As long as Cubs fans say things like, "Steve Bartman undid the Cubs in 2003," I will root for the Cubs to lose. Bartman, a diehard Cubs fan, happened to touch a foul ball that an entire section of people at Wrigley instinctively reached for. For this unpardonable sin, Bartman received death threats and was hounded out of public life. The vilification of Bartman at the time, and the lingering bitterness directed towards him, is a shameful stain that in my view outweighs sympathy for their history of losing.
8
Good article, but the 2003 Cubs were hardly "done in" by Steve Bartman. They were done in by poor play at the wrong time as Bartman served as a convenient scapegoat. He had nothing to do with botched double play balls and a dreadful game seven performance.
6
If Mr. Bondy thinks the Cubs-Mets rivalry compares with the Cubs-Cardinals, AT ALL, he has been living in New York too long. The Cubs have been playing the Cards since the 19th century! Go to Wrigley when the Cards are playing, then go back for a Mets game. Absolutely no comparison!
2
Mr. Bondy omits - or rather, forgets - that the 2007 Mets suffered a much worse September collapse than either the '69 Cubs or even the '64 Phillies.
1
I am a New Yorker living in Chicago. My kids are Cubs fans. No one at work will speak to me next week.
4
We don't want your sympathy. We don't need it. Because we are going for your throats just like we did to St. Lousy. This will be quick.
Little after the fact comment but yes, it does not get any better, Chicago and New York, the Cubbies and their infinite curse, and the amazing Mets with their young and talented pitching staff. October baseball!
As a Yankee fan who respects this Met team and who also wants New York teams to win, this NLCS is a dilemma. You want to see young guys like de Grom and Syndergaard do great, but it is the Cubs they are going up against. I mean, its been a 107 year drought. I know its been tough for Mets fans as well: they haven't seen the Series since 2000 (and we know what happened then). But the Cubs are part of the American mythos. How can you not root for them? We know the rest of the country will. But can we betray our City? I am at a loss as to what to do. But I do know this NLCS will be epic.
3
I was a young Met fan in 1969 when my Dad took me and my younger brother to that Mets-Cub game. The moment the black cat crossed the field was electric. Soon after that some fans a few rows in front of us began singing "Goodbye Leo" (to Durocher) and the whole stadium joined in. The rest is truly history. What a great game that was. Let's Go Mets!
4
Steve Bartman did not undo the Cubs in '03. There was plenty of blame to go around. Alex Gonzalez booted a double play ball. Dusty failed to calm down Prior. And it was only game six. Look at the tape and you will see a number of people lunging for that ball. Give the guy a break
7
The difference between Mets fans and Yankees fans? We love our team and we love the game of baseball; they love winning more than they love their team or the game. Which is why Mets fans will be fine if we lose to the Cubs, whose fans also love their team and the game - even when their team loses. If the Cubs beat my Mets I'll be rooting for the Cubs to finally win a World Series title and end the curse. I'm imagining it will feel a bit like 2004 when the Red Sox ended their long championship drought - one of the greatest post seasons I have ever witnessed.
In the meantime - Let's Go Mets!
In the meantime - Let's Go Mets!
6
"And once more, the Cubs have a more impressive offensive lineup than the Mets."
Is this really true? Since the Mets acquired Cespedes their offense has been the best in baseball.
Just looking at each team's lineup, the Mets have 7 hitters with excellent triple slash lines in Granderson, Wright, Murphy, Cespedes, Duda, d'Arnaud, and Conforto. The Cubs, meanwhile, have three elite hitters in Rizzo, Bryant, and Schwarber and little else.
I think the Mets are the superior team. Their terrible offense in the first half without Cespedes, Wright, d'Arnaud, and Conforto is making pundits underestimate them.
Is this really true? Since the Mets acquired Cespedes their offense has been the best in baseball.
Just looking at each team's lineup, the Mets have 7 hitters with excellent triple slash lines in Granderson, Wright, Murphy, Cespedes, Duda, d'Arnaud, and Conforto. The Cubs, meanwhile, have three elite hitters in Rizzo, Bryant, and Schwarber and little else.
I think the Mets are the superior team. Their terrible offense in the first half without Cespedes, Wright, d'Arnaud, and Conforto is making pundits underestimate them.
Ah, 1969 - A perfect sports time for NYC. Poor Cubbies, but Baltimore had it worse: Mets / Orioles, Jets / Colts, Knicks / Bullets. And, another once in a lifetime event: We walked on the moon for the first time! To quote the Old Professor Casey Stengel. Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing!
Like HD, I will have a hard time watching the Metsies beating the Cubbies, and a harder time if the Cubs prevail. Remember: We since beat them in 69, that itch got scratched; especially well, given some of their obnoxious quotes.
But I'll admit I do admire the Cubs return to seriousness, and I do empathize with their long term futility... Alas.
Alas.
Like HD, I will have a hard time watching the Metsies beating the Cubbies, and a harder time if the Cubs prevail. Remember: We since beat them in 69, that itch got scratched; especially well, given some of their obnoxious quotes.
But I'll admit I do admire the Cubs return to seriousness, and I do empathize with their long term futility... Alas.
Alas.
4
Nice to have Filip Bondy speak his mind insteading of hewing to the paid-off NY Daily News - Mets - Wilpon relationship where anything that didn't toe the company line was suppressed or watered down. Sure beats Mike Lupica.
