ETHNOGRAPHY OF THE CITY
sports: solidarities & rivalries WITHIN INTRA-CITY SPORTS
New York City presents a situation not often seen in professional sport fandom. It is home to a plethora of sports teams. New York city is home to two National Basketball Association teams, two Nation Hockey League teams (New York Rangers and New York Islanders), two Major League baseball teams (New York Mets and New York Yankees) and is the original home for two National football teams (New York Giants and New York Jets). It is also home to two class A Minor League baseball teams (the Brooklyn Cyclones and the Staten Island Yankees…...the later soon changing its name), an original Woman’s National Basketball Association team (The New York Liberty) and for a time, it has been called home for two Major League Soccer teams (New York Red bulls and NYCFC). Each of these teams are as diverse as the fans that cheer for them. The fans are as passionate as for the teams that they root for as the much as they hate the rivals. That is what I will be covering today. A brief history of these major sports team rivalries and the fans that cheer for them and what makes these rivalries for the hearts of New Yorkers great.
Islanders-Rangers
The Islanders–Rangers rivalry, also unofficially known as the "Battle of New York", is a rivalry between the New York Islanders and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. Both teams play in New York City, with the Rangers in the borough of Manhattan, and the Islanders in the borough of Brooklyn. They are two of the three teams that play in the New York metropolitan area, the other being the New Jersey Devils who play in Newark, New Jersey. The rivalry is an intra-city rivalry similar to the Mets–Yankees rivalry in Major League Baseball and join the recent Knicks–Nets rivalry and yesteryear's Dodgers–Giants rivalry as professional sports rivalries between teams based in New York City's most populous borough, Brooklyn, and the location of most of New York's corporate headquarters and shopping districts, Manhattan.
Like the Knicks–Nets rivalry and the old Dodgers–Giants rivalry, the two teams will remain in the same division and thus play several matches each season. In contrast, Major League Baseball's New York Yankees and New York Mets are in different leagues while the National Football League's New York Jets and New York Giants are in different conferences, and as such those teams only meet during interleague or championship games.
The Islanders–Rangers rivalry, also unofficially known as the "Battle of New York", is a rivalry between the New York Islanders and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. Both teams play in New York City, with the Rangers in the borough of Manhattan, and the Islanders in the borough of Brooklyn. They are two of the three teams that play in the New York metropolitan area, the other being the New Jersey Devils who play in Newark, New Jersey. The rivalry is an intra-city rivalry similar to the Mets–Yankees rivalry in Major League Baseball and join the recent Knicks–Nets rivalry and yesteryear's Dodgers–Giants rivalry as professional sports rivalries between teams based in New York City's most populous borough, Brooklyn, and the location of most of New York's corporate headquarters and shopping districts, Manhattan.
Like the Knicks–Nets rivalry and the old Dodgers–Giants rivalry, the two teams will remain in the same division and thus play several matches each season. In contrast, Major League Baseball's New York Yankees and New York Mets are in different leagues while the National Football League's New York Jets and New York Giants are in different conferences, and as such those teams only meet during interleague or championship games.
Statistics
First meeting October 21, 1972
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Uniondale, New York)
Latest meeting October 19, 2017
Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York)
Meetings total 341
All-time series 163–159–19 (NYR)
Regular season series 144–139–19 (NYR)
Postseason results 20–19 (NYI)
Largest victory NYI 10–2 NYR
April 3, 1976
Longest win streak NYR W7
Current win streak NYI W3
Post-season history
1975 Preliminary Round: Islanders, 2–1
1979 Semi-finals: Rangers, 4–2
1981 Semi-finals: Islanders, 4–0
1982 Patrick Division Finals:
Islanders, 4–2
1983 Patrick Division Finals:
Islanders, 4–2
1984 Patrick Division Semi-finals: Islanders, 3–2
1990 Patrick Division Semi-finals: Rangers, 4–1
1994 Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: Rangers, 4–0
First meeting October 21, 1972
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Uniondale, New York)
Latest meeting October 19, 2017
Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York)
Meetings total 341
All-time series 163–159–19 (NYR)
Regular season series 144–139–19 (NYR)
Postseason results 20–19 (NYI)
Largest victory NYI 10–2 NYR
April 3, 1976
Longest win streak NYR W7
Current win streak NYI W3
Post-season history
1975 Preliminary Round: Islanders, 2–1
1979 Semi-finals: Rangers, 4–2
1981 Semi-finals: Islanders, 4–0
1982 Patrick Division Finals:
Islanders, 4–2
1983 Patrick Division Finals:
Islanders, 4–2
1984 Patrick Division Semi-finals: Islanders, 3–2
1990 Patrick Division Semi-finals: Rangers, 4–1
