History of Mets–Phillies rivalry in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 16, 2026

The New York Mets–Philadelphia Phillies rivalry is a long-standing National League East feud defined by geographic proximity and frequent postseason implications. Since the teams began playing in 1962, the intensity has fluctuated, reaching peaks during the 1980s when both franchises were perennial contenders, and again in the late 2000s when they battled for division dominance. The rivalry is marked by passionate fanbases, high-stakes games, and notable animosity, often exacerbated by the teams' shared history in the same division. Whether fighting for a playoff spot or settling scores on the field, the two organizations maintain a deep-seated competitive hostility that serves as a cornerstone of Major League Baseball's East Coast identity.

1922: Charlie Robertson's Perfect Game

In 1922, Charlie Robertson pitched a perfect game, marking a significant milestone in baseball history that stood as a record until Jim Bunning's achievement in 1964.

1956: Don Larsen's World Series Perfect Game

During the 1956 World Series, Don Larsen achieved a perfect game, which remained a notable historical reference point for perfect games until Jim Bunning's regular-season performance in 1964.

1964: The Phold of 1964

During the 1964 baseball season, the Philadelphia Phillies suffered a historic collapse known as 'The Phold' after losing a 6.5-game lead and dropping 10 consecutive games, ultimately losing the pennant to the St. Louis Cardinals by a single game. In the same year, the New York Mets finished with a 53–109 record, marking the worst performance in Major League Baseball for the 1964 season.

1964: Jim Bunning's Perfect Game

During the 1964 season, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jim Bunning threw a perfect game against the New York Mets on June 21, 1964, capping off a year where the Phillies achieved top-tier performance while the Mets finished at the bottom of the standings.

1965: Tug McGraw Joins the Mets

In 1965, Tug McGraw began his tenure as a pitcher for the New York Mets, marking the start of his professional baseball career with the team.

1967: End of First Mets Stint

The year 1967 marked the conclusion of Tug McGraw's initial three-year period pitching for the Mets before he was sent to the minor leagues.

1968: Minor League Season

During the entire 1968 baseball season, Tug McGraw played exclusively for the minor leagues before returning to the Mets' major league roster.

1969: Miracle Mets Postseason Appearance

In 1969, Tug McGraw rejoined the Mets and played a role in the 'Miracle Mets' postseason run, during which he pitched three innings against the Atlanta Braves.

1969: Mets World Series Championship

In 1969, the New York Mets won the World Series, a season during which the Phillies were positioned near the bottom of the NL East standings.

1972: All-Star Selection and MVP Consideration

Tug McGraw was selected to the 1972 All-Star team and also received votes in the Most Valuable Player award balloting during the 1972 season.

1973: Ya Gotta Believe and MVP Voting

During the 1973 pennant-winning season, Tug McGraw coined the famous Mets rally cry 'Ya gotta believe!' and was once again included in the MVP award voting.

1973: Mets NL Pennant Victory

The New York Mets secured the National League pennant in 1973, while the Phillies remained non-competitive in the division standings.

December 1974: Trade to the Phillies

In December 1974, the New York Mets traded pitcher Tug McGraw along with Don Hahn and Dave Schneck to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Mac Scarce, John Stearns, and Del Unser.

1975: Tug McGraw Named to All-Star Team

In 1975, Tug McGraw established himself as a key relief pitcher for the Phillies and earned a prestigious spot on the 1975 All-Star team.

1976: Phillies Begin Division Title Streak

Starting in 1976, the Phillies, managed by Danny Ozark and featuring Tug McGraw, captured the first of three consecutive division championships while the Mets finished in third place.

1977: Mets Finish Last in Division

During the 1977 season, the Mets struggled significantly, finishing in last place within their division while the Phillies continued their successful streak.

1978: Phillies Secure Third Straight Division Title

In 1978, the Phillies concluded a run of three consecutive division championships, whereas the Mets finished in last place for the second year in a row.

1980: Phillies Win First World Series Championship

In 1980, Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to secure the Phillies' first World Series championship victory against the Kansas City Royals at Veterans Stadium.

1980: Phillies Division Championship

The Philadelphia Phillies secured a division championship in 1980, during a year where the Mets were not considered serious contenders for the playoffs.

1981: Phillies Playoff Appearance

The Phillies reached the playoffs in 1981, maintaining a period of success while the Mets did not contend for the postseason during that year.

1982: McGraw Concludes Dominant Bullpen Stint

By the end of his tenure in 1982, Tug McGraw had successfully secured 94 saves as a staple of the Phillies' bullpen during the period spanning from 1975 to 1982.

1983: Phillies Playoff Contention

In 1983, the Philadelphia Phillies successfully contended for the playoffs, standing out as a successful year for the franchise while the Mets remained out of the race.

1986: Lenny Dykstra's 1986 Season

During the 1986 season, Lenny Dykstra played for the New York Mets and achieved a .295 batting average, a performance he did not equate in subsequent years with the team.

1986: The Mets' 1986 NL East Title Run

During the 1986 season, the New York Mets secured the National League East division title by a margin of 21.5 games. Despite their overall dominance, the Philadelphia Phillies remained the only team to hold a winning record against them, notably winning seven of nine games played at Veterans Stadium.

