The New York Mets entered Major League Baseball in 1962 as an expansion franchise created to bring National League baseball back to New York after the Dodgers and Giants left for California. The Mets struggled badly during their first seven seasons, but everything changed in 1969 when the “Miracle Mets” shocked baseball by winning the World Series. Since then, the Mets have produced Hall of Famers, Rookie of the Year winners, Cy Young Award winners, legendary pitchers, powerful hitters and two World Series championships. The Mets have played their entire history in Queens and Manhattan, first at the Polo Grounds, then Shea Stadium and, since 2009, Citi Field. The Beginning of the Mets The Mets were officially established in 1960 and began play in 1962. The franchise was awarded to New York after the departure of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants left the National League without a team in New York. The team’s colors—blue and orange—were chosen to represent the two former New York National League clubs. The Mets played their first regular-season game on April 11, 1962, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals 11–4. Their first home game was played at the Polo Grounds on April 13, 1962, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mets lost that game 4–3. The franchise’s first victory came April 23, 1962, when New York defeated Pittsburgh 9–1. The early Mets became famous for losing. They finished last in the National League in each of their first seven seasons. Then came 1969. New York Mets Owners The Mets have had several different ownership eras. Joan Whitney Payson — 1962–1975 Joan Whitney Payson was the Mets’ original owner and the first woman to own a Major League Baseball team. She was an important figure in bringing National League baseball back to New York and remained one of the most devoted owners in baseball. Payson died in 1975. Charles Shipman Payson — 1975–1980 After Joan Payson’s death, ownership passed to her husband, Charles Shipman Payson. The Payson family continued to control the Mets until the franchise was sold in 1980. Doubleday & Company — 1980–1986 In 1980, the Mets were sold to a group headed by Nelson Doubleday Jr. and publishing company Doubleday & Company. The purchase price was approximately $21.1 million. Nelson Doubleday Jr. and Fred Wilpon — 1986–2002 Fred Wilpon became increasingly important in Mets ownership after the 1980 purchase. In 1986, Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday Jr. became the principal owners. This ownership era coincided with the Mets’ greatest team of the 1980s and the 1986 World Series championship. Sterling Equities / Wilpon and Katz Families — 2002–2020 Fred Wilpon and his family eventually became the controlling owners through Sterling Equities. The Wilpon era included the 2000 National League pennant and the 2015 National League pennant. Steve Cohen — 2020–Present In 2020, billionaire businessman Steve Cohen purchased the Mets for approximately $2.4 billion. Cohen became the controlling owner and ushered in a new era of aggressive spending and high expectations. Every Mets Home Ballpark 1. Polo Grounds 1962–1963 The Mets played their first two seasons at the historic Polo Grounds in Manhattan. The Polo Grounds had previously been home to the New York Giants and was one of baseball’s most unusual stadiums. The Mets won 56 games at the Polo Grounds during their two seasons there. The final Mets game at the Polo Grounds was played September 18, 1963. 2. Shea Stadium 1964–2008 Shea Stadium opened in 1964 and became the Mets’ home for 45 seasons. It was named for William A. Shea, the attorney who helped bring National League baseball back to New York. Shea became the setting for the Mets’ greatest moments, including: 1969 World Series 1973 National League pennant 1986 World Series 1988 NL East championship 2000 National League pennant The Mets played their final game at Shea Stadium on September 28, 2008. 3. Citi Field 2009–Present The Mets opened Citi Field in 2009. The ballpark was constructed next to the site of Shea Stadium and incorporates architectural features inspired by Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. The Mets played their first regular-season game at Citi Field on April 13, 2009. The 1969 Miracle Mets The 1969 Mets are one of the greatest underdog stories in baseball history. Led by manager Gil Hodges, pitchers Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman, and stars such as Tommie Agee, Cleon Jones, Donn Clendenon and Ron Swoboda, the Mets finished the regular season with a remarkable: 100 wins – 62 losses They won the newly created National League East and defeated the Atlanta Braves three games to none in the first-ever National League Championship Series. Then came the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles had won 109 games and were heavily favored. The Mets lost Game 1 but then won four straight games. 