1994 Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: Rangers, 4–0
Fan reaction
The Rangers' fan base generally comes from the city's five boroughs, Westchester, Fairfield, and Rockland Counties, and from Northern and Central New Jersey, while the Islanders tend to draw fans from Nassau and Suffolk counties, Brooklyn, and parts of eastern Queens. Fans will direct derisive chants at their rivals regardless of whether the teams are actually playing. At each home game, Ranger fans engage in perhaps their most popular chant: whistling the song "Let's Go Band" and punctuating it with "Potvin sucks!" This is a reference to retired Islander Hall of Fame defenseman Denis Potvin, who angered Rangers fans by breaking Center Ulf Nilsson's ankle. Nilsson has never characterized Potvin's hit as dirty and blames his broken ankle on his skate getting caught in a crevice in the ice at Madison Square Garden resulting in one leg taking the full weight of the hit. In a 2009 interview, 30 years after the hit, Nilsson said, "He [Potvin] was always fair. But the ice was never great in the Garden because they had basketball and other events. My foot got caught. It was a freak thing." Nevertheless, this has not deterred Rangers fans from continuing their chant. Rangers’ fans also occasionally bring out the chant "Beat your wife, Potvin, beat your wife", a reference to allegations made by his former wife during their divorce proceedings that Potvin committed domestic abuse. Potvin has denied this and has never been criminally charged. Lastly, Rangers fans have taunted Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro by chanting "DP Sucks!" After the Islanders changed their logo to one closely resembling the Gorton's fisherman, Rangers fans chanted "We want fish sticks" at the Islanders for several years, even after the logo was discarded.
Incidents
One well-known incident at an Islanders/Philadelphia Flyers game in 2003 turned an innocent holiday promotion at Nassau Coliseum into an on-ice shoving match between Rangers and Islanders fans in Santa suits.
As of 2017, the Rangers have beaten the Islanders 144 times while the Islanders have beaten the Rangers 139 times. In the playoffs, however, the Islanders hold the lead with a 20–19 record, and have won five of the eight playoff series between the two teams.
Reference:
Keese, Parton (May 9, 1979). "Rangers Beat Islanders, 2-1, and Gain Stanley Cup Final". New York Times. p. A1.
Mucha, Peter (January 5, 2001). "A City's Hopes Fly High on the Wings of Eagles". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A1. New York teams—the Mets, Rangers, Giants and Knicks—rank among Philadelphia's most loathed rivals.
The Rangers' fan base generally comes from the city's five boroughs, Westchester, Fairfield, and Rockland Counties, and from Northern and Central New Jersey, while the Islanders tend to draw fans from Nassau and Suffolk counties, Brooklyn, and parts of eastern Queens. Fans will direct derisive chants at their rivals regardless of whether the teams are actually playing. At each home game, Ranger fans engage in perhaps their most popular chant: whistling the song "Let's Go Band" and punctuating it with "Potvin sucks!" This is a reference to retired Islander Hall of Fame defenseman Denis Potvin, who angered Rangers fans by breaking Center Ulf Nilsson's ankle. Nilsson has never characterized Potvin's hit as dirty and blames his broken ankle on his skate getting caught in a crevice in the ice at Madison Square Garden resulting in one leg taking the full weight of the hit. In a 2009 interview, 30 years after the hit, Nilsson said, "He [Potvin] was always fair. But the ice was never great in the Garden because they had basketball and other events. My foot got caught. It was a freak thing." Nevertheless, this has not deterred Rangers fans from continuing their chant. Rangers’ fans also occasionally bring out the chant "Beat your wife, Potvin, beat your wife", a reference to allegations made by his former wife during their divorce proceedings that Potvin committed domestic abuse. Potvin has denied this and has never been criminally charged. Lastly, Rangers fans have taunted Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro by chanting "DP Sucks!" After the Islanders changed their logo to one closely resembling the Gorton's fisherman, Rangers fans chanted "We want fish sticks" at the Islanders for several years, even after the logo was discarded.
Incidents
One well-known incident at an Islanders/Philadelphia Flyers game in 2003 turned an innocent holiday promotion at Nassau Coliseum into an on-ice shoving match between Rangers and Islanders fans in Santa suits.
As of 2017, the Rangers have beaten the Islanders 144 times while the Islanders have beaten the Rangers 139 times. In the playoffs, however, the Islanders hold the lead with a 20–19 record, and have won five of the eight playoff series between the two teams.
Reference:
Keese, Parton (May 9, 1979). "Rangers Beat Islanders, 2-1, and Gain Stanley Cup Final". New York Times. p. A1.
Mucha, Peter (January 5, 2001). "A City's Hopes Fly High on the Wings of Eagles". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A1. New York teams—the Mets, Rangers, Giants and Knicks—rank among Philadelphia's most loathed rivals.
