8 most memorable Subway Series moments: Iconic highlights that define Yankees-Mets New York rivalry

Rivalries aren't always the most prevalent in baseball, given that the teams play 162 games. Even so, cross-town rivalries feel natural. You can be in the same place and see fans wearing gear for their hometown team, but it's two different franchises. 

In New York, fans have two storied franchises to choose from. They have the American League Yankees and the National League Mets. The Yankees have had more success in their history with a whopping 27 World Series titles. The Mets, meanwhile, have two. 

Still, even with the discrepancy in the trophy case, the rivalry between the Mets and the Yankees has grown. It is colloquially known as the Subway Series. This pays homage to the main transit method around the metropolitan area. The Subway Series rivalry had grown because the MLB used to only schedule interleague play for June and July, meaning that was the only time each season these crosstown rivals would meet on the field. 

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Now, MLB has expanded interleague play throughout the season. While that takes a little bit of luster away from the excitement whenever it comes back around, these teams keep finding ways to keep the rivalry spicy.

Here are the best moments from the history of the Subway Series.  

8. First ever interleague game between Yankees and Mets (1997)

Before 1997, teams in the American League and National Leagues didn't play each other. Then, in 1997, interleague play was brought to MLB. This marked the first time that the Yankees and Mets had ever played against each other. The Mets won the first game, 6-0. Since then, the Yankees have fared much better against the Mets. 

7. Luis Castillo drops routine pop-up to lose game (2009)

This is one of the more memorable moments from the rivalry, though not for a great reason. On June 12, 2009, the Mets were up 8-7 in the bottom of the 9th with two outs. Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez got Alex Rodriguez to sky a ball high into the air with two runners on. Second baseman Luis Castillo roamed over and waited for it, making it look like the game was over. He never got under it, slowly drifting. 

The ball hit off his glove, and then he slipped trying to get to it. Castillo tossed it to the shortstop covering second, who fired it home, but two runs had scored and the Yankees had pulled out an improbable walk-off win. 

6. First ever Subway Series World Series (2000)

Does it get bigger than a rivalry being played out in front of the entire nation? That's what happened when the Yankees and Mets met in the 2000 World Series. It was a unique series with neither team having to worry about travel days, but it only went five games. The Yankees won the series, with the lone Mets win coming at home in Game 3. 

Game 5 of the Series went into the ninth inning tied 2-2. Mets ace Al Leiter threw a whopping 142 pitches over 8.2 innings, but he didn't have enough to get that last out in the ninth. After a walk, two hits and an error, the Yankees scored two runs and had the lead they needed to take the series.

5. Mets walk-offs vs. GOAT Mariano Rivera (1999, 2006, 2013)

Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer in baseball history, holding the all-time record with 652 saves. He didn't get many chances against the Mets, but he gave up three walk-off wins. Matt Franco had the first in 1999, David Wright had his in 2006 and Lucas Duda's bloop single walked off Rivera in the Hall of Famer's final time facing the Mets. 

4. Juan Soto chooses the Mets (2024)

After the end of the 2023 season, the Padres chose to capitalize on the market and traded star outfielder Juan Soto to the Yankees. Soto had one year left on his contract before hitting free agency and spent it in New York. The two sides tried to work out a deal, even once the outfielder hit free agency for the first time in his career. 

Rather than stay in pinstripes, Soto decided to head across town when he signed a massive 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets. This is actually a huge deal, especially for this series, but since it didn't happen in-game, it could only be an honorable mention for the rivalry.

3. Mike Pizza vs. Roger Clemens in the World Series (2000)

The best thing about rivalries is when matchups occur between one team's ace and the other's best hitter. The Yankees had fireballer Roger Clemens on the mound, while the Mets countered with catcher Mike Piazza at the plate. Clemens broke many a bat in his day, but he didn't like that he broke Piazza's in Game 2 of the 2000 World Series because it came back at him. The ace fielded the broken bat and threw it at Piazza, who was running down the first base line. This caused the benches to empty. 

2. Giancarlo Stanton hits home run, benches clear (2021)

The benches clearing is always an exciting moment. Most of the time it doesn't amount to much, but something is great about baseball when the bullpens empty and they have to trot all the way in to get in on the action.

In September 2021, Giancarlo Stanton golfed a home run to tie the game. The camera cut to the bench, which was celebrating when all of a sudden players jumped over the guardrails into the field. Stanton had basically stopped to exchange words with Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. Both teams emerged from their dugouts and exchanged words, with both teams waiting for the other to make a move. Neither did, so it didn't go any further, but it was a massive home run and one of the few times benches have cleared in the Subway Series. 

1. 20th anniversary of 9/11 (2021)

While the attacks of 9/11 rocked the United States as a whole, the city of New York was obviously at the epicenter. The Mets and Yankees were scheduled to play against each other on Sept. 11, 2021 on the 20th anniversary of the attacks. This moment doesn't go toward the rivalry, but the respect of the teams for their city.