New York Mets Mike Vaccaro Mets owe their 1986 World Series triumph to two Game 6s for the ages By Mike Vaccaro Published July 29, 2026, 6:06 p.m. ET Mets' Lenny Dykstra (4) victoriously leaps on top of teammates after winning Game 6 -- and the NLCS -- over the Astros. Sports Illustrated/Getty Images “Game 6” will never have the same implications that its first cousin, “Game 7,” does. Game 7 means wonder. Game 7 means drama, across every inning, every minute. Game 7 means potential dire consequences for both participants. Game 7 is Aaron Boone and Bill Mazeroski, Stefan Matteau and Clyde Frazier. Game 7 is do or die, survive or perish.
Game 6 has none of those things. It is, by definition, non-climactic.
Just not in the context of the 1986 New York Mets.
