The 1996 New York Mets season was the 35th regular season for the Mets. They went 71–91 and finished fourth in the National League East, twenty-five games behind the first place Atlanta Braves. The Mets were managed by Dallas Green and Bobby Valentine. They played home games at Shea Stadium.

Offseason December 14, 1995: Lance Johnson signed as a free agent with the New York Mets.Lance Johnson Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 19, 1995: Brent Mayne was traded by the Kansas City Royals to the New York Mets for Al Shirley (minors). March 31, 1996: Ryan Thompson was traded by the New York Mets with Reid Cornelius to the Cleveland Indians for Mark Clark.Ryan Thompson Statistics Baseball-Reference.com

Regular season After back to back finishes near the top of the National League East, the Mets returned to the losing ways that had plagued the team since 1991. Manager Dallas Green, like his three predecessors in the position, was fired before the season was completed. His replacement was former Texas Rangers manager Bobby Valentine, the manager of the Norfolk Tides.

The Mets did not put up great power numbers as they had in recent years but managed to have two players reach 30 or more home runs. One was catcher Todd Hundley, who broke Roy Campanella's major league record for home runs by a catcher by recording 41. The other was outfielder Bernard Gilkey, who put up 30 home runs of his own. Lance Johnson, acquired in the off season after spending eight years with the Chicago White Sox, had a career year as well. The National League's All-Star center fielder, Johnson hit a career high .333, led the NL in hits with 227, stole 50 bases to set another career high, and recorded sixty extra base hits including a league leading 21 triples; no player since 1930 had that many in the National League.

The Mets traded away infielders Jeff Kent and José Vizcaíno to the Cleveland Indians during the season. The promotion of rookie Rey Ordoñez to be the team's everyday shortstop had both players playing out of position, with Vizcaino at second base and Kent at third. In return the Mets received Carlos Baerga and Alvaro Espinoza, neither of whom made much of an impact.

Mark Clark led the Mets starters with a 14–11 record. Bobby Jones' 12–8 mark was good enough for second best on the team. Jason Isringhausen made more than twenty starts for the only time in his career, finishing with a 6–14 mark.

Alex Ochoa hit for the cycle on July 3 in a 10–6 win in Philadelphia. He was the sixth Met to hit for the cycle.

The Mets and San Diego Padres traveled to Mexico in August, marking the first time a regular season MLB game was played in Mexico.

Opening Day Roster Rico Brogna Bernard Gilkey Todd Hundley Butch Huskey Lance Johnson Bobby Jones Jeff Kent Rey Ordóñez José Vizcaíno 1996 New York Mets Roster by Baseball Almanac

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 1 || Cardinals || 7–6 || Dipoto (1–0) || Fossas || Franco (1) || 42,060 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 3 || Cardinals || 3–5 || Stottlemyre || Person (0–1) || Eckersley || 13,323 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 4 || Cardinals || 10–9 || Franco (1–0) || Eckersley || — || 15,507 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 5 || Pirates || 5–7 || Smith || Mlicki (0–1) || — || 16,088 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 6 || Pirates || 0–5 || Darwin || Clark (0–1) || — || 20,756 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 8 || @ Reds || 6–7 || Schourek || Jones (0–1) || Brantley || 17,623 || 2–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 9 || @ Reds || 12–5 || Isringhausen (1–0) || Smiley || Franco (2) || 15,958 || 3–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 10 || @ Reds || 7–9 || Pugh || Macdonald (0–1) || Brantley || 16,775 || 3–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 11 || @ Rockies || 3–7 || Reynoso || Mlicki (0–2) || — || 48,010 || 3–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 12 || @ Rockies || 5–6 || Freeman || Clark (0–2) || Leskanic || 50,045 || 3–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 14 || @ Rockies || 10–4 || Harnisch (1–0) || Ritz || Henry (1) || 48,051 || 4–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 16 || Astros || 6–9 || Reynolds || Isringhausen (1–1) || Jones || 13,795 || 4–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 17 || Astros || 5–7 || Kile || Wilson (0–1) || Jones || 12,065 || 4–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 19 || Rockies || 3–5 || Ritz || Harnisch (1–1) || Leskanic || 16,225 || 4–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 20 || Rockies || 4–3 (10) || Franco (2–0) || Habyan || — || 20,847 || 5–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 21 || Rockies || 4–6 || Leskanic || Franco (2–1) || — || 22,737 || 5–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 22 || Reds || 5–1 || Wilson (1–1) || Portugal || — || 14,568 || 6–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 23 || Reds || 8–6 (10) || Henry (1–0) || Shaw || — || 14,357 || 7–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 24 || @ Cardinals || 4–9 || Petkovsek || Harnisch (1–2) || — || 23,189 || 7–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 25 || @ Cardinals || 9–3 || Clark (1–2) || Benes || — || 26,933 || 8–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 26 || @ Pirates || 6–10 || Christiansen || Isringhausen (1–2) || — || 13,185 || 8–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || April 27 || @ Pirates || 7–4 || Mlicki (1–2) || Miceli || Franco (3) || 16,698 || 9–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || April 28 || @ Pirates || 7–5 || Jones (1–1) || Wagner || Franco (4) || 27,706 || 10–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || April 29 || Expos || 3–2 || Harnisch (2–2) || Fassero || Franco (5) || 14,011 || 11–13

