The Mets could be exciting in the Wilpon years even uplifting, like when they welcomed professional sports back to New York in 2001 after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, in a game that announced to the world that the city would recover.
But in the 19 seasons since the group bought out Doubleday, the Mets made the postseason just three times, and fans grew weary of its reign. Whether it was because they could not, or would not, spend more money on top players, many fans vilified the owners, particularly the Wilpon duo, for the teams failures.
Look, I understand that when teams dont win as much as the fans would want theres always anger directed toward the owner, Selig said. But no one can doubt how deeply Fred cared about the Mets and wanted them to win.
One thing they did win was a huge asset appreciation. The team was valued at $391 million when Wilpon and Katz took over in 2002, and they presided over a sixfold increase in 18 years, thanks in part to the addition of a picturesque ballpark that opened in 2009, a regional sports network (SNY) and the general increase of sports team values over time.
Steve Phillips was the general manager of the Mets in 2002, when the Wilpons and Katz gained full control of the club. He had been a member of the front office for several years before that, during the occasionally quarrelsome Wilpon-Doubleday partnership.read more
With Wilpons Set to Cede Control, the Mets End an Era of What-Ifs