Knicks–Nets
The Knicks–Nets rivalry is a crosstown rivalry between New York City's two National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. Both teams compete in Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The New York Knicks were established in 1946 as one of the charter franchises of the NBA, and have been based at Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan since 1968. The Nets were established in 1967 as a member of the now-defunct American Basketball Association, and joined the NBA in 1976. They have been based at Barclays Center in Brooklyn since 2012, though have played in the New York metropolitan area their entire existence.
The rivalry began in 1976 when the Nets joined the NBA as part of the ABA–NBA merger. At the time, the team was known as the New York Nets and played at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in suburban Long Island. The team became the New Jersey Nets the following season when they relocated to suburban New Jersey, playing temporarily in Piscataway before moving to Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford in 1981, their home until 2010. The Nets played their final two seasons in New Jersey at Prudential Center in downtown Newark. The rivalry became an intra-city series when the Nets relocated to Brooklyn in 2012.
After the Nets' move to Brooklyn, due to the close proximity of the two teams and the overall histories of Brooklyn and Manhattan, media outlets have dubbed the rivalry the Battle of the Boroughs, or Clash of the Boroughs. The two teams have met in the playoffs three times over the course of their history, with the most recent meeting in 2004. This rivalry can also be called the "Cross-Bridges Rivalry".
The Knicks–Nets rivalry is a crosstown rivalry between New York City's two National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. Both teams compete in Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The New York Knicks were established in 1946 as one of the charter franchises of the NBA, and have been based at Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan since 1968. The Nets were established in 1967 as a member of the now-defunct American Basketball Association, and joined the NBA in 1976. They have been based at Barclays Center in Brooklyn since 2012, though have played in the New York metropolitan area their entire existence.
The rivalry began in 1976 when the Nets joined the NBA as part of the ABA–NBA merger. At the time, the team was known as the New York Nets and played at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in suburban Long Island. The team became the New Jersey Nets the following season when they relocated to suburban New Jersey, playing temporarily in Piscataway before moving to Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford in 1981, their home until 2010. The Nets played their final two seasons in New Jersey at Prudential Center in downtown Newark. The rivalry became an intra-city series when the Nets relocated to Brooklyn in 2012.
After the Nets' move to Brooklyn, due to the close proximity of the two teams and the overall histories of Brooklyn and Manhattan, media outlets have dubbed the rivalry the Battle of the Boroughs, or Clash of the Boroughs. The two teams have met in the playoffs three times over the course of their history, with the most recent meeting in 2004. This rivalry can also be called the "Cross-Bridges Rivalry".
Statistics
First meeting November 30, 1976
Latest meeting November 9, 2016
(Madison Square Garden)
Next meeting February 1, 2017
(Barclays Center)
Statistics
Meetings total 192
All-time series 97–96 (NYK)
Regular season series 92–91 (NYK)
Postseason results 5–5
Longest win streak
NYK: W8
BKN: W11
Current win streak BKN W2
Post-season history
1983 Eastern Conference First Round: Knicks won, 2–0
1994 Eastern Conference First Round: Knicks won, 3–1
2004 Eastern Conference First Round: Nets won, 4–0
First meeting November 30, 1976
Latest meeting November 9, 2016
(Madison Square Garden)
Next meeting February 1, 2017
(Barclays Center)
Statistics
Meetings total 192
All-time series 97–96 (NYK)
Regular season series 92–91 (NYK)
Postseason results 5–5
Longest win streak
NYK: W8
BKN: W11
Current win streak BKN W2
Post-season history
1983 Eastern Conference First Round: Knicks won, 2–0
1994 Eastern Conference First Round: Knicks won, 3–1
2004 Eastern Conference First Round: Nets won, 4–0
Comparisons
Media outlets have noted the rivalry's similarity to those of other New York City teams, such as Major League Baseball's Subway Series rivalry between the American League's New York Yankees and National League's New York Mets due to the teams' proximity through the New York City Subway. Historically, the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn competed via the Dodgers–Giants rivalry, when the two teams were known as the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. Like the Knicks and Nets, the Giants and Dodgers played in Manhattan and Brooklyn, respectively, and were fierce divisional rivals. The rivalry between the New York Islanders and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League share this crosstown rivalry with the Islanders move to the Barclays Center in 2015.
Reference:
Goldaper, Sam. "Nets Will Move To New Jersey; Cost: $4 Million; Nets Will Pay $4 Million for Move to Jersey", The New York Times, July 27, 1977.
Youngmisuk, Ohm (December 17, 2002). "Rivalry? It's History, Says The Nets' Kidd – New York Daily News". Daily News. New York.