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 1 || Expos || 0–4 || Martinez || Clark (1–3) || — || — || 11–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || May 1 || Expos || 6–0 || Isringhausen (2–2) || Alvarez || — || 16,937 || 12–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 3 || @ Cubs || 2–4 || Navarro || Wilson (1–2) || — || 19,822 || 12–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 4 || @ Cubs || 7–3 || Jones (2–1) || Castillo || Henry (2) || 30,041 || 13–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 5 || @ Cubs || 4–5 || Wendell || Dipoto (1–1) || — || 25,949 || 13–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 6 || @ Marlins || 1–4 || Leiter || Clark (1–4) || Nen || 16,819 || 13–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 7 || @ Marlins || 2–3 || Hammond || Isringhausen (2–3) || Nen || 20,127 || 13–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 8 || @ Marlins || 3–6 || Perez || Henry (1–1) || Nen || 21,357 || 13–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 10 || Cubs || 2–0 || Jones (3–1) || Castillo || Franco (6) || 16,687 || 14–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 11 || Cubs || 7–6 || Henry (2–1) || Jones || — || 23,237 || 15–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 12 || Cubs || 0–3 || Bullinger || Clark (1–5) || — || 19,122 || 15–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 13 || @ Padres || 2–5 || Valenzuela || Isringhausen (2–4) || — || 12,829 || 15–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 14 || @ Padres || 4–9 || Ashby || Wilson (1–3) || — || 12,168 || 15–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 15 || @ Padres || 3–4 (10) || Worrell || Franco (2–2) || — || 12,166 || 15–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 16 || @ Padres || 6–3 || Harnisch (3–2) || Hamilton || Franco (7) || 17,341 || 16–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || May 18 || @ Giants || 14–5 || Clark (2–5) || VanLandingham || — || 15,298 || 17–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 19 || @ Giants || 0–1 || Watson || Isringhausen (2–5) || Beck || — || 17–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 19 || @ Giants || 2–6 || Gardner || Wilson (1–4) || — || 22,959 || 17–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 20 || @ Dodgers || 7–1 || Jones (4–1) || Candiotti || — || 26,625 || 18–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 21 || @ Dodgers || 4–6 || Valdez || Harnisch (3–3) || Worrell || 27,158 || 18–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 22 || @ Dodgers || 3–2 || Clark (3–5) || Nomo || Franco (8) || 33,716 || 19–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 24 || Padres || 1–13 || Valenzuela || Isringhausen (2–6) || — || 24,751 || 19–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || May 25 || Padres || 2–7 || Ashby || Wilson (1–5) || — || 21,057 || 19–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || May 26 || Padres || 1–0 || Jones (5–1) || Bergman || Franco (9) || 20,405 || 20–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || May 28 || Giants || 4–0 || Clark (4–5) || Leiter || Henry (3) || 15,733 || 21–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 29 || Giants || 2–4 || VanLandingham || Isringhausen (2–7) || Beck || 15,578 || 21–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || May 30 || Giants || 1–0 || Wilson (2–5) || Watson || Franco (10) || 15,781 || 22–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || May 31 || Dodgers || 3–10 || Martinez || Jones (5–2) || — || 19,793 || 22–30

