The 1999 New York Mets season was the franchise's 38th and the team's 36th season at Shea Stadium. The team finished with a 97–66 record, placing second in the National League East. They secured the NL Wild Card by defeating the Cincinnati Reds in a one-game playoff. The Mets advanced to the NLCS, where they were defeated by the Atlanta Braves in six games.
The Mets were managed by Bobby Valentine, who entered his fourth year as skipper. They played home games at Shea Stadium.
Offseason November 11, 1998: Bobby Bonilla was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the New York Mets for Mel Rojas.Bobby Bonilla Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 1, 1998: Todd Hundley was traded by the New York Mets with Arnold Gooch (minors) to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Roger Cedeño and Charles Johnson.Todd Hundley Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 1, 1998: Charles Johnson was traded by the New York Mets to the Baltimore Orioles for Armando Benítez.Charles Johnson Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 1, 1998: Robin Ventura was signed as a free agent with the New York Mets. December 16, 1998: Rickey Henderson signed as a free agent with the New York Mets. December 18, 1998: Josías Manzanillo was signed as a free agent with the New York Mets.
Regular season The Mets' 97 victories were their highest total since they won 100 games in 1988. They were led offensively by catcher Mike Piazza, who compiled a .303 average with 40 home runs and 124 RBI in his first full season with the team. New third baseman Robin Ventura put together a .301 average, 32 home runs, and 120 RBI while second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo hit .304 with 27 home runs and 108 RBI. First baseman John Olerud continued his consistent hitting, hitting .298 with 96 RBI, his third straight year with 90 or more runs driven in. Offseason acquisitions Roger Cedeño and Rickey Henderson recorded the two highest batting averages on the squad at .315 and .313 respectively. Benny Agbayani, a semi-regular outfielder who got more playing time as the year progressed, contributed 14 home runs.
The Mets' pitching staff was again led by Al Leiter with 13 wins. Orel Hershiser matched that total, with Masato Yoshii recording 12 wins and Rick Reed 11. Rookie Octavio Dotel went 8–3 in fourteen starts, and late season acquisition Kenny Rogers won five of six decisions while leading the team in complete games. The rotation was not as strong at keeping runs off the board; the team's four main starters recorded ERAs above 4.00.
The offseason acquisition of Armando Benitez from the Baltimore Orioles ended John Franco's tenure as the team's closer. Franco did manage to record nineteen saves and broke the Major League Baseball record for saves by a left-hander, but Benitez' 1.85 ERA and twenty-two saves ensured the closer role would be his for the foreseeable future.
Mercury Mets As part of the now-infamous Turn Ahead the Clock promotion sponsored by Century 21, the Mets changed their name to the "Mercury Mets" while hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 27, 1999.
Opening Day starters SP – Al Leiter C – Mike Piazza 1B – John Olerud 2B – Edgardo Alfonzo 3B – Robin Ventura SS – Rey Ordóñez LF – Rickey Henderson CF – Brian McRae RF – Bobby Bonilla
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions July 31, 1999: Brian McRae was traded by the New York Mets with Thomas Johnson (minors) and Rigo Beltrán to the Colorado Rockies for Darryl Hamilton and Chuck McElroy.Brian McRae Statistics Baseball-Reference.com July 31, 1999: Jason Isringhausen was traded by the New York Mets with Greg McMichael to the Oakland Athletics for Billy Taylor.Jason Isringhausen Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
Game log LegendMets WinMets LossGame Postponed Clinched playoff spotBold = Mets team member
|- bgcolor="#fcc" | 1 || April 5 || @ Marlins || 2–6 || Fernandez (1–0) || Leiter (0–1) || — || Pro Player Stadium || 38,983 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 2 || April 6 || @ Marlins || 12–3 || Reed (1–0) || Hernandez (0–1) || Watson (1) || Pro Player Stadium || 18,075 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 3 || April 7 || @ Marlins || 6–0 || Jones (1–0) || Sanchez (0–1) || — || Pro Player Stadium || 13,845 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 4 || April 8 || @ Expos || 1–5 || Batista (1–0) || Hershiser (0–1) || Urbina (1) || Olympic Stadium || 43,918 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 5 || April 9 || @ Expos || 10–3 || Yoshii (1–0) || Thurman (0–1) || — || Olympic Stadium || 12,386 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 6 || April 10 || @ Expos || 4–3 || Cook (1–0) || Telford (0–1) || Franco (1) || Olympic Stadium || 16,173 || 4–2 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 7 || April 11 || @ Expos || 6–3 || Watson (1–0) || Pavano (0–2) || Franco (2) || Olympic Stadium || 10,366 || 5–2 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 8 || April 12 || Marlins || 8–1 || Jones (2–0) || Hernandez (0–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 52,052 || 6–2 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 9 || April 14 || Marlins || 4–1 || Hershiser (1–1) || Sanchez (0–2) || Franco (3) || Shea Stadium || 15,729 || 7–2 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 10 || April 15 || Marlins || 4–11 || Meadows (2–0) || Yoshii (1–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 14,165 || 7–3 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 11 || April 16 || Expos || 4–6 || Hermanson (2–0) || Leiter (0–2) || Urbina (2) || Shea Stadium || 17,900 || 7–4 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 12 || April 17 || Expos || 3–2 || Jones (3–0) || Pavano (0–3) || Franco (4) || Shea Stadium || 34,784 || 8–4 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 13 || April 18 || Expos || 2–4 || Vazquez (1–1) || Watson (1–1) || Urbina (3) || Shea Stadium || 26,020 || 8–5 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 14 || April 20 || @ Reds || 3–2 || Cook (2–0) || Harnisch (1–2) || Franco (5) || Cinergy Field || 14,006 || 9–5 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 15 || April 21 || @ Reds || 4–7 || Sullivan (1–0) || Yoshii (1–2) || Graves (2) || Cinergy Field || 15,040 || 9–6 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 16 || April 22 || @ Reds || 4–1 || Leiter (1–2) || Tomko (0–1) || Franco (6) || Cinergy Field || 14,783 || 10–6 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 17 || April 23 || @ Cubs || 6–5 || Cook (3–0) || Beck (1–2) || Franco (7) || Wrigley Field || 20,828 || 11–6 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 18 || April 24 || @ Cubs || 0–2 || Mulholland (1–0) || Watson (1–2) || Beck (3) || Wrigley Field || 38,516 || 11–7 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 19 || April 25 || @ Cubs || 4–8 || Myers (1–0) || Hershiser (1–2) || — || Wrigley Field || 39,265 || 11–8 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 20 || April 27 || Padres || 2–6 || Ashby (4–1) || Yoshii (1–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 25,113 || 11–9 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 21 || April 28 || Padres || 4–3 || Wendell (1–0) || Hoffman (0–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 22,581 || 12–9 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 22 || April 29 || Padres || 8–5 || Cook (4–0) || Boehringer (0–1) || Franco (8) || Shea Stadium || 18,442 || 13–9 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 23 || April 30 || Giants || 7–2 || Watson (2–2) || Estes (2–2) || Wendell (1) || Shea Stadium || 32,427 || 14–9
|- bgcolor="#cfc" | 24 || May 1 || Giants || 9–4 || Hershiser (2–2) || Brock (2–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 33,825 || 15–9 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 25 || May 2 || Giants || 2–0 || Cook (5–0) || Johnstone (3–1) || Franco (9) || Shea Stadium || 37,431 || 16–9 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 26 || May 3 || Astros || 5–3 || Reed (2–0) || Holt (0–4) || Franco (10) || Shea Stadium || 14,878 || 17–9 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 27 || May 4 || Astros || 1–6 || Hampton (3–1) || Leiter (1–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 27,192 || 17–10 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 28 || May 5 || Astros || 4–5 || Powell (2–0) || Benitez (0–1) || Wagner (10) || Shea Stadium || 25,026 || 17–11 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 29 || May 7 || @ Diamondbacks || 7–14 || Stottlemyre (4–1) || Hershiser (2–3) || — || Bank One Ballpark || 38,154 || 17–12 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 30 || May 8 || @ Diamondbacks || 4–2 || Yoshii (2–3) || Benes (2–3) || Benitez (1) || Bank One Ballpark || 37,593 || 18–12 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 31 || May 9 || @ Diamondbacks || 6–11 || Daal (3–3) || Reed (2–1) || — || Bank One Ballpark || 38,250 || 18–13 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 32 || May 10 || @ Rockies || 3–10 || Astacio (3–3) || Leiter (1–4) || — || Coors Field || 40,021 || 18–14 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 33 || May 11 || @ Rockies || 5–8 || B. M. Jones (1–1) || B. J. Jones (3–1) || — || Coors Field || 40,032 || 18–15 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 34 || May 12 || @ Rockies || 10–5 || Reed (3–1) || Thomson (0–5) || — || Coors