1969 World Series Mets defeated Baltimore Orioles, 4 games to 1 The Mets won: Game 2 — Mets 2, Orioles 1 Game 3 — Mets 5, Orioles 0 Game 4 — Mets 2, Orioles 1 Game 5 — Mets 5, Orioles 3 The championship was the first World Series title in Mets history. World Series MVP: Donn Clendenon Clendenon hit three home runs during the Series. The 1986 World Champion Mets The second great Mets championship team arrived in 1986. Manager Davey Johnson led a powerhouse featuring: Dwight Gooden Ron Darling Sid Fernandez Jesse Orosco Keith Hernandez Gary Carter Darryl Strawberry Ray Knight Lenny Dykstra Mookie Wilson Wally Backman Kevin Mitchell The Mets finished the regular season: 108 wins – 54 losses The 108 victories remain a franchise record. The Mets defeated Houston four games to two in the NLCS. They then faced the Boston Red Sox in one of the most famous World Series in baseball history. 1986 World Series Mets defeated Boston Red Sox, 4 games to 3 The Mets lost Games 1 and 2 but won four of… Continue reading New York Mets History: From the Lovable Losers to Amazin’ Champions
Tag: Brooklyn Dodgers
The History of the San Francisco Giants
[custom_countdown width=”100px”] The History of the San Francisco Giants: From New York to the Bay Area The San Francisco Giants are one of the oldest and most successful franchises in Major League Baseball. Their history begins in 1883, when John B. Day and Jim Mutrie organized a National League club originally known as the New York Gothams. The club adopted the nickname Giants during the 1885 season. The franchise has played in two great baseball cities, New York and San Francisco, and has been home to some of the greatest players in baseball history. The Giants have won 23 National League pennants and eight World Series championships, five championships in New York and three since moving to San Francisco. The Beginning: The New York Gothams The Giants entered the National League in 1883. John B. Day and Jim Mutrie had already operated the New York Metropolitans, and they helped establish the new National League club. The Gothams quickly became a powerhouse. By 1885, the team was being called the Giants, and the roster included future Hall of Famers such as Roger Connor, Buck Ewing, Tim Keefe and Mickey Welch. That 1885 club won 85 of 112 games, producing the highest winning percentage in franchise history. The Giants won their first National League pennants in 1888 and 1889 and also won the early championship series against the American Association champion. The franchise survived numerous ownership changes, ballpark moves and league challenges before establishing itself as one of baseball’s permanent institutions. Every Home Ballpark in Giants History Few franchises have had a more interesting ballpark history. The Giants have played in several different parks in New York and two temporary and permanent homes in San Francisco.Jersey City, New Jersey Ballpark Years Used Location Polo Grounds I 1883-1888 110th St. & Sixth Ave., Manhattan Oakdale Park 1889 Jersey City, New Jersey St. George Grounds 1889 Staten Island, New York Polo Grounds II 1889-1890 155th St. & Eighth Ave., Manhattan Polo Grounds III 1891-1911 Coogan’s Hollow, Manhattan Hilltop Park 1911 165th St. & Fort Washington Ave. Polo Grounds V 1911-1957 155th/157th St. & Eighth Ave., Manhattan Seals Stadium 1958-1959 16th & Bryant Streets, San Francisco Candlestick Park 1960-1999 Candlestick Point, San Francisco Oracle Park 2000-present Third & King Streets, San Francisco The Giants opened their 1889 season at Oakdale Park in Jersey City because they had been evicted from the original Polo Grounds. They played two games there before moving to the St. George Grounds on Staten Island. Later that year they moved back to Manhattan to a new Polo Grounds. The 1911 season produced another unusual chapter. The Polo Grounds burned, forcing the Giants to temporarily use Hilltop Park, the home of the American League New York Highlanders. The rebuilt Polo Grounds opened in June 1911 and became the Giants’ home through the 1957 season. Seals Stadium After moving west in 1958, the Giants played their first two seasons in San Francisco at Seals Stadium. On April 15, 1958, the Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-0 in their first Major League game in San Francisco. Orlando Cepeda hit a home run in the historic season and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Candlestick Park The Giants moved to Candlestick Park in 1960. The stadium was initially considered a modern improvement over Seals Stadium, but its cold temperatures and notorious winds eventually made it one of the most distinctive—and sometimes hated—ballparks in baseball. Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Barry Bonds and many other Giants stars played at Candlestick. Oracle Park The Giants opened their new downtown San Francisco ballpark in 2000. Originally named Pacific Bell Park, it later became SBC Park, AT&T Park, and finally Oracle Park. The privately financed stadium helped secure the franchise’s long-term future in San Francisco. It also became famous for McCovey Cove, where home runs hit by left-handed Giants hitters can splash into the water. Giants Ownership Through the Years The ownership history of the Giants is almost as complicated as the franchise’s ballpark history. The following list identifies the principal owner or controlling ownership figure for each major period. During the modern era, ownership became an investment partnership rather than a single-person operation. Years Principal/Controlling Owner 1883-1893 John B. Day 1893-1895 C.C. Van Cott 1895-1902 Andrew Freedman 1902-1912 John T. Brush 1912-1919 Harry N. Hempstead 1919-1936 Charles A. Stoneham 1936-1976 Horace C. Stoneham 1976-1993 Bob Lurie 1993-2008 Peter Magowan-led ownership group 2008-2011 William H. Neukom-led ownership group 2012-2019 Larry Baer as managing/control executive 2019-present Greg Johnson as chairman and designated control person The Giants’ early ownership chronology is documented in the club’s historical media guides. Horace Stoneham and the Move West Horace Stoneham inherited the Giants from his father, Charles, in 1936. He eventually became the man responsible for one of the biggest decisions in franchise history. In 1957, Stoneham announced that the Giants would leave New York for San Francisco. The move occurred at the same time the Brooklyn Dodgers were moving to Los Angeles. The two moves permanently changed the geographic map of Major League Baseball. Bob Lurie Saves the Giants Bob Lurie purchased the Giants in 1976 and spent years trying to obtain a new stadium. When those efforts failed, he agreed to sell the team to a group that intended to move it to the Tampa Bay area. That move nearly happened. In 1992, a Bay Area investment group led by Peter Magowan stepped forward and purchased the franchise, keeping the Giants in San Francisco. The Modern Ownership Group Peter Magowan’s group immediately changed the direction of the franchise. The group signed Barry Bonds and began the effort to build a new downtown stadium. Today, the Giants are owned by a consortium of investors. Greg Johnson is chairman and the club’s designated control person, while his father, Charles B. Johnson, has been the largest individual shareholder. The Johnson family has been part of the ownership group since the early 1990s. The Giants in… Continue reading The History of the San Francisco Giants
The Complete History of the Dodgers
The Complete History of the Dodgers: From Brooklyn to Los Angeles Few franchises in Major League Baseball have a history as complicated, influential, and successful as the Dodgers. The franchise began in Brooklyn in the 1880s, became known by a remarkable collection of nicknames, broke baseball’s color barrier with Jackie Robinson, won its first World Series in Brooklyn in 1955, moved to Los Angeles in 1958, and eventually became one of baseball’s most valuable and successful organizations. The Dodgers have played in two of America’s greatest baseball cities, occupied some of the most famous ballparks in baseball history, produced generations of Hall of Famers and Rookie of the Year winners, and occasionally traded away players who later became stars elsewhere. As of the 2026 season, the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers franchise has won nine World Series championships and 27 National League pennants. The Beginning: Brooklyn Baseball The organization that eventually became the Dodgers dates to 1883, when Brooklyn entered the American Association. The club was initially known as the Brooklyn Grays. Over the years, the franchise used numerous names: Brooklyn Grays Brooklyn Atlantics Brooklyn Bridegrooms Brooklyn Grooms Brooklyn Superbas Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers The nickname “Dodgers” eventually became permanent. The famous story behind the name is connected with Brooklyn’s trolley system. When the team played at Eastern Park in the 1890s, fans had to dodge trolley cars on their way to the ballpark. The phrase “Trolley Dodgers” became associated with Brooklyn baseball and was eventually shortened to Dodgers. Every Major Dodgers Home Ballpark The Dodgers have an unusually long ballpark history because of their Brooklyn roots. 