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 1 || Dodgers || 4–3 || Harnisch (4–3) || Candiotti || Franco (11) || 26,445 || 23–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 2 || Dodgers || 0–1 || Valdez || Clark (4–6) || Worrell || 39,328 || 23–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 3 || @ Braves || 4–5 || Clontz || Macdonald (0–2) || Wohlers || 30,162 || 23–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 4 || @ Braves || 12–6 || Wilson (3–5) || Schmidt || — || 32,199 || 24–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 5 || @ Braves || 6–8 || McMichael || Mlicki (1–3) || Wohlers || 31,998 || 24–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 7 || Marlins || 2–12 || Leiter || Harnisch (4–4) || — || 13,009 || 24–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 8 || Marlins || 7–6 || Clark (5–6) || Weathers || Franco (12) || 22,550 || 25–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 9 || Marlins || 3–0 || Isringhausen (3–7) || Burkett || — || 40,707 || 26–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 10 || Braves || 8–3 || Jones (6–2) || Avery || — || 17,439 || 27–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 11 || Braves || 3–4 (13) || Borbon || Byrd (0–1) || Wade || 19,256 || 27–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 12 || Braves || 3–2 || Clark (6–6) || Maddux || Franco (13) || 18,896 || 28–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 13 || @ Cardinals || 2–1 || Person (1–1) || Benes || Henry (4) || 30,697 || 29–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 14 || @ Cardinals || 4–13 || Stottlemyre || Isringhausen (3–8) || — || 38,556 || 29–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 15 || @ Cardinals || 2–4 || Benes || Jones (6–3) || Eckersley || 50,635 || 29–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 16 || @ Cardinals || 4–5 || Petkovsek || Henry (2–2) || Eckersley || 31,375 || 29–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 17 || @ Pirates || 7–6 (10) || Mlicki (2–3) || Cordova || Franco (14) || 11,002 || 30–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 19 || @ Pirates || 5–6 || Plesac || Isringhausen (3–9) || — || — || 30–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 19 || @ Pirates || 5–3 || Mlicki (3–3) || Cordova || Franco (15) || 20,108 || 31–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 20 || Reds || 3–5 || Burba || Jones (6–4) || Shaw || 16,994 || 31–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 21 || Reds || 9–4 || Dipoto (2–1) || Salkeld || Mlicki (1) || 19,432 || 32–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || June 22 || Reds || 5–2 || Clark (7–6) || Schourek || Franco (16) || 24,589 || 33–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || June 23 || Reds || 1–2 || Smiley || Person (1–2) || Brantley || 18,593 || 33–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || June 24 || Rockies || 2–1 || Isringhausen (4–9) || Holmes || Franco (17) || 16,988 || 34–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || June 25 || Rockies || 3–2 || Jones (7–4) || Thompson || Franco (18) || 18,251 || 35–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || June 26 || Rockies || 9–5 || Mlicki (4–3) || Reed || — || 20,675 || 36–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 78 || June 28 || @ Astros || 7–2 || Clark (8–6) || Drabek || Henry (5) || 24,569 || 37–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || June 29 || @ Astros || 1–9 || Reynolds || Person (1–3) || — || 35,454 || 37–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || June 30 || @ Astros || 3–9 || Kile || Isringhausen (4–10) || — || 35,981 || 37–43

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 1 || @ Phillies || 4–6 || Williams || Jones (7–5) || Ryan || 20,779 || 37–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 82 || July 2 || @ Phillies || 2–3 || Springer || Harnisch (4–5) || Bottalico || 20,890 || 37–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"