1986: Mets Playoff Year

During the 1986 season, the New York Mets were successful in their playoff push, while the Phillies were unable to mount a serious challenge in the division.

1986: Mets Win 1986 World Series

In 1986, the New York Mets won the World Series, which remains the team's most recent title as of the mid-2000s era.

1987: Phillies Play Spoiler to Mets' Division Hopes

During the 1987 season, the New York Mets dominated their head-to-head record against the Philadelphia Phillies with 13 wins and 5 losses, outscoring them 94–56. Despite this advantage, the Phillies played a spoiler role in September 1987 by winning two out of three games against the Mets, which significantly hampered the Mets' efforts to secure the division title.

1988: 1988 Mets Division Title and Rivalry Performance

During the 1988 season, the New York Mets clinched their second division title in three years by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies at home. Despite the Phillies finishing in sixth place with a 65–96 record that year, they remained competitive against the Mets, winning 8 out of their 18 head-to-head matchups. Later in the 1988 postseason, the Mets were eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

1988: Mets win the National League East

In 1988, the New York Mets successfully secured the National League East division title.

1988: Mets Playoff Season

The New York Mets competed as serious playoff contenders in 1988, a year where the Phillies were not a major threat in the divisional standings.

June 18, 1989: The Mets-Phillies Trade

On June 18, 1989, the Philadelphia Phillies traded Juan Samuel to the New York Mets in exchange for Roger McDowell and Lenny Dykstra following a game between the two rivals.

September 1989: 1989 Mets-Phillies Altercation

During a game in September 1989, an incident occurred that established Darren Daulton as a source of animosity for the Mets, leading to long-standing tensions between the two teams.

September 27, 1989: Benches-clearing brawl between McDowell and Jeffries

On September 27, 1989, during the Phillies' final away game against the Mets at Shea Stadium, a physical altercation broke out between Phillies pitcher Roger McDowell and Mets player Gregg Jeffries after McDowell induced a groundout to end the game. Jeffries charged the mound, resulting in a benches-clearing brawl, fueled by tensions regarding an alleged incident where McDowell threw at Jeffries two days prior.

1990: August 9, 1990 Bench-Clearing Brawl

On August 9, 1990, a violent bench-clearing brawl erupted at Shea Stadium after Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden hit two Phillies batters and was subsequently struck by a pitch from Pat Combs. The ensuing fight involved multiple players, including Von Hayes and Darren Daulton, resulting in several ejections and fines.

1993: Phillies 1993 NL Pennant Victory

In 1993, the Philadelphia Phillies successfully secured the National League pennant, a victory bolstered by the contributions of players acquired in previous trades, including Lenny Dykstra.

1993: Phillies NL Pennant

In 1993, the Phillies won the National League pennant during a season in which the Mets finished with the worst record in the Major Leagues.

1994: MLB Divisional Re-alignment

In 1994, Major League Baseball implemented a significant divisional re-alignment that solidified the rivalry between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. As part of this restructuring, the Pittsburgh Pirates were moved to the newly formed NL Central, while the Atlanta Braves joined the NL East, effectively reshaping the divisional landscape of the league.

1999: Mets Wild-Card Qualification

The New York Mets secured a wild-card spot in the 1999 season, while the Phillies failed to achieve a winning record.

2000: Mets World Series Appearance

In 2000, the Mets earned a wild-card spot and eventually faced the New York Yankees in the World Series, with the Phillies failing to post a winning record that same year.

2006: Mets Win Division Title

In 2006, the New York Mets successfully captured their division title during a period when the rivalry with the Philadelphia Phillies intensified due to competing for playoff positioning.

2006: Heightened Rivalry Intensity

Starting in 2006, the Mets–Phillies rivalry intensified significantly as both teams began competing for playoff positioning simultaneously, marking a shift from the relative calm that characterized previous decades.

2007: Phillies 2007 Division Championship

In 2007, the Philadelphia Phillies won their division title on the final day of the season, capitalizing on the New York Mets' collapse where they surrendered a seven-game lead with only 17 games left to play.

2008: Phillies Win 2008 World Series

In 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies broke the historical Curse of Billy Penn to achieve victory in the World Series.

2011: Phillies Conclude Streak of Division Titles

In 2011, the Philadelphia Phillies secured their fifth consecutive division title, marking the end of a dominant run that began in 2007.

2015: 2015 Mets-Phillies Season Rivalry and NLDS Incident

During the 2015 season, the Mets dominated the season series against the Phillies with a 14-5 record while securing their fifth NL pennant. The year was marked by tensions, including Matt Harvey hitting Chase Utley, a confrontation involving Larry Bowa regarding a quick pitch by Hansel Robles, and a notable bat flip by Daniel Murphy. Additionally, during Game 2 of the 2015 NLDS, Chase Utley—then with the Dodgers—injured Mets shortstop Rubén Tejada during a slide.

2024: 2024 NLDS Playoff Matchup

In 2024, the Mets and the Phillies faced each other in the postseason for the first time in history during the National League Division Series, with the Mets emerging victorious by winning the series three games to one.