Cincinatti Reds: MLB 1986- New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds: July 22, 1986

Source:Cincinnati Reds- vs the New York Mets, in 1986.

Source:The New Democrat  

"REDS VS METS JULY 22, 1986" 

From the Cincinnati Reds

The Reds were solid contender in the 1980s a divisional contender for most of that decade. They actually finished in the mid and late 1980s in second place several seasons in a row in that decade. But never quite good enough to win their division. 

The Mets obviously winning the World Series in 1986 and were very good in the mid and late 1980s. So this was a matchup of consistent 1980s contenders, with the Reds failing to ever win their division. 

The Reds never seemed to have enough pitching to win the NL West in the 1980s, which is where they played until 1994, but were generally very good offensively. And the Mets coming damn close to winning the NL East in 1985 and arguably had a better team than the St. Louis Cardinals in 85. But in 1986 is where they put everything together as a team. They had great pitching and consistent offense and defense and had all of those things for most of that season.