Media outlets have noted the rivalry's similarity to those of other New York City teams, such as Major League Baseball's Subway Series rivalry between the American League's New York Yankees and National League's New York Mets due to the teams' proximity through the New York City Subway. Historically, the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn competed via the Dodgers–Giants rivalry, when the two teams were known as the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. Like the Knicks and Nets, the Giants and Dodgers played in Manhattan and Brooklyn, respectively, and were fierce divisional rivals. The rivalry between the New York Islanders and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League share this crosstown rivalry with the Islanders move to the Barclays Center in 2015.
Reference:
Goldaper, Sam. "Nets Will Move To New Jersey; Cost: $4 Million; Nets Will Pay $4 Million for Move to Jersey", The New York Times, July 27, 1977.
Youngmisuk, Ohm (December 17, 2002). "Rivalry? It's History, Says The Nets' Kidd – New York Daily News". Daily News. New York.
Giants-Jets
History
The New York Jets previously maintained a very tense rivalry with their in-town counterparts, the New York Giants, a rivalry that has since diminished due to the infrequency with which the teams meet in the regular season. Its origins can be traced back to the formation of the American Football League in 1960, as a rival to the more established NFL. The upstart league decided to directly compete with the NFL's Giants, and granted a charter franchise to Harry Wismer, who proclaimed that New York was ready for another professional football team. Like the AFL and the NFL, their respective teams in New York fought for publicity, attention and fans. Since the two teams play each other so infrequently in the regular season, some, including players on both teams, have questioned whether the Giants and Jets have a real rivalry.
History
The New York Jets previously maintained a very tense rivalry with their in-town counterparts, the New York Giants, a rivalry that has since diminished due to the infrequency with which the teams meet in the regular season. Its origins can be traced back to the formation of the American Football League in 1960, as a rival to the more established NFL. The upstart league decided to directly compete with the NFL's Giants, and granted a charter franchise to Harry Wismer, who proclaimed that New York was ready for another professional football team. Like the AFL and the NFL, their respective teams in New York fought for publicity, attention and fans. Since the two teams play each other so infrequently in the regular season, some, including players on both teams, have questioned whether the Giants and Jets have a real rivalry.
Statistic
First meeting November 1, 1970
NYG 22, NYJ 10
Latest meeting August 26, 2017
NYJ 31, NYG 32
Next meeting TBA
Statistics
Meetings total 13 meetings[1]
All-time series Giants lead 8-5-0
Largest victory NYJ 26, NYG 7 (1981)
Current win streak Giants 2
(2016-present)
First meeting November 1, 1970
NYG 22, NYJ 10
Latest meeting August 26, 2017
NYJ 31, NYG 32
Next meeting TBA
Statistics
Meetings total 13 meetings[1]
All-time series Giants lead 8-5-0
Largest victory NYJ 26, NYG 7 (1981)
Current win streak Giants 2
(2016-present)
Fan Reactions to teams:
The one thing that makes this rivalry unique is that both teams share a stadium and you can see the difference when one is at home over the other. The energy is different and is fun to watch when they play each other. While researching, I came across a bit humor that I will confess to. I have reacted the same way many of the typical fans reacted below. I came across a piece written by Michael Amato. He wrote this for the Score on Apr 3, 2014. Enjoy.
1. The Giants and Jets both moved into beautiful New Meadowlands Stadium in 2010. Now known as MetLife stadium, the facility is equipped with state of the art technology and hosted Super Bowl XLVIII.
Typical Giants fan reaction: I'm glad we're moving into a new stadium. That old one had too many bad memories like the Miracle at the Meadowlands. There's no way anything that crazy could possibly happen here.
Typical Jets fan reaction: There are too many bright lights in this new stadium. I just know Mark Sanchez is going to get disoriented at some point and do something ridiculous.
2. Both teams drafted a quarterback in the 2013 draft, with the Jets taking Geno Smith and the Giants going with Ryan Nassib.
Typical Giants fan reaction: Smart move. When Eli Manning retires in 2020, Nassib should be ready to step in.
Typical Jets fan reaction: I can't believe we passed on Geno Smith in the first round.
(Fast forward to present day.)
I can't believe we wasted a second-round pick on Geno Smith.
3. It's snowing considerably outside as both teams prepare for games on the East Coast.
Typical Giants fan reaction: What great football weather!
Typical Jets fan reaction: Do you realize we are 0-10 in games below freezing when it snows?
4. Each team is facing a third-and-25 on offense and their fans are debating on what the team should do.
Typical Giants fan reaction: Just have Manning drop back and launch it blindly. Somebody will probably just catch it one-handed by pinning it against their head, or find an insane way to get both feet down in double coverage on the sideline.
Typical Jets fan reaction: We should just punt it now. We're going to have to do it on fourth down anyway.
5. Both teams had surprising starts to the 2013 season. The Giants surprised everybody by starting 0-6, while the Jets also turned heads by starting 5-3, including wins over New England and New Orleans.
Typical Giants fan reaction: I know we lost the first six games, but we're not in that bad of shape. If we can just win out, we've still got a microscopic shot at a playoff spot.
