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Sports

Strawberry's Hosts '86 Mets Reunion

Players for the World Series championship team celebrated the 25th anniversary of their win in Douglaston.

On Friday night, Douglaston residents got their chance to meet the members of a legendary borough baseball roster as hosted a private party for the reunion of the 1986 Mets.

Former Mets players at the reunion included Kevin Mitchell, Keith Hernandez, Dave Magadan, Bob Ojeda, Howard Johnson, Mookie Wilson, Terry Leach, Davey Johnson, and Mel Stottlemyre.

And of course, there was Darryl Strawberry.

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"It's just a great group and a great time for all of us, seeing each other again and remembering the good times," said Strawberry, who played both for the 1986 Mets and the Yankees and is also owner of Strawberry's Grill.

Perhaps, the biggest surprise guest of the evening was former first baseman Bill Buckner, of the Boston Red Sox. 

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Though Buckner declined an interview, Strawberry had this to say about the man now so prominently etched in the minds of Met fans everywhere.

"He's a wonderful guy. We asked him to be here and he said 'yes.' He took a lot of heat for that play, especially in Boston. So we wanted him to know that we care about him. He's a player too, and a great player, and we wanted him to be a part of tonight," Strawberry said.

Some players said they had not seen one another in years.

"We haven't all been in a room together and I haven't seen half of these guys in a long time. It's wonderful to be here," Keith Hernandez said.

Hernandez's sentiments were echoed by many in the room that evening.

"I'm just excited being here in the middle of everything. Got my ball signed, meeting the players. I'm having a really good time," said Laura Miller, a Bayside resident.

Still, there was one player in particular sorely missed on Friday - Gary Carter, who has stage four brain cancer.

"It's hard not seeing him here. He was a big part of what we were all about. But our prayers and thoughts are with him as he's fighting for his life," Strawberry said.

The evening closed with a cake cutting ceremony and more mingling.

Those who attended said it was an incredible experience.

"I'm really glad I came," Miller said.

It was 25 years ago today, Oct. 22, that the Mets suited up and took the field at Fenway Park for game four of the 1986 World Series.

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