2
The author forgets that the 1973 Mets team was arguably the greatest team of all-time, when one considers the true meaning of a team. This was a bunch of sub-par players playing together better than any other group before or since. And they won the 1973 World Series in six games (the fix was in, so the ump blew the call at the plate, but replays show who really won that game/series).
Since 1962, the Mets have won three World Series titles and have been to a fourth series, while the Flubs haven't been to any.
Since 1962, the Mets have won three World Series titles and have been to a fourth series, while the Flubs haven't been to any.
5
The 1973 Mets "arguably the greatest team of all time." ??? Arguably the greatest 82-79 team, I grant you that.
1
Two WS titles, not three. A third would be nice though.
Honestly, though I am a lifelong, rabid Met fan, I will have a hard time seeing them face, and possibly beat, the Cubs. I think everyone who loves baseball has a secret sympathy for the Cubs and their fans, who haven't Celebrated a World Series win since Teddy Roosevelt was President
20
May all your Cub-Met nightmares recur over and over again, Filip.
See you Saturday night on the Mets home field !
Let's go Mets !
See you Saturday night on the Mets home field !
Let's go Mets !
8
Well, Filip, see you on Saturday. Cubs went 7-0 against the Mets this year. What are you afraid of? (Psst, think 1988, when the Mets were 11-1 against the Dodgers in the regular season...)
2
The Cubs beat a VERY different Mets team - line ups full of John Mayberry, Jr. and Danny Muno. The trades at the deadline changed EVERYTHING. I like our chances - Mets in 6!!
The 1969 Cubs also featured Bill Hands, who won 20 games that year, Ken Holtzman, who threw a no-hitter, and ex-Met Dick Selma, who got off to a hot start that year before fading in the last two months. That season at least, it wasn't just Fergie Jenkins.
8
Even as a fan of NY sports teams I have to say there is a soft spot in my heart. It will hurt when the Mets beat the Cubs in the NLCS. Very painful...but not too painful! We need tams like the Cubs and Red Sox (ugh!) to pity because they are, well, how else can I say it? Pitiful!
1
I'm a grizzled Cubs fan, I remember 1969 vividly, and I say bring on the Mets. I want to see the Cubs win the World Series, and I want to see them beat the Mets on the way. I only wish we could beat the Yankees in the series.
8
If you don't like Mr. Met, you must really dislike the fact that one of the best baseball songs ever written is "Meet The Mets". The Cubs, around much longer than the upstart Mets have nothing to compare (though they abuse "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" at every home game). If they meet in the NL championship series, "Meet The Mets" will prevail.
My version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrrzSXZfzwo
My version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrrzSXZfzwo
3
Cubs fans could be heard singing "Go, Cubs, Go!" from a mile away after Tuesday night's victory over the Cardinals. We'll meet your Mets and take them OUT of the ball game. :-)
2
In Yankees country, it's always been "Beat the Mets".
Filip,
As much as I sympathize for your supreme disappointment of 1969, that year and it's baseball results especially, are a touchstone of my own life. I have friends and family who are Cubs fans and I want the Cubbies to do well and break their World Series curse.... except at the expense of the Mets. For we have suffered too, although not to the same depths as you. (And living in a town with the Yankees only adds to our sense of second classness.)
As with most people who approach their 60's , I've occasionally wished I were 10 years younger. But if I were, I'd have missed the '69 Mets. For me, that trade off isn't worth it. Go Cubbies.... Unless you play my Mets.
As much as I sympathize for your supreme disappointment of 1969, that year and it's baseball results especially, are a touchstone of my own life. I have friends and family who are Cubs fans and I want the Cubbies to do well and break their World Series curse.... except at the expense of the Mets. For we have suffered too, although not to the same depths as you. (And living in a town with the Yankees only adds to our sense of second classness.)
As with most people who approach their 60's , I've occasionally wished I were 10 years younger. But if I were, I'd have missed the '69 Mets. For me, that trade off isn't worth it. Go Cubbies.... Unless you play my Mets.
13
One outstanding starter? Bill Hands (20 wins & a better ERA than Jenkins)? Kenny Holtzman (17 wins)?
10
People who trade in the "black cat" myth should have one of their own lives taken away. Oh, they only have one? So sorry.
Geez...that's not nice. I was thrilled for the Cubbies and their fans when they beat the Cardinals at home and like virtually all Met fans will be rooting big time for the Cubs if the Dodgers win tonight. I'm not sure I agree that "any grizzled Cubs fan" would prefer the Dodgers. Those as old as you and I, able to recall that joyful (for me, a 10 year old in Queens) summer of '69, might want payback. And, i reckon, some of those grizzled fans would be put off by your fear of the Mets -- a group of fresh-faced kids who are winning ahead of schedule. Root for the Mets to face the Cubs and agree to root for the winner to defeat the American League champions.
3
The Cubs cubs are, like the Mets, well ahead of schedule.
1
Does anyone remember Jimmy Qualls? It was one bright spot for the Cubs against a superb Tom Seaver back in July 1969. Jimmy cost Tom a perfect game with a one out single in the ninth inning. Tom Terrific retired the next two batters.
6
The Cubs only televised 155 games each season back then and the Seaver one-hitter was not televised. The radio said it all, perhaps the only highlight in September 1969 for the Cubs not starring Jim Hickman (former Met).