Typical Jets fan reaction: What an amazing start! The worst we can finish is 5-11 now.
6. The Jets released quarterback Mark Sanchez in late March and some speculated the Giants might have interest in signing him.
Typical Giants fan reaction: I know he's struggled in recent years, but he's still one of the best in the league at holding a clipboard.
Typical Jets fan reaction: Just watch, Bill Belichick is going to sign him as a fullback and he'll run for 10 touchdowns next season. (https://www.thescore.com/news/470902)
Reference:
“New York Jets vs. New York Giants Results". The Football Database. August 18, 2015
Branch, John (October 7, 2007), "A Rivalry That Everyone Has Forgotten to Remember"
Litsky, Frank (December 18, 1988), "Pro Football; Giants Go for the Title", The New York Times Company, archived from the original on March 21, 2011
Bagli, Charles V. (September 29, 2005), "Jets and Giants Agree to Share New Stadium", The New York Times, archived from the original on March 21, 2011
The difference between Giants and Jets fans, https://www.thescore.com/news/470902
The one thing that makes this rivalry unique is that both teams share a stadium and you can see the difference when one is at home over the other. The energy is different and is fun to watch when they play each other. While researching, I came across a bit humor that I will confess to. I have reacted the same way many of the typical fans reacted below. I came across a piece written by Michael Amato. He wrote this for the Score on Apr 3, 2014. Enjoy.
1. The Giants and Jets both moved into beautiful New Meadowlands Stadium in 2010. Now known as MetLife stadium, the facility is equipped with state of the art technology and hosted Super Bowl XLVIII.
Typical Giants fan reaction: I'm glad we're moving into a new stadium. That old one had too many bad memories like the Miracle at the Meadowlands. There's no way anything that crazy could possibly happen here.
Typical Jets fan reaction: There are too many bright lights in this new stadium. I just know Mark Sanchez is going to get disoriented at some point and do something ridiculous.
2. Both teams drafted a quarterback in the 2013 draft, with the Jets taking Geno Smith and the Giants going with Ryan Nassib.
Typical Giants fan reaction: Smart move. When Eli Manning retires in 2020, Nassib should be ready to step in.
Typical Jets fan reaction: I can't believe we passed on Geno Smith in the first round.
(Fast forward to present day.)
I can't believe we wasted a second-round pick on Geno Smith.
3. It's snowing considerably outside as both teams prepare for games on the East Coast.
Typical Giants fan reaction: What great football weather!
Typical Jets fan reaction: Do you realize we are 0-10 in games below freezing when it snows?
4. Each team is facing a third-and-25 on offense and their fans are debating on what the team should do.
Typical Giants fan reaction: Just have Manning drop back and launch it blindly. Somebody will probably just catch it one-handed by pinning it against their head, or find an insane way to get both feet down in double coverage on the sideline.
Typical Jets fan reaction: We should just punt it now. We're going to have to do it on fourth down anyway.
5. Both teams had surprising starts to the 2013 season. The Giants surprised everybody by starting 0-6, while the Jets also turned heads by starting 5-3, including wins over New England and New Orleans.
Typical Giants fan reaction: I know we lost the first six games, but we're not in that bad of shape. If we can just win out, we've still got a microscopic shot at a playoff spot.
Typical Jets fan reaction: What an amazing start! The worst we can finish is 5-11 now.
6. The Jets released quarterback Mark Sanchez in late March and some speculated the Giants might have interest in signing him.
Typical Giants fan reaction: I know he's struggled in recent years, but he's still one of the best in the league at holding a clipboard.
Typical Jets fan reaction: Just watch, Bill Belichick is going to sign him as a fullback and he'll run for 10 touchdowns next season. (https://www.thescore.com/news/470902)
Reference:
“New York Jets vs. New York Giants Results". The Football Database. August 18, 2015
Branch, John (October 7, 2007), "A Rivalry That Everyone Has Forgotten to Remember"
Litsky, Frank (December 18, 1988), "Pro Football; Giants Go for the Title", The New York Times Company, archived from the original on March 21, 2011
Bagli, Charles V. (September 29, 2005), "Jets and Giants Agree to Share New Stadium", The New York Times, archived from the original on March 21, 2011
The difference between Giants and Jets fans, https://www.thescore.com/news/470902
Mets – Yankees
The Mets–Yankees rivalry refers to the latest incarnation of the Subway Series, which is the interleague rivalry between New York City's Major League Baseball (MLB) teams: the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. The Mets are a member club of MLB's National League (NL) East division, and the Yankees are a member club of MLB's American League (AL) East division.
