Mets Franchise Timeline: 1980s

1980

January 24 - The Mets are sold to a group headed by Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon. The purchase price is estimated at $21.1 million - the highest amount ever paid for an American professional sports franchise.

1981

Spring - The Home Run Apple Hat "arrived"

Winter 1981-82 - Original Mitsubishi DiamondVision screen installed behind left field fence. . .At 24x36 feet, it is the largest board of its kind in the world.

1982

June, 1982 - The Mets select pitcher Dwight Gooden with the fifth pick of the 1982 Draft.

1983

June 15 - The Mets acquire first baseman Keith Hernandez from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey.

1984

April 29 - Strawberry Sunday (or Sundae?), as Mets honor their reigning NL Rookie of the Year with free ice cream sundaes for fans. . .Darryl goes 2-for-3 in 6-2 win over Phillies.

December 12 - The Mets acquire catcher Gary Carter from the Montreal Expos in exchange for infielder Hubie Brooks, catcher Mike Fitzgerald, outfielder Herm Winningham and pitcher Floyd Youmans.

1985

Winter 1985-86 - First section of "Diamond View" luxury suites installed on club level, extending from behind third base to Left Field Terrace group area. . .Original Shea press room (in LF on club level) is converted to luxury suite service area. . .Original Directors Room (behind home plate) is converted to press dining, and new press work area is built directly behind main press box.

1986

September 17 - Mets clinch first NL East pennant since '73 with Gooden's 4-2 win over Cubs before 47,823 fans.

October 11 - Lenny Dykstra's two-run home run in the ninth lifted New York to a 6-5 win in Game Three of the NLCS vs. Houston.

October 14 - Gary Carter's 12th inning single gave the Mets a 2-1 win in Game Five of the NLCS vs. Houston.

October 15 - In one of the greatest games in postseason history, the Mets defeat the Houston Astros 7-6 in 16 innings for the third National League Championship in franchise history.

October 25 - Game Six of the World Series vs. Boston. Buckner error in the 9th.

October 27 - Game Seven of the World Series vs. Boston. New York won its second title with an 8-5 triumph.

1987

Winter 1987-88 - The original 1964 RF scoreboard is dismantled, with new scoreboard (by White Way Company of Chicago) built within the shell of the original. New board is similar in layout to the '64 version, and includes center B&W animated matrix section and permanent space for six (post-season) umpires, a first in a major league stadium. New animated auxiliary boards in the RF and LF corners replace the originals, as well. Extensive stadium upgrades also include: Painting of exterior in "Mets Blue". . .Addition of neon baseball player depictions (designed by de Harak and Poulin Associates) on each of the six wind panels. . .Original outfield fence replaced with padded wall. . .New section of Diamond View suites installed from first base side of club level (in front of Diamond Club) to end of stadium structure in right field.

1988

July 24 - Tom Seaver's no. 41 formally retired, joining Gil Hodges' 14 and Casey Stengel's 37 on the LF wall.

September 22 - Mets clinched the NL East with a 3-1 win over Philadelphia.

October 10 - Mets eliminated from NLCS as Dodgers win a decisive Game Seven.