The New York Mets have shocked baseball fans by clinching a spot in the NLCS after taking down the Philadelphia Phillies in just four games. And if you’re wondering how a team that started 0-5 and was 11 games under .500 by May made it this far—look no further than a series of quirky, good-luck charms that’s propelled the Mets from struggling underdogs to October’s darlings.
It started with an unlikely good-luck charm in the form of World War II veteran Seymour Weiner, celebrated as the team’s “Veteran of the Game” last spring, inspiring the famous $1 hot dog game in his honor. Then came Jose Iglesias, the utility infielder moonlighting as a Latin pop artist known as Candelita. Iglesias’s catchy single OMG became the Mets’ anthem, and, with a Pitbull remix dropping tomorrow, it’s clear OMG is here to stay as the soundtrack of their improbable season.
And then… there’s Grimace. The iconic McDonald’s character threw the first pitch on June 12, and from that moment on, the Mets became unstoppable. A “Grimace purple” seat was installed in the outfield, and their post-Grimace record now sits at an astonishing 66-38—the best in the league. In case you’re wondering, the Mets are 8-1 at home since installing the Grimace seat, 4-0 with Grimace himself at Citi Field, and 2-0 since his own honorary subway train started rolling in NYC.
So, with this magical run, the Mets are now ready to face either the Dodgers or the Padres in the NLCS, kicking off Sunday, October 13. Mets fans will be hoping for more Grimace magic as they continue their quest for an even more improbable World Series appearance.
