The 2001 New York Mets season was the 40th regular season for the Mets. The 2001 Mets entered the season as defending National League champions, aiming to win the National League East from the Braves and return to a second consecutive World Series and win it. The Mets went 82–80 and finished third in the National League East, six games behind the first place Atlanta Braves. Despite the winning record, the Mets were outscored on the season, 642 runs to 713 allowed, and it would prove to be their last winning season until 2005. They were managed by Bobby Valentine. They played home games at Shea Stadium.

Offseason December 6, 2000: Turk Wendell was signed as a free agent with the New York Mets. December 11, 2000: Tsuyoshi Shinjo was purchased by the New York Mets from the Hanshin Tigers (Japan Central). January 5, 2001: Jorge Velandia was signed as a free agent with the New York Mets.

Regular season The Mets played the first game in New York after the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11. The game was played on September 21 and it was a 3–2 victory over the Atlanta Braves, thanks to a go-ahead two-run home run from Mike Piazza in the eighth inning which is still largely relevant.

Opening Day starters Edgardo Alfonzo Kevin Appier Darryl Hamilton Rey Ordóñez Jay Payton Mike Piazza Tsuyoshi Shinjo Robin Ventura Todd Zeile

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions May 9, 2001: Doug Linton was signed as a free agent with the New York Mets. June 5, 2001: David Wright was drafted by the New York Mets in the 1st round (38th pick) of the 2001 amateur draft. Player signed July 12, 2001.David Wright Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com July 23, 2001: Todd Pratt was traded by the New York Mets to the Philadelphia Phillies for Gary Bennett.Todd Pratt Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com July 25, 2001: Doug Linton was purchased by the LG Twins of Korea from the New York Mets. July 27, 2001: Turk Wendell was traded by the New York Mets with Dennis Cook to the Philadelphia Phillies for Bruce Chen and Adam Walker (minors). July 30, 2001: Rick Reed was traded by the New York Mets to the Minnesota Twins for Matt Lawton.Rick Reed Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com

Game log

|- bgcolor="#cfc" | 1 || April 3 || @ Braves || 6–4 || Cook (1–0) || Lightenberg (0–1) || Benitez (1) || Turner Field || 42,117 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 2 || April 4 || @ Braves || 2–3 || Rocker (1–0) || Wall (0–1) || — || Turner Field || 27,924 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 3 || April 5 || @ Braves || 7–1 || Reed (1–0) || Perez (0–1) || — || Turner Field || 34,219 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 4 || April 6 || @ Expos || 6–10 || Thurman (1–0) || Rose (0–1) || — || Olympic Stadium || 45,183 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 5 || April 7 || @ Expos || 0–10 || Vazquez (1–0) || Trachsel (0–1) || || Olympic Stadium || 15,317 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 6 || April 8 || @ Expos || 2–5 || Peters (1–0) || Leiter (0–1) || Urbina (3) || Olympic Stadium || 11,321 || 2–4 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 7 || April 9 || Braves || 9–4 || Appier (1–0) || Millwood (0–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 53,640 || 3–4 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 8 || April 11 || Braves || 0–2 || Maddux (2–0) || Reed (1–1) || Rocker (2) || Shea Stadium || 36,048 || 3–5 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 9 || April 12 || Braves || 1–0 || Benitez (1–0) || Lightenberg (0–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 27,694 || 4–5 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 10 || April 13 || Reds || 2–3 || Fernandez (2–1) || Trachsel (0–2) || Graves (2) || Shea Stadium || 38,243 || 4–6 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 11 || April 14 || Reds || 0–1 || Reitsma (2–0) || Leiter (0–2) || Graves (3) || Shea Stadium || 55,067 || 4–7 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 12 || April 15 || Reds || 1–3 || Brower (1–0) || Appier (1–1) || Graves (4) || Shea Stadium || 39,643 || 4–8 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 13 || April 16 || Expos || 4–3 || Reed (2–1) || Thurman (1–2) || Benitez (2) || Shea Stadium || 18,241 || 5–8 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 14 || April 17 || Expos || 4–0 || Rusch (1–0) || Peters (1–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 20,177 || 6–8 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 15 || April 18 || Expos || 1–7 || Vazquez (2–1) || Trachsel (0–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 20,721 || 6–9 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 16 || April 20 || @ Reds || 5–9 || Fernandez (3–1) || Leiter (0–3) || Brower (1) || Cinergy Field || 26,557 || 6–10 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 17 || April 21 || @ Reds || 5–2 || Appier (2–1) || Reitsma (2–1) || Benitez (3) || Cinergy Field || 28,135 || 7–10 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 18 || April 22 || @ Reds || 5–1 || Reed (3–1) || Dessens (1–1) || — || Cinergy Field || 30,682 || 8–10 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 19 || April 24 || @ Brewers || 4–6 || DeJean (2–0) || Wall (0–2) || Leskanic (2) || Miller Park || 27,404 || 8–11 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 20 || April 25 || @ Brewers || 2–7 || Haynes (2–2) || Trachsel (0–4) || Weathers (3) || Miller Park || 30,353 || 8–12 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 21 || April 26 || @ Brewers || 8–12 || Fox (1–0) || Hinchliffe (0–1) || — || Miller Park || 25,233 || 8–13 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 22 || April 27 || @ Cardinals || 0–9 || Morris (3–2) || Appier (2–2) || — || Busch Stadium || 40,674 || 8–14 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 23 || April 28 || @ Cardinals || 6–5 || Benitez (2–0) || James (1–2) || — || Busch Stadium || 43,843 || 9–14 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 24 || April 29 || @ Cardinals || 1–12 || Kile (4–2) || Rusch (1–1) || — || Busch Stadium || 38,401 || 9–15 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 25 || April 30 || Astros || 8–2 || Trachsel (1–4) || Elarton (3–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 19,083 || 10–15

