FANTASTIC SUMMER

Fantastic Summer [© 1988 The Eclectic Company] is the previously unpublished diary of what would
turn out to be the first of six straight seasons of covering the New York Mets as a beat reporter.

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Tonight, for the fourth time in their amazing 27-season history, the New York Mets claimed the championship of the National League's Eastern Division. After the poignant near-triumph in '85...the unmitigated euphoria of '86...the injuries and revelations of '87...this one takes on a character all its own. Not the effervescent Dom Perignon of two autumns past, but a full-bodied burgundy whose very age lends a special glow and satisfaction in a job well done. And in order to experience that warmth, you first must have an appreciation for just how hard it is to get there. The end justifies the means.

I'll remember this day for the rest of my life, in details that shift into other details with the abandon of a kaleidoscope. Sights: the determination that showed in every fiber of Ron Darling's lithe form as he put his whole being into each pitch, and the uncharacteristic pump of the fist as the dream of the final strikeout became a reality. Sounds: the spontaneous roar that erupted with neither rhyme nor reason as Gregg Jefferies came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth, an affirmation of the crowd that this was a night to share that would not be denied. Feelings: the chill in the autumn air, a reminder that soon this baseball season of miracles found and dashed dreams would be going the way of seasons past. And the presence of the wry spirit of Bobby Ojeda filling in the gaps with an unheard joke, an unseen smile, an unfelt touch.

The official record will show that the Mets beat the Phillies, 3-1, in 2:33, before 45,274 fans, for the second-earliest clinching in their history. That Ron Darling tossed a thrifty six-hitter to win his 16th, tying a career high, and that Don Carman suffered a rare loss to one of his favorite teams to pitch against. That no one hit a home run, that there was no game-winning RBI, that Gary Carter tried to steal a base, and Gregg Jefferies actually accomplished the feat.

But the official record won't show Elster’s back-to-the-infield catch off Jeltz's ball in the fifth, or his just-by-the-bag double down the left-field line in the bottom of that inning. It won't point out Teufel's great pick in the sixth, or Von Hayes' catch of Darling's last-gasp drive to the warning track in right-center, or Mookie's alert "steal" of home all the way from second on an infield hit by Kevin McReynolds. And the official record can't show a New York crowd vibrating to every pitch, culminating in a tidal wave of love as Lance Parrish checked his swing on a 1-2 splitter, but didn't check it quickly enough...and the mounties ringed the field, the infield set the stage for a fusion any amoeba would envy, and the scoreboard screamed "YES!" like an electronic Marv Albert.

Other images: Davey's locked door, barring any intrusion...Edwin Nuñez, hiding in the corner behind Gary Carter's locker, afraid to get his cast wet...being baptized by Barry Lyons, doused by Dave Magadan, showered by Sasser, and soaked by Messrs Mazzilli, Miller, and Teufel...a wave and a grin in the press box from Raffy Santana, spending his night off with his former family and friends...a quick hug from Gregg Jefferies, a part yet apart...Keith Hernandez savouring the moment at his locker, like a true elder statesman...Mount Rushmore, Kevin McReynolds, whose voice cracked with the emotion only those who don't know him claim he doesn't have...Roger McDowell, replete with wig and goggles, bearing memories of Bobby O...birthday boy Wally Backman sneaking up on Joe McIlvaine, while the latter was discussing the maintenance of one's cool amid the madness...Sam Perlozzo, toasted beyond repair [did Sid really tell me last Sunday that Sammy was the only serious guy on the team?] hugging Bill Robinson while admiring the lace of my stockings...a baby powder shower for Howie Rose, and the suggestion of a wet T-shirt contest from a few soused southerners ...Tim McCarver holding court on a platform centre-stage...

And the voices:

• Howard Johnson: "It was a tough summer. It seemed like we were destined to win, but...it just wasn't exciting enough!"

 
• Kevin McReynolds: "I'm glad it's over--that's all I can say...It's great...Look at the people here...I never saw this in San Diego when we clinched. This is awesome!...I don't want to drink none of it; I hate wine. I'm gonna spray everybody I can get close to!"

• Ron Darling: "I've had a bad cold, but colds don't exist on days like this...I think I'm gonna have to have some chicken soup on the plane...noodles and champagne!"