Until interleague play started, the two teams had only met in exhibition games. Since the inception of interleague play, the two teams have played each other in every regular season since 1997. From 1999 through 2012, they have played six games per season: two three-game series (one series in each team's ballpark). In 2013, the two teams met four times: a pair of two-game series. What makes this one different to other modern intercity rivalries is that these two teams met for the championship. The Yankees would win their fourth World Series in five years. The Yankees play the first subway series since 1956. Derek Jeter wins the World Series MVP by hitting .409 with two home runs and two RBIs. John Franco is the only Mets pitcher to win a game in the 2000 World Series.
The Mets–Yankees rivalry refers to the latest incarnation of the Subway Series, which is the interleague rivalry between New York City's Major League Baseball (MLB) teams: the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. The Mets are a member club of MLB's National League (NL) East division, and the Yankees are a member club of MLB's American League (AL) East division.
Until interleague play started, the two teams had only met in exhibition games. Since the inception of interleague play, the two teams have played each other in every regular season since 1997. From 1999 through 2012, they have played six games per season: two three-game series (one series in each team's ballpark). In 2013, the two teams met four times: a pair of two-game series. What makes this one different to other modern intercity rivalries is that these two teams met for the championship. The Yankees would win their fourth World Series in five years. The Yankees play the first subway series since 1956. Derek Jeter wins the World Series MVP by hitting .409 with two home runs and two RBIs. John Franco is the only Mets pitcher to win a game in the 2000 World Series.
Statistic
First meeting June 16, 1997
Yankee Stadium (I)
Latest meeting August 17, 2017
Citi Field
Next meeting June 8, 2018
Citi Field
Statistics
Meetings total 112
Regular season series 66–46, Yankees
Largest victory 15–0, Yankees (June 14, 2009)[1]
Longest win streak
Mets: 6 (May 27, 2013 – May 13, 2014)
Yankees: 7 (June 30, 2002 – June 29, 2003)
Current win streak Yankees, 4
Post Season
2000 World Series: Yankees defeat Mets, 4–1
First meeting June 16, 1997
Yankee Stadium (I)
Latest meeting August 17, 2017
Citi Field
Next meeting June 8, 2018
Citi Field
Statistics
Meetings total 112
Regular season series 66–46, Yankees
Largest victory 15–0, Yankees (June 14, 2009)[1]
Longest win streak
Mets: 6 (May 27, 2013 – May 13, 2014)
Yankees: 7 (June 30, 2002 – June 29, 2003)
Current win streak Yankees, 4
Post Season
2000 World Series: Yankees defeat Mets, 4–1
1997–1998: First official games
In 1997, Major League Baseball scheduled official regular season games between the American and National Leagues for the first time. On June 16, the Mets and Yankees played their first official game at Yankee Stadium, which the Mets won 6–0 behind Dave Mlicki. The Yankees won the next two games for a series win. The Mets acquired Mike Piazza for the 1998 season and made a run for the playoffs, but were eliminated in the last regular game series of the season by the Atlanta Braves. The Yankees won that year's interleague series at Shea Stadium two games to one, and would also win the 1998 World Series, the first of three straight titles for them. David Cone won 20 games in 1998 for the Yankees, just 10 years after he accomplished the same feat for the Mets, becoming the only player to win 20 games for both teams. These interleague games between the Mets and Yankees would come to be referred to as a Subway Series, extending the use of that phrase outside the historical context of an all-New York World Series.
The Difference in fans:
When it comes to the fans of these two teams, many old school Dodgers and Giants fans tend to lean towards the Mets, to keep the national League loyalties. Most Yankee fans tend to think of themselves as entitled every year. That they must have the best team. If the proposed trade that was announced on December 9,2017 is any indication that won’t change this year. I was able to come up with a few differences in the Mets and Yankee fan bases. Here are just a few as provided by TIMEOUT New York:
1. Yankee Stadium patrons eat classic hot dogs and $12 beer, along with Parm sandwiches and Brother Jimmy’s BBQ, but Citi Field’s food is a home run. (Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, Fuku, Pat La Frieda, Papa Rosso….)
2. With 27 World Series wins, Yankees fans are cheering for the best...but they know it. It’s harder to hate an underdog with a measly two trophies.
3. Mets fans got the new Citi Field stadium in 2009. They loved it. The new Yankee Stadium also opened 2009. It just made fans miss the old one.
4. Yankees fans brag about having the highest payroll at $224 million. Mets fans make fun of them for having the highest payroll.
5. Both teams cheer for poached players: The Yankees stole Carlos Beltran from the Mets, and the Mets stole Curtis Granderson from the Yanks.
6. Most Mets fans live in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Long Island. Most Yankees fans live in Manhattan, the Bronx, New Jersey, Connecticut and Westchester.
