How 1999 actually went.
The Mets built one of the deepest lineups in team history around Piazza, Olerud, Alfonzo, and Robin Ventura. The infield defended so well that it was called the best ever, while Leiter, Reed, and a changing rotation kept the team in the race. A late seven-game losing streak nearly caused another collapse and cost several coaches their jobs.
The club recovered, forced a tiebreaker in Cincinnati, and watched Leiter throw a two-hit shutout to claim the Wild Card. The Division Series against Arizona included Alfonzo’s grand slam and Todd Pratt’s series-ending home run after Piazza was injured. Against Atlanta, the Mets fell behind three games to none and still dragged the series back to Shea.
Game 5 lasted 15 innings in the rain and ended with Ventura’s grand slam single, mobbed before he could circle the bases. The Braves won Game 6 after another long fight, ending the pennant dream. The loss hurt, but the run mattered: after more than a decade away, the Mets had created new October memories and proved they could survive the pressure that broke 1998.
Leiter’s shutout, Pratt’s homer, and Ventura’s single made October feel wild at Shea again.