 
• Roger McDowell: "The plane flight? I don't know if it's gonna stay in one piece or it's gonna be that Hawaiian air thing, with the convertible top. We may blow the top on that baby! I think we're all gonna don wings and see if we can just get the air current and go from here..."

 
• Keith Hernandez: "To see the transitions, the fans coming back, and the fact that they hadn't won in thirteen years and to bring it back to them--that'll always be a treasured year for me."

 
• Kevin Mac: "The fans were awesome tonight. They lived and died on every pitch. They let it be known that they appreciated what we had done for them this year, and I know I speak for the majority of the players--we appreciate the fans being as vocal as they are...I think they deserve it as much as we do."

 
• Gregg Jefferies: "The fans here just deserve everything they get. They're a great bunch of people, and I'm glad we can win it for 'em."

 
• Roger: "You know, those fans are awesome! The first inning, two strikes, they're up! It's something that we've become accustomed to, and we love it--and hopefully, it'll never change."

 
• Joe McIlvaine: "As an executive, each day is a challenge. There's always crises, and we have to maintain our composure through a lot of different things. This is just another one...[after getting nailed by champagne] That's what we're here for...thank you very much, Wally Backman!"

 
• Bill Robinson: "I tell you what: if you can keep these guys intact for another four, five years--I definitely feel you're gonna see another championship. If not next year, the year after next...They're young veterans...I see a definite dynasty here, and I'd like to be around for another couple of years to enjoy it."

 
• Keith: "You can't project something like that; you can't look into the future...It's never gonna be a cakewalk, ever again."

 
• Gregg: "It's #1, it really is...I'm just glad I'm a little part of it...I've only been here a month. They went through the grueling hours, the hot days and the cold days. It's theirs...I'm just glad they let me in on it."

 
• Keith: "He's [Gregg Jefferies] my homie, he's my project...Lou Brock told me when I was younger, 'Let the bat do the talkin' for you.'"

 
• Gregg: "No one better than you are, dude!"

 
• Keith: "Okay...thanks."

 
• Darryl Strawberry: "Like Keith said, Mookie was the big turning point for us...he just made things happen for us."

 
• Keith: "We struggled for two months, and we could have had our confidence shook, we knew in our hearts--kept telling ourselves--cream would come to the top. I just knew it would take one person to spark the offense. Mookie did it."

 
• Mookie Wilson: "We weren't playing very well. We weren't scoring runs, and then all of a sudden I get a start, and we start to win. So whether it's true or not, I've enjoyed the fact that we've won while I was on the field. I had three escape routes...I was gonna climb the centerfield wall. If it was gonna be a fly ball to right field, I was gonna run through the bullpen. If it was gonna be a pop-up to the infield, I was gonna run to the infield. And if it had been to me, centerfield wall. I had three options ready to go! Oh, yeah--I'da got past the horses...no one would be out there anyway. I just wanted to get out of there without getting my head cut off!"

 
• Ronnie: "The pandemonium sets in--I really didn't have any thoughts. I just didn't want Kid [Gary Carter] to jump on me too hard...he weighs a lot!"

 
• Bill: "Just God bless 'em. These young men really rose to the occasion this year. I think the toughest thing is when they predict for you to win--and then you go out and do it...Everyone did their part...In the last three weeks, nobody could beat us. Even when we got a run down or so, we just knew that we were gonna come back and beat a ballclub, beat a team."

 
• Gary Carter: "Once it got into September, that hunger...we weren't going to be denied. And we wanted it really bad this year. You could feel it on the bench."

 
• Bill: "In the eighth inning, talking to Mel Stottlemyre, when he went out to talk to Ronnie, he said he'd never seen more of a competitive look than Ronnie gave him, and he said, 'I can get this guy out.' And he went out, and the next pitch, he threw a double-play, and we were out of the inning...Mel said that he saw that killer instinct in Ronnie's eyes."

 
• Ronnie: "I just want to go out there--I want to be known as someone who goes out there every fifth day and leaves his heart out on the mound...Even if I don't have my best stuff, I think that sometimes I can put the mirror behind me, put those mirrors out there, and somehow try to fool 'em. I did a couple times; not as many times as I wanted to, but...it doesn't matter. It's a great year anyway 'cause we won...I think every pitcher wants to be out there and get hugged by 24 guys."