Braves vs. Mets: a Look Back at This NL East Rivalry

When Do The Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets Play Next?

Atlanta Braves tickets and New York Mets tickets can be found on their respective team pages.

Are the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets Rivals?

Yes, the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets have a division rivalry dating back all the way to the 1960s. Both the Braves and the Mets compete in the National League East, with the winner of the division receiving a berth into the MLB playoffs.

Who are the Braves’ Biggest Rivals?

The Atlanta Braves’ biggest rivals are the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. The Braves, Mets and Phillies all compete in the National League East, with each winning the division title between 2011 and 2022. The Braves have won 17 National League East Division titles between 1995–2022.

Who are the Mets’ Biggest Rivals?

The Mets have three rivalries in Major League Baseball: the Subway Series versus the New York Yankees, and division rivalries in the National League East between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Subway Series is a battle between the two New York franchises in Major League Baseball.

Mets vs. Braves Series History

Tension between the Mets and Braves dates back to 1966 over the draft rights to pitching prospect and future hall-of-famer Tom Seaver. Seaver first signed a contract with the Braves, but it was rescinded after his eligibility for the draft was revoked because his college team’s season had already begun. Because Seaver was now ineligible for both the Draft and in the NCAA, he threatened to sue Major League Baseball.

Then-commissioner, William Eckert, declared Seaver eligible in the MLB, but rather than giving his draft rights to the Braves, other teams were allowed to match his contract and the Mets won his rights. The Mets swept the Braves in the 1969 NLCS en route to their first World Series title behind Seaver and Nolan Ryan.

Throughout the 1980s and into the ’90s, the fortunes of the Mets and Braves flipped, with the Braves becoming a dominant force in the National League and the Mets experiencing frequent losses. Controversy sparked ire between the two teams in 2000 when Braves’ closer John Rocker made offensive statements about New York City when asked if he would ever play for the Mets or Yankees. Rocker was suspended for spring training and 14 games. That year, the Mets beat the Braves near the end of the season to win the Wild Card playoff spot, winning the National League pennant, but losing to the Yankees in a Subway World Series.

Where Do the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets Play?

The Atlanta Braves play at Truist Park (formerly SunTrust Park) in the northwest corner of downtown Atlanta. The stadium opened in 2017 and was renamed in 2020 after SunTrust merged and rebranded to Truist Financial. In 2021, the Braves had the second-highest home attendance in Major League Baseball at Truist Park, with an average attendance of 29,490 per game.

The New York Mets play at Citi Field located in Corona Park in the heart of New York City. The stadium was opened in 2009 and replaced the previous park, Shea Stadium, which opened in 1964. The first game played in Citi Field was actually a collegiate contest between St. Johns and Georgetown, where the Hoyas won 6-4 in front of 22,397 fans.

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