1. Washington Park I — Brooklyn 1884–1890 Washington Park Washington Park I — Brooklynwas the original major professional home of the Brooklyn club after it joined the American Association. It was located in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. 2. Ridgewood Park — Queens 1886–1889 — occasional Sunday home games The Dodgers also played Sunday games at Ridgewood Park in Queens during their early years. This was not their principal home field, but it was used for home games. 3. Eastern Park — Brooklyn 1891–1897 Eastern Park became an important part of Dodgers history because it is closely associated with the origin of the Trolley Dodgers nickname. The park was in East New York, Brooklyn, and could accommodate roughly 18,000 spectators in its larger configuration. 4. Washington Park II — Brooklyn 1898–1912 The Dodgers returned to Washington Park, but this was a different ballpark from the original Washington Park. The club had outgrown its earlier facilities, and crowds eventually overwhelmed the park. 5. Ebbets Field — Brooklyn 1913–1957 Ebbets Field is arguably the most beloved home in Dodgers history. Opened in 1913, it became the home of generations of Brooklyn stars, including: Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Don Newcombe, Sandy Koufax It was also the site of the Dodgers’ historic 1955 World Series championship, Brooklyn’s first and only World Series title. The Dodgers played their final game at Ebbets Field on September 24, 1957. The ballpark was demolished in 1960. 6. Roosevelt Stadium — Jersey City, New Jersey 1956–1957 — occasional home games The Dodgers played a small number of home games at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City while still officially representing Brooklyn. They played seven home games there in 1956 and seven in 1957 according to the Dodgers’ official ballpark history. 7. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — Los Angeles 1958–1961 When Walter O’Malley moved the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, the club did not immediately have its own baseball stadium. The temporary solution was the enormous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Coliseum could seat more than 90,000 people, but its unusual dimensions created one of the strangest home fields in baseball history. The left-field line was only about 250 feet, requiring a huge protective screen. The Dodgers played their first Los Angeles home game there on April 18, 1958. 8. Dodger Stadium — Los Angeles 1962–present Dodger Stadium opened on April 10, 1962. Walter O’Malley privately financed and built the stadium, which became one of the most recognizable ballparks in baseball. More than six decades later, Dodger Stadium remains the Dodgers’ home. The Owners of the Dodgers The ownership history is almost as complicated as the playing history. Because ownership frequently involved partnerships and minority shareholders, it is more accurate to identify the principal ownership groups and controlling owners rather than pretend every small shareholder was the sole owner. 1880s–1890s: The Early Owners Among the early owners and partners were: Charles H. Byrne, Joseph Doyle, Ferdinand A. Abell, Charles H. Ebbets, George Chauncey, Harry Von der Horst, Ned Hanlon Charles Byrne was one of the key founders of the Brooklyn club. Charles Ebbets eventually became the dominant figure and helped establish the franchise as a permanent Brooklyn institution. Charles H. Ebbets 1902–1925 — principal owner Ebbets eventually obtained control of the franchise and became one of the most important owners in early baseball. His greatest physical legacy was Ebbets Field, which opened in 1913. The McKeever and Ebbets Families Following the deaths of Charles Ebbets and Edward McKeever, ownership became divided among their heirs, the McKeever interests and other shareholders. The organization remained a complicated partnership rather than simply belonging to one person. Walter O’Malley Changes Everything Walter F. O’Malley 1944–1979 Walter O’Malley purchased an interest in the Dodgers in 1944. By 1950, he had become the controlling owner. O’Malley became one of the most influential owners in baseball history. He was determined to build a winning organization and eventually concluded that Brooklyn could not provide the modern stadium and parking facilities he wanted. The Dodgers won their first World Series championship under O’Malley in 1955. Then came the controversial decision that changed baseball forever. The Move to Los Angeles After the 1957 season, O’Malley moved the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. The move was enormously controversial in Brooklyn, where the Dodgers were more than a baseball team. They were part of the identity… Continue reading The Complete History of the Dodgers