7. Mets fans usually root for the Jets. Yankees fans usually root for the Giants.
8. The Yankees have Jay Z as a fan. The Mets have Jerry Seinfeld as a fan. Both are winners.
9. The Yankees clean up nicely. The Mets love their beards.
10. Mets fans nicknamed Thor and the Dark Knight (aka Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey). The Yankees have the not-so-creatively nicknamed A-Rod.
11. Mets fans have Mr. Met. The Yankees are too cool for a mascot.
12. Yankees fans pay up to $500 for tickets. Mets fans are basically bribed into going to games with $15 tickets.
13. The Yankees’ colors are navy and white, so fans can dress for a game without even trying. The Mets’ colors are blue and orange, a combination found in no one’s closet ever.
14. Yankees fans loved to root for Derek Jeter…but Mets fans made fun of A-Rod.
(https://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/14-differences-between-yankees-fans-and-mets-fans-in-nyc-081816)
References:
Bock, Hal (October 5, 1999). "Back to the future: a New York baseball turf fight". Associated Press.
Steinberg, Dan (February 2, 2008). "Baseball's Fault Lines Show Stress in Arizona". The Washington Post. p. E11.
“14 differences between Yankees fans and Mets fans in NYC” https://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/14-differences-between-yankees-fans-and-mets-fans-in-nyc-081816
In 1997, Major League Baseball scheduled official regular season games between the American and National Leagues for the first time. On June 16, the Mets and Yankees played their first official game at Yankee Stadium, which the Mets won 6–0 behind Dave Mlicki. The Yankees won the next two games for a series win. The Mets acquired Mike Piazza for the 1998 season and made a run for the playoffs, but were eliminated in the last regular game series of the season by the Atlanta Braves. The Yankees won that year's interleague series at Shea Stadium two games to one, and would also win the 1998 World Series, the first of three straight titles for them. David Cone won 20 games in 1998 for the Yankees, just 10 years after he accomplished the same feat for the Mets, becoming the only player to win 20 games for both teams. These interleague games between the Mets and Yankees would come to be referred to as a Subway Series, extending the use of that phrase outside the historical context of an all-New York World Series.
The Difference in fans:
When it comes to the fans of these two teams, many old school Dodgers and Giants fans tend to lean towards the Mets, to keep the national League loyalties. Most Yankee fans tend to think of themselves as entitled every year. That they must have the best team. If the proposed trade that was announced on December 9,2017 is any indication that won’t change this year. I was able to come up with a few differences in the Mets and Yankee fan bases. Here are just a few as provided by TIMEOUT New York:
1. Yankee Stadium patrons eat classic hot dogs and $12 beer, along with Parm sandwiches and Brother Jimmy’s BBQ, but Citi Field’s food is a home run. (Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, Fuku, Pat La Frieda, Papa Rosso….)
2. With 27 World Series wins, Yankees fans are cheering for the best...but they know it. It’s harder to hate an underdog with a measly two trophies.
3. Mets fans got the new Citi Field stadium in 2009. They loved it. The new Yankee Stadium also opened 2009. It just made fans miss the old one.
4. Yankees fans brag about having the highest payroll at $224 million. Mets fans make fun of them for having the highest payroll.
5. Both teams cheer for poached players: The Yankees stole Carlos Beltran from the Mets, and the Mets stole Curtis Granderson from the Yanks.
6. Most Mets fans live in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Long Island. Most Yankees fans live in Manhattan, the Bronx, New Jersey, Connecticut and Westchester.
7. Mets fans usually root for the Jets. Yankees fans usually root for the Giants.
8. The Yankees have Jay Z as a fan. The Mets have Jerry Seinfeld as a fan. Both are winners.
9. The Yankees clean up nicely. The Mets love their beards.
10. Mets fans nicknamed Thor and the Dark Knight (aka Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey). The Yankees have the not-so-creatively nicknamed A-Rod.
11. Mets fans have Mr. Met. The Yankees are too cool for a mascot.
12. Yankees fans pay up to $500 for tickets. Mets fans are basically bribed into going to games with $15 tickets.
13. The Yankees’ colors are navy and white, so fans can dress for a game without even trying. The Mets’ colors are blue and orange, a combination found in no one’s closet ever.
14. Yankees fans loved to root for Derek Jeter…but Mets fans made fun of A-Rod.
(https://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/14-differences-between-yankees-fans-and-mets-fans-in-nyc-081816)
References:
Bock, Hal (October 5, 1999). "Back to the future: a New York baseball turf fight". Associated Press.
Steinberg, Dan (February 2, 2008). "Baseball's Fault Lines Show Stress in Arizona". The Washington Post. p. E11.
