Then something amazin' happened. The Mets won 11 straight games and finished the season 100-62. They won the NL East, then swept the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS before stunning the Baltimore Orioles four games to one to win the 1969 World Series.
It was one of the most dramatic turnarounds in sports history and the greatest upset in baseball history.
But there are five upsets even more shocking.
5. The Upset for Upset
Man O' War is the unquestioned greatest racehorse ever. His great speed and amazing ability made him a 100-1 favorite at the 1919 Sanford Memorial, but when the horses came bursting out at full speed, one horse was faster than the Man and his name was none other than Upset. This was Man O' War's only loss ever.
4. Mike Tyson's Practice Session Goes Awfully
Like Baer vs. Braddock, the favorite was simply tuning up for a later fight, but the underdog was having none of it. The weight-challenged journeyman James "Buster" Douglas was a 42-to-1 underdog against the undefeated Tyson.
But when the smoke had cleared on Feb. 10, 1990 in Tokyo, the "baddest man on the planet" was lying on his back, and his heavyweight championship belt was missing.
3. Super Bowl III
Against amazing odds, young gunslinger Joe Namath guaranteed his 17-point underdog Jets from the inferior AFL would defeat a dominating NFL Baltimore Colts team.
The Colts were already being compared to the greatest teams ever to play pro football. Legends like Tom Matte, Johnny Unitas, and John Mackey were all waiting to win a Super Bowl ring for the first time to complete their careers.
The Jets had other plans. This single upset forever changed pro football and legitimized the merger between the two leagues. Without this upset, there might not be an NFL today, and the league would be a lot less exciting.
2. A Giant Upset in Super Bowl XLII
One game, just one game of perfection. Imagine if the Patriots had won that game and captured their fourth Super Bowl.
Tom Brady might be remembered as a better quarterback than Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw. The 2007 Patriots might be the best team of all time, and the 2000 Patriots might be the best Super Bowl dynasty of all time.
But they lost that game.
The Patriots were beaten by Peyton Manning's inferior little brother, who before that Super Bowl was considered a draft bust.
Michael Strahan was past his prime and he, along with Osi Umenyiora, was the only bright spot for the team. And they were against the greatest pass protection line I've ever seen.
But in the end, the Giants did everything right. Manning led his team from his own 17 to score a touchdown to seal a most improbable upset.
And if you thought Tom Brady wasn't the greatest ever before that game, it's unlikely you'll change your mind because another ring looks impossible.
1. Miracle on Ice
Upsets have changed lives, organizations, entire sports, and even major world powers. The USSR and the USA were at loggerheads in just about everything they did.
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