Want to start a fight in New York City? Forget politics and religion.
Try a Big Apple baseball debate for the ages: Who would win a theoretical Subway Series between the dominant 1986 Mets and the juggernaut 1998 Yankees?
Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry believe the 108-win Amazin’s would beat the 114-win Bombers in a head-to-head death match of two of the greatest teams in MLB history.
And they should know, because they played for both clubs of those eras.
“Two great teams but our 1986 team was young and hungry,” said Strawberry, who is recovering from a recent heart attack. “We would have beaten back all challengers — including the 1998 Yankees.”
In 1986, primetime Strawberry, whose long, looping swing elicited comparisons to Ted Williams, slammed 27 homers and drove in 93 RBI. In 1998, the 6-foot-6 slugger’s 24 home runs helped the Yankees capture their 24th World Series.
“I would say the ‘86 Mets,” Strawberry previously told the YES Network’s Jack Curry. “We had such a different way about us. We intimidated teams. Teams hated playing us. . . . They knew if they came into Shea for a four-game series, they’d be lucky to get one win out because we just didn’t let up on teams.”
Gooden, whose number 16 is going to be retired by the Mets at CitiField on April 14, agreed it would be an epic battle between two magnificent teams.
“I’ll take the ’86 Mets because of the heart,” Dr. K told The Post. “On paper, the Yankees looked better. But you play on the field. I say it would go seven. And the Mets would win.”
would beat the ’98 Bombers in a dream seven-game World Series. New York Post
Strawberry, whose number 18 will be raised to the rafters on June 1 at Citi Field, noted the ’98 Yankees team “was great, too, and dominant” but felt the ’86 outfit would come out on top because of their starting pitching.
He gave the bullpen edge to the Yankees, who had Hall-of-Famer Mariano Rivera.
Not up for debate?
retire his number 18 at CitiField in June. New York Post
the final out of the 1986 World Series. Getty Images
The 1998 Yankees were the winningest team in baseball history.
They were 114-48 in the regular season, and won 11 of 13 playoff games, including a four game World Series sweep of the San Diego Padres, to finish with an off-the-charts 125-50 record.
The ’86 Mets set the franchise record for wins and there was no doubt who was the MLB’s best club during the regular season.
The Amazin’s made fans sweat it out during the postseason, going 8-5 with epic series wins against the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox.
“Would never bet against my ’86 team no matter who we played,” the team’s skipper Davey Johnson told The Post, a week before both teams open the season Thursday. “We always found a way. . . . There is nothing these guys couldn’t overcome.”
