The Post concludes its look at the 25 most memorable moments in Shea Stadium history.
Oct. 25, 1986
It might be the most dramatic baseball comeback ever. It might be the most famous World Series ever. It definitely is the greatest moment in the history of Shea Stadium.
When the ball rolled off Mookie Wilson’s bat and through Bill Buckner’s legs the big ballpark in Queens rocked like never before or since. No adjectives quite get the job done when describing Game 6. It was improbable, unbelievable and unforgettable.
Boston took a quick 2-0 lead in the game off RBI base hits from Dwight Evans and Marty Barrett. The Mets tied it up in the fifth off RBIs from Ray Knight and Danny Heep.
Knight gave the lead back with an error in the seventh that led to a Boston run and a 3-2 Sox lead. Roger Clemens gave up just four hits and two runs in seven innings. Red Sox manager John McNamara lifted Clemens for a pinch hitter in the eighth. McNamara was criticized for using rookie Mike Greenwell as the pinch hitter instead of Don Baylor. Greenwell struck out with a runner on second and one out and the Sox failed to score in the inning.
Gary Carter tied the game in the seventh with a sacrifice fly and the score remained 3-3 through the ninth inning.
Dave Henderson homered to lead off the 10th inning and give the Red Sox a lead. They scored one more run in the inning and led 5-3.
After getting two outs to start the bottom of the inning, the Red Sox were one out away from winning their first World Series since 1918. A message on the Shea scoreboard flashed congratulations, but that was premature.
The comeback began with a Carter single to left. Kevin Mitchell, who was in the clubhouse making travel plans, was called on to pinch-hit. He singled to center.
Knight hit an RBI single to score Carter and move Mitchell to third. Calvin Schiraldi was replaced by Bob Stanley to face Mookie Wilson. Stanley threw a wild pitch that allowed Mitchell to score the tying run and Knight to move to second.
Wilson worked a 10-pitch at-bat and hit a slow ground ball up the first base line. The ball slipped through Buckner’s legs and Knight scored the game-winner, setting off bedlam at Shea. They would win Game 7 two nights later, but it was this night that would never be forgotten by Mets fans.