Since the inception of Interleague Play, ‘The Subway Series’, has always had a different feel. For 6 games a year, it truly feels like a battle for New York baseball dominance.

What makes it so special is both teams really play well during the games. The Yankees win some, the Mets win some, it’s really a captivating feeling watching it all unfold. Unfortunately, most of the Met wins comes at Citi Field, often in comeback fashion, which as a Yankee fan, hurts my soul because Met fans are jnsufferable, but more on that in a bit.

Throughout the Subway Series games, there have been a lot of great moments that have just added to the hate between the fanbases.

Thinking about these moments, a few come to mind. Personally, my favorite recent memories of Yankees and Mets revolves around the 2000 World Series. I was 18 at the time, and a freshman at Rider University, in Lawrenceville New Jersey, just down the road was that college, Princeton.

Anyways, the weekend of games 1 and 2, I was ready. I had done all studying and chores. I had my favorite pizza, plenty of soda, I was set.

Game 1 was a back and forth affait, that the Mets, they should have won, if it weren’t for a game saving play that involved, who else by Derek Jeter. Todd Zeile lined a shot to left for a near homerun, luckily for Yankee fans, it scrapped the top of the wall. Timo Perez of the Mets had singled to start the rally, after Zeile’s line drive, poor Timo had relaxed thinking it was a home run, so his normal stride was a trot. The cameras caught the blunder perfectly. You saw Zeile’s liner, David Justice’s relay, then cut to Timo, and he’s hustling around third, you can see it on his face, the relay from Jeter to Posada was near perfect, Timo was out, and the Yankees survived a scare.

The Yankees would go on to win the game 4-3 in 12 innings. Game 2 was another close battle, highlighted by a splintered, broken bat of Mike Piazza’s, which was pitched up by Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens and thrown back in the direction of Piazza. Irinically, earlier in the year, at a game in Yankee Stadium, Clemens had throw an up and in fastball that connected with Piazza’s head, so at first glance, Met fans wanted Clemens dead, and as a Yankee fan, I thought ‘why, why do that? You’re a Yankee be classy. Be better’. Both benches would clear, cooler heads prevail. The Yankees would take Game 2, 6-5, and ultimately the 2000 World Series, 4 games to 1.

Since 2000, the rivalry has continued with the two teams playing each other 6 times a year, and other than a 2009 Yankee world title, and a 2015 Series appearance by the Mets, the teams have been successful, but not as successful as fans on both sides would like, and the games haven’t been nearly as compelling as the 2000 games.

Recently, the rivalry has seen a rebirth with mega billionaire Steven Cohen buying the Mets. The Mets, always wanting to be like their Big Brother from the Bronx, they have money now and are spending big, namely acquiring Francisco Lindor and signing him to a huge contract.

So, this is a big weekend. The Mets can prove they deserve the hype, and the Yankees can remind the Mets and Yankee fans that they are the Yankees and to not give up hope just yet.

My hope is the Yankees take 2 out of 3. The Yankees need to start winning series to get back in the race for the Wild Card. Plus, it’s always good beating the Mets.

Back tomorrow with recaps of it all.