Field || 41,011 || 19–15 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 35 || May 14 || @ Phillies || 7–3 || Yoshii (3–3) || Ogea (2–3) || — || Veterans Stadium || 21,074 || 20–15 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 36 || May 15 || @ Phillies || 9–7 || Mahomes (1–0) || Ryan (1–2) || Franco (11) || Veterans Stadium || 27,039 || 21–15 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 37 || May 16 || @ Phillies || 2–5 || Byrd (5–2) || Hershiser (2–4) || Brantley (5) || Veterans Stadium || 28,422 || 21–16 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 38 || May 17 || Brewers || 6–7 || Karl (5–1) || B. J. Jones (3–2) || Wickman (8) || Shea Stadium || 16,326 || 21–17 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 39 || May 18 || Brewers || 2–4 || Weathers (3–0) || Cook (5–1) || Wickman (9) || Shea Stadium || 26,411 || 21–18 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || May 19 || Brewers || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for May 20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 40 || May 20 || Brewers || 11–10 || Leiter (2–4) || Abbott (0–5) || Franco (12) || Shea Stadium || N/A || 22–18 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 41 || May 20 || Brewers || 7–5 || Yoshii (4–3) || Woodard (3–4) || — || Shea Stadium || 19,542 || 23–18 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 42 || May 21 || Phillies || 7–5 || Hershiser (3–4) || Loewer (2–4) || Franco (13) || Shea Stadium || 24,554 || 24–18 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 43 || May 22 || Phillies || 3–9 || Byrd (6–2) || B. J. Jones (3–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 34,575 || 24–19 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 44 || May 23 || Phillies || 5–4 || Beltran (1–0) || Schilling (7–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 34,950 || 25–19 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 45 || May 24 || @ Pirates || 4–7 || Silva (2–2) || Isringhausen (0–1) || Williams (8) || Three Rivers Stadium || 11,880 || 25–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 46 || May 25 || @ Pirates || 8–3 || Yoshii (5–3) || Benson (3–3) || — || Three Rivers Stadium || 12,029 || 26–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 47 || May 26 || @ Pirates || 5–2 || Hershiser (4–4) || Schourek (2–5) || Franco (14) || Three Rivers Stadium || 13,681 || 27–20 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 48 || May 28 || Diamondbacks || 1–2 || Daal (5–4) || Reed (3–2) || Olson (6) || Shea Stadium || 32,114 || 27–21 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 49 || May 29 || Diamondbacks || 7–8 || Reynoso (3–1) || Beltran (1–1) || Kim (1) || Shea Stadium || 35,167 || 27–22 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 50 || May 30 || Diamondbacks || 1–10 || Johnson (6–2) || Yoshii (5–4) || — || Shea Stadium || 38,302 || 27–23 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 51 || May 31 || Reds || 3–5 || Villone (1–0) || Leiter (2–5) || Williamson (6) || Shea Stadium || 28,368 || 27–24
|- bgcolor="#fcc" | 52 || June 1 || Reds || 0–4 || Harnisch (5–5) || Hershiser (4–5) || — || Shea Stadium || 17,899 || 27–25 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 53 || June 2 || Reds || 7–8 || Williamson (4–1) || Franco (0–1) || Sullivan (1) || Shea Stadium || 15,837 || 27–26 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 54 || June 4 || @ Yankees || 3–4 || Grimsley (5–0) || Reed (3–3) || Rivera (14) || Yankee Stadium || 56,175 || 27–27 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 55 || June 5 || @ Yankees || 3–6 || Hernandez (6–5) || Yoshii (5–5) || Rivera (15) || Yankee Stadium || 55,935 || 27–28 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 56 || June 6 || @ Yankees || 7–2 || Leiter (3–5) || Clemens (5–1) || — || Yankee Stadium || 56,294 || 28–28 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 57 || June 7 || Blue Jays || 8–2 || Hershiser (5–5) || Halladay (4–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 21,457 || 29–28 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 58 || June 8 || Blue Jays || 11–3 || Isringhausen (1–1) || Hentgen (4–5) || — || Shea Stadium || 18,984 || 30–28 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 59 || June 9 || Blue Jays || 4–3 || Mahomes (2–0) || Davey (1–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 18,254 || 31–28 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 60 || June 11 || Red Sox || 2–3 || Corsi (1–2) || Franco (0–2) || Wasdin (1) || Shea Stadium || 36,700 || 31–29 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 61 || June 12 || Red Sox || 4–2 || Leiter (4–5) || Rapp (2–4) || Franco (15) || Shea Stadium || 43,819 || 32–29 |- bgcolor="#cfc"