A 'People's History' of the Mets

In this episode of The Brian Lehrer Show, host Brian Lehrer discusses 'Metropolitans, New York Baseball, Class Struggle, and the People's Team' by Andy Gitlitz, a radical reimagining of the Mets as a symbol of working-class and progressive politics. Gitlitz traces the team’s legacy from its 1962 founding through its roots in the 1880s Metropolitans, linking baseball’s evolution to broader American class struggles. He argues that the Mets emerged not just as a sports franchise but as a political statement—especially during the 1960s and 1970s—when they became a haven for youth culture, civil rights activists, and the New Left. The 1969 Miracle Mets, with Tom Seaver’s anti-Vietnam War dedication, exemplified the team’s role as a cultural and political force. Listeners weigh in, with Jenny from Brooklyn recalling her father’s view of the Yankees as Republican and the Mets as Democratic, while Jesse from Brooklyn highlights the Mets’ deep ties to LGBTQ+ identity, especially in the 2024 season’s Pride Night turnaround. The episode also explores the complex class dynamics between the Mets and Yankees, with Gitlitz suggesting the Mets represent worker solidarity while the Yankees embody corporate hierarchy, though he acknowledges the Yankees’ enduring working-class fan base in the Bronx. The conversation closes with a nod to recent clubhouse tensions involving Francisco Lindor and the Zoran Mamdani campaign, underscoring the ongoing intersection of sports, politics, and identity.