Johnson, who passed away in September, had boldly predicted a dominant season in spring training. "I thought he was crazy," Wilson recalled of Johnson's proclamation that the team would "dominate. We’re going to blow the rest of the division away." However, Johnson proved correct, and his confidence was remembered fondly during the ceremony.
"That was Davey," Wilson said. "I don’t think any other manager could have handled this club. Davey was one of us. He was willing to go out on a limb. We were willing to be ourselves."
Roger McDowell, in his second year with the team in 1986, also credited Johnson's understanding of his players. "I don’t think anybody knew the players like Davey did," McDowell said. "We had platoons and not everybody was probably as happy as could be, but when we started the year, our ultimate goal was to win a world championship and when you’re the last one standing, it’s the best feeling in the world."
The path to the championship was not without its challenges. Both Wilson and McDowell pointed to Gary Carter's two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 6 as a pivotal moment. "I thought it was over," McDowell said of the Mets' precarious situation at the time. "After Gary gets a hit, there was a belief. There was a belief there."
Wilson noted that the expectations placed on players then differ from the present day. "Players will do what you demand them to do," Wilson said. "When expectations are low, you get what you get. There’s a little less expected of them. Sometimes you have to be uncomfortable, and that’s where I think we are."
The current Mets team, struggling to contend, serves as a contrast to the success of the 1986 squad, highlighting the enduring difficulty of winning a championship, regardless of initial expectations.