New York Mets
From shared misery to a battle for National League supremacy.
The rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets transcends geography, rooted instead in a shared history of agony and anticipation. For decades, these franchises existed as kindred spirits—the 'Lovable Losers' of the National League—often finishing last or near-last at the same time, fostering a unique sympathy among their fanbases. While now fierce competitors for playoff seeding, the connection remains palpable: two cities that understand the specific weight of waiting just as well as they know the sting of falling short.
- League Affiliation
- National League
- First Regular Season Meeting
- 1962 (Expansion Era)
- Championship Count Combined
- 3 (Cubs: 1, Mets: 2)
- Rivalry Status
- Active and Historic
Lore & Background
The dynamic shifted dramatically in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as both organizations rebuilt. The Mets captured their first World Series title in 1969, ending New York's long drought with the 'Miracle' season, while the Cubs endured the infamous 'Curse of the Billy Goat' until finally breaking through in 2016. Their paths converged most violently during the 2015 National League Championship Series (NLCS). In a hard-fought six-game series, not a sweep as often misremembered by bitter fans, the Mets defeated the Cubs to advance to the World Series. This matchup validated both franchises' resurgence, turning decades of friendly commiseration into a fierce competition for divisional dominance.
In Their Own Story
The wind whipped off Lake Michigan, carrying the chill of a late October night into Wrigley Field. In the stands, a sea of blue and orange clashed with red and white, but the tension was thick enough to cut. It wasn't just about the score; it was the weight of history pressing down on every pitch. A Mets pitcher wound up, his eyes locked on the plate where a Cubs batter stood, gripping the bat as if it were a lifeline. The crowd held its breath, a collective sigh escaping 40,000 throats at once. This wasn't just a game; it was the culmination of decades of waiting, a moment where the ghosts of 1962 and 1969 seemed to watch from the bleachers.
Reader's Guide
The origin of this rivalry is rooted in the expansion era of the early 1960s, though their histories diverge significantly. The Mets were created in 1962 to fill the void left by the departed Dodgers and Giants, while the Cubs stand as one of baseball's oldest continuous franchises since 1876. For decades, however, they shared a fate as the two most prominent 'lovable losers' in baseball, often finishing last or near-last simultaneously.
The biggest clash occurred during the 2015 National League Championship Series (NLCS). After years of rebuilding, both teams had returned to elite status. The series was a brutal, six-game affair that saw the Mets ultimately defeat the Cubs to advance to the World Series. This matchup validated both franchises' resurgence and turned a friendly rivalry into a fierce competition for National League supremacy.
What makes this rivalry intense is the contrast in their identities. The Cubs, with deep roots at Wrigley Field, represent tradition and endurance, while the Mets embody the flash and resilience of New York City. When they meet, it carries the weight of two cities that understand the pain of failure and the ecstasy of victory in equal measure.
Did You Know?
- Both the Cubs and Mets were part of the National League expansion discussion in the early 1960s, though the Cubs are a much older franchise founded in 1876 while the Mets began play in 1962.
- The 2015 NLCS was the first time these two teams met in a playoff series since both became competitive powerhouses.
- For decades, fans of both clubs often exchanged sympathy rather than insults due to their shared history of near-misses and championship droughts.
- The rivalry intensified significantly after the Cubs broke their 108-year World Series drought in 2016, just a year after losing to the Mets in the NLCS.