Matt Campbell/AFP/Getty ImagesRobin Ventura got lifted by Todd Pratt after his grand slam single, but does he stand atop our rankings of the best singles in Mets history?This is the fifth in a series of lists we will be generating related to the history of the New York Mets. On Tuesday, we touched on numbers six through 10. Today, we'll cover the top five singles in Mets history.
We've previously covered the Mets' most notable home runs (part 1|part 2), best pitching performances (part 1|part 2), best defensive players (part 1|part 2), and fastest baserunners (part 1)|(part 2).
5. Wally Backman, 1986 National League Championship Series, Game 3
Most Singles- Mets History
With the Mets trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the club needed a spark to get a rally going.
Backman provided it with his drag-bunt hit and funky maneuver to avoid being tagged out at first base by Astros first baseman Glenn Davis. The Astros would argue that Backman went out of the basepath to avoid the tag, but to no avail.
Two batters later, Len Dykstra would hit a walk-off home run and the Mets would take a 2-1 lead in the series with their 6-5 win.
Did you know? A Backman bunt was not a surprise play. He ranked tied for sixth in the majors with nine bunt hits during the regular season. He also ranked third in sacrifices with 14.
4. Gary Carter, 1986 NLCS, Game 5
Carter had many great moments with the Mets and found his way near the top of both the most memorable home run list and this list for good reason.
AP Photo/Lou RequeniaGary Carter's hit gave Mets fans much to celebrate.
The Mets and Astros were tied 1-1 with runners on first and second in the 12th inning after the Astros intentionally walked Keith Hernandez to pitch to Carter.
Carter was 1-for-21 in the series entering the at-bat and had been stymied by a behind-the-back defensive play by Kerfeld earlier in the series.
This time he would not be stopped. His single to center (past Kerfeld) plated Backman with the run that put the Mets ahead in the series and set up the next moment on our list.
Did you know? Two Mets have had a pair of go-ahead postseason hits that came in the ninth inning or later -- Gary Carter and Jay Payton. Carter’s other hit came against the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1988 NLCS.
3. Ray Knight, 1986 NLCS, Game 6
Knight had so many big hits for the Mets during the 1986 season that it was only appropriate that he got the game-winner against his former team, the Astros.
That first required him tying the game with a ninth-inning sacrifice fly, following a lengthy at-bat, as part of a three-run Mets rally.
The Mets would fail to hold a lead in the 14th inning, as the Astros tied the game on Billy Hatcher's home run. Knight would plate the first of three runs in the 16th with an RBI single to right field. The Astros would score twice, but the Mets would hang on to win, with Jesse Orosco striking out Kevin Bass for the series-clinching out.
Did you know? This stood as the latest go-ahead hit in a postseason game for 19 years until an Astros player, Chris Burke, homered in the 18th inning of Game 4 of the 2005 NLDS against the Braves. Burke’s mark would be matched by Brandon Belt of the Giants in Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS against the Nationals.
2. Robin Ventura, 1999 NLCS, Game 5
I wanted to put this one first on the list, but after thinking about it a bit, I came up with something that had it beat.
So it settles for second -- and that's not to shortchange it at all.
To fully tell the story of the grand-slam single, we must not forget there was another single that was key to the Mets' 15th inning rally from a run down facing elimination against the Atlanta Braves.
That one was by Shawon Dunston leading off the inning, one that capped a grueling 12-pitch at-bat.
The Mets would eventually tie the game with one out on a bases-loaded walk by Todd Pratt.
Next up was Ventura, a bases-loaded specialist, who cracked a 2-1 pitch over the 371 sign in right center for an apparent grand slam. However, Mets players were so excited that they stormed the field and a number mobbed Ventura before he even reached second base.
Hence the moniker: The Grand Slam Single.
Did you know? Ventura’s 18 career grand slam home runs are tied with Willie McCovey for fifth all-time. The only players with more are Alex Rodriguez (24), Lou Gehrig (23), Manny Ramirez (21) and Eddie Murray (19). Ventura’s 18 are two more than both Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth.
1. Gary Carter, Kevin Mitchell, Ray Knight, 1986 World Series, Game 6
This was the only thing that could beat out "The Grand Slam Single."
With the Mets trailing by two runs and down to their final out and facing the end of their season in the 10th inning, they mustered three consecutive singles. Carter got the rally started with a line-drive single to left. Mitchell hit an 0-1 breaking ball into center field to bring the tying run to the plate. Knight fought off an 0-2 fastball on the fists (often overlooked: this was a really good pitch) and muscled it into center for an RBI single.
That set up for Mookie Wilson for what would be the most memorable at-bat in Mets history -- one that resulted in a wild pitch and the most famous error from which the Mets have ever benefited.
I suppose "best errors" could be another good list, but we'll hold off on that for now.
Did you know? The 1986 Mets and 2011 Cardinals are the only teams to overcome being three outs away from postseason elimination, while being down multiple runs, to come back and win the World Series.
