How 1978 actually went.
The first full season after Seaver felt empty. The Mets improved by two wins but remained last, playing in front of shrinking crowds at Shea. The roster lacked stars and power, forcing young players into roles larger than they were ready to hold. John Stearns brought toughness behind the plate, and Lee Mazzilli began becoming the most recognizable everyday player.
Craig Swan supplied the season’s biggest achievement by leading the National League with a 2.43 ERA. His success mattered because it continued the Mets’ pitching tradition during a period when almost everything else had weakened. Pat Zachry and Nino Espinosa provided innings, but the offense gave the staff little room and the club again finished near the bottom in runs.
The 66–96 record did not produce a clear turning point. That is the real feeling of 1978: a team waiting for ownership, talent, and hope to change. Fans who stayed found individual players worth caring about, especially Mazzilli, Stearns, and Swan. The franchise as a whole still looked lost after the decision that had destroyed the previous era.
Swan gave the Mets an ERA champion, but even great pitching could not make Shea feel full again.