|- bgcolor="#cfc" | 26 || May 1 || Astros || 7–5 || Martin (1–0) || Cruz (0–1) || Benitez (4) || Shea Stadium || 25,619 || 11–15 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 27 || May 2 || Astros || 5–6 || Wagner (1–1) || Benitez (2–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 23,262 || 11–16 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 28 || May 4 || Diamondbacks || 4–2 || Reed (4–1) || Batista (0–1) || Franco (1) || Shea Stadium || 36,945 || 12–16 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 29 || May 5 || Diamondbacks || 8–1 || Rusch (2–1) || Ellis (3–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 35,630 || 13–16 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 30 || May 6 || Diamondbacks || 2–8 || Schilling (5–0) || Trachsel (1–5) || — || Shea Stadium || 37,673 || 13–17 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 31 || May 7 || @ Rockies || 10–9 || Gonzalez (1–0) || Bohanon (1–4) || — || Coors Field || 34,644 || 14–17 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 32 || May 8 || @ Rockies || 4–12 || Astacio (4–2) || Appier (2–3) || — || Coors Field || 36,602 || 14–18 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 33 || May 9 || @ Rockies || 0–6 || Hampton (5–0) || Reed (4–2) || — || Coors Field || 35,952 || 14–19 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 34 || May 10 || @ Rockies || 2–8 || Chacon (1–1) || Rusch (2–2) || — || Coors Field || 40,603 || 14–20 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 35 || May 11 || @ Giants || 2–3 || Nen (2–0) || Wall (0–3) || — || Pacific Bell Park || 41,059 || 14–21 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 36 || May 12 || @ Giants || 3–10 || Ortiz (6–1) || Gonzalez (1–1) || — || Pacific Bell Park || 41,059 || 14–22 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 37 || May 13 || @ Giants || 3–6 || Zerbe (1–0) || Appier (2–4) || — || Pacific Bell Park || 41,059 || 14–23 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 38 || May 15 || Padres || 1–0 || Reed (5–2) || Jones (1–5) || Benitez (5) || Shea Stadium || 21,490 || 15–23 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 39 || May 16 || Padres || 2–5 || Eaton (5–2) || Rusch (2–3) || Hoffman (6) || Shea Stadium || 20,134 || 15–24 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 40 || May 17 || Padres || 3–15 || Williams (4–3) || Trachsel (1–6) || — || Shea Stadium || 18,476 || 15–25 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 41 || May 18 || Dodgers || 8–0 || Leiter (1–3) || Brown (5–2) || Wendell (1) || Shea Stadium || 37,502 || 16–25 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 42 || May 19 || Dodgers || 2–10 || Prokopec (5–1) || Appier (2–5) || — || Shea Stadium || 46,346 || 16–26 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 43 || May 20 || Dodgers || 6–5 || Benitez (3–1) || Adams (2–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 43,404 || 17–26 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 44 || May 21 || @ Expos || 6–3 || Rusch (3–3) || Reames (2–6) || Benitez (6) || Olympic Stadium || 5,449 || 18–26 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 45 || May 22 || @ Expos || 0–3 || Armas (4–5) || Gonzalez (1–2) || Urbina (7) || Olympic Stadium || 4,186 || 18–27 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 46 || May 23 || @ Expos || 4–2 || Leiter (2–3) || Peters (2–4) || Benitez (7) || Olympic Stadium || 5,292 || 19–27 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 47 || May 24 || Marlins || 11–3 || Appier (3–5) || Burnett (2–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 22,877 || 20–27 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 48 || May 25 || Marlins || 4–3 || Franco (1–0) || Miceli (0–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 40,456 || 21–27 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 49 || May 26 || Marlins || 3–7 || Dempster (4–6) || Rusch (3–4) || — || Shea Stadium || 29,839 || 21–28 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 50 || May 27 || Marlins || 5–4 || Wendell (1–0) || Miceli (0–4) || Benitez (8) || Shea Stadium || 41,991 || 22–28 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 51 || May 28 || Phillies || 3–5 || Mesa (1–0) || Benitez (3–2) || Cormier (1) || Shea Stadium || 33,791 || 22–29 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 52 || May 29 || Phillies || 3–7 || Gomes (4–1) || Cook (1–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 26,579 || 22–30 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 53 || May 30 || Phillies || 3–6 || Padilla (2–1) || Franco (1–1) || Mesa (15) || Shea Stadium || 24,077 || 22–31 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 54 || May 31 || @ Marlins || 3–5 || Dempster (5–6) || Wendell (1–1) || Alfonseca (11) || Pro Player Stadium || 13,295 || 22–32