“14 differences between Yankees fans and Mets fans in NYC” https://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/14-differences-between-yankees-fans-and-mets-fans-in-nyc-081816
Fan demographics
In 1998, the Independent Budget Office of the city of New York published a study on the economic effect of the city's two Major League Baseball teams. The study included an analysis of where fans of both the Mets and the Yankees resided. The study found that 39% of Mets fans lived in one of the five boroughs of New York, 49% in the tri-state area outside the city and 12% elsewhere. Mets fans were more likely to be found in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Long Island counties of Nassau and Suffolk, whereas Manhattan, the Bronx, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the counties of Westchester and Rockland, as well as the upper Hudson Valley and the upstate New York region, leaned more towards the Yankees.
Fans of other New York City teams
Historically, Yankees fans tend to root for the New York Giants (who once played in Yankee Stadium) and the New York Rangers (all three being the older, more established teams), while Mets fans tend to root for the New York Jets (who once played in Shea Stadium) and New York Islanders. However, some Yankees fans root for the Jets (both teams have intense rivalries with Boston, as the fierce Yankees–Red Sox rivalry has led to the rivalry between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots and the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics), while some Mets fans root for the Giants as part of their hatred for their counterparts in Philadelphia (Phillies and Eagles), as well as the rivalry between the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League. In fact, the differing allegiances between Met and Yankee fans and their respective football team could be best seen in the Jets 30 point 4th quarter comeback over the Dolphins, which took place during the 2000 World Series. There were "Let's Go Yankees" chants, which were later countered by "Let's Go Mets" chants or "Yankees Suck".
There are also many Mets/Football Giants fans. These fans are offspring of Dodgers/Giants Baseball fans of the 1940s and 50s, who were also fans of the great NY Giants Football Teams of the 1950s (when they were NY's only pro-football team). However, that fan-base was cut dramatically when the Jets arrived in the 1960s. Many argue that this group of Mets/Giants fans were split into Mets/Jets fans because you could not get a seat at a Giants game in Yankee Stadium, while you could get season tickets to the NY Jets who now played in the Mets ballpark (Shea Stadium). And, to boot, it made sense to some because the Jets were an exciting team led by Joe Namath (even winning the Super Bowl in 1969, the same year the Miracle Mets won the World Series), whereas the Giants were a dreadful team in the 1960s to early 1970s. There were then two distinct groups: Mets/Giants fans and Mets/Jets fans.
References:
Mucha, Peter (January 5, 2001). "A City's Hopes Fly High on the Wings of Eagles". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A1. New York teams—the Mets, Rangers, Giants and Knicks—rank among Philadelphia's most loathed rivals.
In 1998, the Independent Budget Office of the city of New York published a study on the economic effect of the city's two Major League Baseball teams. The study included an analysis of where fans of both the Mets and the Yankees resided. The study found that 39% of Mets fans lived in one of the five boroughs of New York, 49% in the tri-state area outside the city and 12% elsewhere. Mets fans were more likely to be found in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Long Island counties of Nassau and Suffolk, whereas Manhattan, the Bronx, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the counties of Westchester and Rockland, as well as the upper Hudson Valley and the upstate New York region, leaned more towards the Yankees.
Fans of other New York City teams
Historically, Yankees fans tend to root for the New York Giants (who once played in Yankee Stadium) and the New York Rangers (all three being the older, more established teams), while Mets fans tend to root for the New York Jets (who once played in Shea Stadium) and New York Islanders. However, some Yankees fans root for the Jets (both teams have intense rivalries with Boston, as the fierce Yankees–Red Sox rivalry has led to the rivalry between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots and the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics), while some Mets fans root for the Giants as part of their hatred for their counterparts in Philadelphia (Phillies and Eagles), as well as the rivalry between the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League. In fact, the differing allegiances between Met and Yankee fans and their respective football team could be best seen in the Jets 30 point 4th quarter comeback over the Dolphins, which took place during the 2000 World Series. There were "Let's Go Yankees" chants, which were later countered by "Let's Go Mets" chants or "Yankees Suck".
There are also many Mets/Football Giants fans. These fans are offspring of Dodgers/Giants Baseball fans of the 1940s and 50s, who were also fans of the great NY Giants Football Teams of the 1950s (when they were NY's only pro-football team). However, that fan-base was cut dramatically when the Jets arrived in the 1960s. Many argue that this group of Mets/Giants fans were split into Mets/Jets fans because you could not get a seat at a Giants game in Yankee Stadium, while you could get season tickets to the NY Jets who now played in the Mets ballpark (Shea Stadium). And, to boot, it made sense to some because the Jets were an exciting team led by Joe Namath (even winning the Super Bowl in 1969, the same year the Miracle Mets won the World Series), whereas the Giants were a dreadful team in the 1960s to early 1970s. There were then two distinct groups: Mets/Giants fans and Mets/Jets fans.
References:
Mucha, Peter (January 5, 2001). "A City's Hopes Fly High on the Wings of Eagles". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A1. New York teams—the Mets, Rangers, Giants and Knicks—rank among Philadelphia's most loathed rivals.