This Day in Mets History

1973- The Mets complete an amazing climb from last place to first place by beating the Pirates 10-2 and improving their record to 77-77, they will finish the season at 82-79.

1979- The Mets sold Dock Ellis to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1987- Daryl Strawberry steals 2 bases to join Howard Johnson as the only teammates to ever have 30 steals and 30 HR's.

2001- A crowd of 41,235 gathered at Shea Stadium to witness the return of baseball to New York City for the first time since the terrorist attacks of September 11. Uplifting ceremonies before and during the game, which included singers Diana Ross, Marc Anthony Lisa Minnelli as well as bagpipers, paid tribute to victims of the tragedy. Mike Piazza's eighth inning home run gives the Mets a 3-2 dramatic victory over the Braves.

The Mets donate their day's pay, which totals approximately $500,000, from tonight's game with the Braves at Shea to a rescue fund for the families of the firefighters and policemen killed in the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. The contest is the first professional baseball game played in New York since the tragedy. (www.nationalpastime.com)



Mets Birthdays

• D.J. Dozier: 44