Late Summer Auction SESSION 2 CLOSING SEPT 21 10PM EASTERN FOR INITIAL BIDS

Lot #19: 1986 New York Mets World Series Championship Full Size Owners Trophy

Description

For New York Mets fans, 1986 was one of the most memorable seasons in the franchise’s history. While the 1969 team provided the city with a “Miracle” win, not only in catching the Cubs in the regular season and then defeating the heavily favored Orioles in the World Series, the 1986 team provided their own miracle, by defeating the Boston Red Sox when their backs were against the wall. The Mets had finished with the best record in baseball during the regular season with a franchise best 108-54 record and fought off the pesky Houston Astros in the NLCS to reach the World Series for only the third time in team history.

After dropping the first two games at home to Boston, the Mets took 2-of-3 from the Red Sox at Fenway Park to bring the series back to Shea Stadium. After Dave Henderson’s home run and Marty Barrett’s RBI single in the top of the 10th inning of Game 6 that gave the Red Sox a 5-3 lead, it looked as though the Mets run would come to an end, especially after Wally Backman and Keith Hernandez were retired to start the bottom of the 10th inning. However, three straight singles by Hall of Famer Gary Carter, Kevin Mitchell and Ray Knight closed the gap to 5-4. With Bob Stanley replacing Calvin Schiraldi to face Mookie Wilson, Stanley uncorked a wild pitch that scored Mitchell from third to tie the game. Then Wilson hit the famous dribbler down the first base line that found its way through Bill Buckner’s legs trickling into right field that easily scored Knight from second and just like that, the Mets tied the series. Game 7 seemed liked a formality, even though Boston jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Scoring three runs in the sixth and seventh innings and then adding two insurance runs in the eight, the Mets closed out the series with Jesse Orosco fanning Barrett for the final out.               

Offered here is the culmination of that historic season for the New York Mets – full-sized World Series trophy. This is of the type of trophy that was presented to select front office members and players, not the smaller versions often seen for sale. This Commissioner’s Trophy is approximately 25 inches tall, and measures roughly 13 inches in diameter, nearly twice the size of the ones issued to players and staff. The trophy features 26 gold painted flags, representing each team in the American and National League, surrounding a silver baseball and golden ring mounted by a gold championship crown. The 13-inch diameter black wooden base has both Red Sox and Mets World Series Press Pins. “WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS NEW YORK METS 1986” adorns the front gold band in black lettering, while the back of the gold band has “COPYRIGHT© 1983 COMMISSIONER OF BASEBALL” in black. The trophy is in good condition with some tarnish on the gold band around the base and some surface wear on the black top base. The pennant flags are fully intact with two of the tops bent on the Blue Jays and Rangers flags. The Yankees flag top is slightly raised but can be screwed back down. This trophy was originally sold at auction in 2009 and according to that auction’s description “Unlike the standard-size World Series trophies, which are issued to players, coaches, and front office executives, only a very limited number of owner's trophies are produced each year. Normally the team owner or owners get one and another is ordered for display in the team's office. According to our consignor, this is one of only three New York Mets owner's trophies ordered by the club to commemorate its 1986 World Championship.

Final Bid (Includes Buyers Premium):$39,600
Minimum Bid:$15,000
Number of Bids:10