No MLB Games? Watch a Baseball Doc! Here are 5 30 for 30s

Of ESPN’s lauded 30 for 30 series, “Once Upon a Time in Queens” is the closest to my heart. It illuminates the story of the 1986 New York Mets. This team, often considered one of baseball’s most influential and mesmerizing teams, is depicted in all its glory against the backdrop of one of the world’s most celebrated cities. 

The documentary is enriched by rare interviews with key players from the victorious World Series team. Stars and key figures such as Keith Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Mookie Wilson, Lenny Dykstra, and Kevin Mitchell share their experiences and insights, providing an in-depth perspective into the team’s remarkable journey.

“They were wildly talented and equally entertaining,” said director Nick Davis. “They were like a bunch of raffish rogues who come together for one great score, like the characters in a heist movie. Love them or hate them, you could not avoid the 1986 Mets, and for one year, they blazed like a comet across the New York City landscape, the trail still visible all these years later.”

The narrative unfolds, tracing the genesis of the 1986 team back to the late 1970s. This was a time when both the Mets, a flagging franchise, and New York City, on the brink of bankruptcy, seemed devoid of hope. However, as the 1980s heralded an era of prosperity and ambition, synonymous with the “greed is good” slogan, the Mets also arose from their ashes.

Four More Baseball 30 for 30s:

The Scapegoat: “Catching Hell”

With five outs remaining in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, a foul ball fell from the sky and into the hands of Chicago Cubs fan Steve Bartman. This moment would change the course of the game, the Cubs’ postseason, and Bartman’s life forever.

Do You Believe in Miracles: “Four Days in October”

Many consider the 2004 ALCS, when the Boston Red Sox became the first team in history to overcome a 3-0 deficit to defeat their arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, to be the greatest comeback in professional sports history.

Roto-Nerds: “Silly Little Game”

The modern fantasy leagues originated with writers and academics who founded the Rotisserie League at La Rotisserie Francaise in New York City.

More Mets: “Doc & Darryl”

At their peak, they were exceptional! Shining stars on a team that won the 1986 World Series and held New York City spellbound. However, as their lives began to spin out of control, Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry inadvertently shattered the hearts of their Mets supporters.