The most famous tribute to the Braves-Mets rivalry turned 18 last month. That would be Shea Jones, Chipper’s third son, nominated for Hall of Fame prowess at a certain visiting stadium.
Although Shea knows all about the derivation of his name — he “ate it,” Jones said — he never fully experienced the rivalry that inspired him. That could change this weekend. For the first time in a generation, the Braves and Mets are battling it out for the National League East crown. The teams enter a pivotal three-game series at Truist Park separated by just one game. At stake is a division title and a bye to the first round in the playoffs.
And, perhaps, this could turn out to be the start of a revival that lasts much longer than the weekend.
“A rivalry is only really a rivalry if both teams are good,” former Mets pitcher Al Leiter said this week. “This weekend is going to be a must-see TV.”
From 1998 to 2001, no major league rivalry burned as hot as the one between Atlanta and New York. The Braves had transferred their long streak of divisional titles to the NL East after the realignment, and the Mets had gone from being the worst team money could buy to spending more wisely on stars.
In those four years, both teams finished first and second in the division three times. In three straight Septembers, they’ve played a regular-season series in which the division lead was on the line — all in Atlanta, all won by Atlanta. They played a memorably dramatic League Championship series for the pennant. Three times Atlanta has ended the Mets season – twice officially in 1998 and 1999, once unofficially in 2001.
There was no love lost anyway.