Meet the Mets Fans: Passionate and Proud in Queens

Step right up! New York Mets fans live as the perennial underdogs to Major League Baseball’s more senior, historically successful uptown rivals, the New York Yankees. However, the dedicated legion behind the Orange and Blue wear the badge proudly, with the team building a legacy in the Five Boroughs on its own following numerous odds-defying wins. Crosstown rivals aside, the New York Mets will always be The Kings of Queens to fans at Citi Field.

Discover more about the timeline and tightly-held traditions of New York Mets fans below.

What it Means to be a New York Mets Super Fan

Like their professional counterparts in football, basketball and hockey, Major League Baseball splits the Tri-State area fan base between two New York City sports teams, the New York Yankees and New York Mets. Joining in 1962, the Metropolitans were positioned as the scrappy, young team with a clean slate against the stately, championship seasoned Yanks. The contrast could not have been more clear in their opening season with the Metsies logging the most regular season losses ever for a team in the modern era, while the Bronx Bombers secured their 20th World Series title.

However, it’s the winner’s mentality in the face of insurmountable odds that defines Mets fans to the core. It’s the promotion of the “Amazin’ Mets” nickname by Hall of Fame manager Casey Stengel despite recording a 40–120 record or the fatalistic optimism of their “Ya Gotta Believe” slogan. Even amidst a lengthy title drought, dedicated Mets fans will try to sell that the team name is actually an acronym for “Most Exciting Team in Sports.”

In turn, the Mets organization gives back to the community through its philanthropic arm, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation. The team also hosts in-stadium events for fans, especially members of the Mr. & Mrs. Met’s Kids Club, while providing travel options for select games throughout the season via Mets Amazin’ Getaways. For an up-to-date look at the Mets’ fan offerings and events, visit the team’s website.

New York Mets Fans on Gameday

Despite their relatively new digs at Citi Field, New York Mets fans are surrounded by history at home games. Located directly across from the site of the team’s former home at Shea Stadium, guests can arrive to Citi Field via Seaver Way, touch Shea’s original Home Run Apple by the front gate and pass under the Jackie Robinson Rotunda all before catching sight of the field. To get even more immersed in the Mets community before the game, attend a tailgate party in the Citi Field parking lots prior to first pitch.

Inside, guests clad in orange and blue are treated to a completely modernized game-viewing experience while still being reminded of the club’s distinguished legacy. Most importantly, fans can still seek out Mr. Met, the first MLB mascot introduced in 1964, as well as his wife Mrs. Met. Traditions such as the simple “Let’s Go Mets” rally cry and the presenting of Lou Monte’s “Lazy Mary” during the seventh inning stretch, while others find new life like the updated Home Run Apple in center field. More recently, the guaranteed eighth inning playback of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” has opened up to an audience vote for a song in Citi Field karaoke.

The Subway Series against the Yankees gets annual attention from New York baseball fans across the board, while Mets fans also show up in droves for home games against division rivals the  Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves. Fans can also claim exclusive and limited edition team accessories and apparel by attending select home games on the Mets’ 2024 promotional schedule.

Memorable Moments in New York Mets Fandom

Each era of Mets history has had something Amazin’ to offer fans. Perhaps best known is the 1969 Miracle Mets lineup, whose unlikely first championship win defied 100-1 preseason odds against the dominant Baltimore Orioles. The Mets claimed their second title in 1986 with The Bad Guys roster, who bested the Boston Red Sox in one of the most memorable seven-game series in MLB history, culminating in the Mets’ late rally in Game 6 and Game 7 victory. During this time, Dwight “Doc” Gooden also achieved the rare feat of pitching a Triple Crown season in 1985.

Although the Mets haven’t won the World Series since, the team has still managed to deliver the goods to fans. In 2012, Johan Santana pitched the franchise’s first no-hitter, and the team advanced to the 2015 World Series after two consecutive clutch performances in the NLDS and NLCS.

However, the most unforgettable moment in Mets history has nothing to do with postseason success and awards. At the first home game in New York City following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Mike Piazza launched an eighth inning home run and lifted the spirits of not only Mets fans, but Americans across the country.

Famous New York Mets Fans

The New York Mets can claim several celebrity fans based on their hometown status, including Queens rappers Nicki Minaj and Nas as well as Manhattan’s Ad-Rock and the late Adam “MCA” Yauch of Beastie Boys. Following MCA’s death in 2012, all Mets players changed their walk-up music to a Beastie Boys song in his honor.

Comedians like Chris Rock, Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmel count themselves amongst the Mets faithful along with actors Matthew Broderick, Ben Stiller and his late father Jerry Stiller, Kevin James, Glenn Close and Dylan O’Brien. Long Island native Jerry Seinfeld made no secret of his real-life Mets fandom on the semi-autobiographical sitcom Seinfeld. Along with regular mentions of taping games throughout the show, the comedian and star eventually invited Mets Hall of Famer Keith Hernandez to play himself on the show.