|- bgcolor="#cfc" | 55 || June 1 || @ Marlins || 11–5 || Gonzalez (2–2) || Clement (2–5) || — || Pro Player Stadium || 23,252 || 23–32 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 56 || June 2 || @ Marlins || 7–1 || Leiter (3–3) || Smith (3–1) || — || Pro Player Stadium || 33,061 || 24–32 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 57 || June 3 || @ Marlins || 0–1 || Alfonseca (3–2) || Wendell (1–2) || — || Pro Player Stadium || 22,483 || 24–33 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 58 || June 5 || @ Phillies || 9–0 || R. Reed (6–2) || Person (4–5) || — || Veterans Stadium || 22,060 || 25–33 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 59 || June 6 || @ Phillies || 1–6 || Telemaco (5–1) || Rusch (3–5) || — || Veterans Stadium || 32,703 || 25–34 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 60 || June 7 || @ Phillies || 6–5 || Franco (2–1) || Mesa (1–1) || Benitez (9) || Veterans Stadium || 20,636 || 26–34 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 61 || June 8 || @ Devil Rays || 5–7 || Rupe (3–5) || Trachsel (1–7) || Yan (6) || Tropicana Field || 15,547 || 26–35 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 62 || June 9 || @ Devil Rays || 2–5 || Sturtze (3–5) || Leiter (3–4) || Phelps (2) || Tropicana Field || 19,235 || 26–36 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 63 || June 10 || @ Devil Rays || 10–0 || Appier (4–5) || Lopez (3–8) || — || Tropicana Field || 19,994 || 27–36 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 64 || June 12 || @ Orioles || 10–3 || R. Reed (7–2) || Mercedes (1–8) || White (1) || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 34,812 || 28–36 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 65 || June 13 || @ Orioles || 7–6 || Franco (3–1) || Groom (1–2) || Benitez (10) || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 34,881 || 29–36 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 66 || June 14 || @ Orioles || 2–5 || Towers (4–1) || Trachsel (1–8) || Groom (3) || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 37,853 || 29–37 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 67 || June 15 || Yankees || 4–5 || Mendoza (4–2) || Leiter (3–5) || Rivera (20) || Shea Stadium || 54,110 || 29–38 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 68 || June 16 || Yankees || 1–2 || Mussina (6–7) || Appier (4–6) || Rivera (21) || Shea Stadium || 54,195 || 29–39 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 69 || June 17 || Yankees || 8–7 || Wendell (2–2) || Almanzar (0–1) || Benitez (11) || Shea Stadium || 54,399 || 30–39 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 70 || June 18 || Expos || 2–1 || Wendell (3–2) || Yoshii (2–4) || Benitez (12) || Shea Stadium || 32,569 || 31–39 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 71 || June 19 || Expos || 4–1 || White (1–0) || Mota (1–1) || Franco (2) || Shea Stadium || 27,578 || 32–39 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 72 || June 20 || Expos || 4–3 || Leiter (4–5) || Vazquez (5–9) || Benitez (13) || Shea Stadium || 28,617 || 33–39 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 73 || June 21 || Expos || 3–10 || Blank (2–2) || Appier (4–7) || — || Shea Stadium || 32,668 || 33–40 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 74 || June 22 || Braves || 1–10 || Perez (5–5) || R. Reed (7–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 40,129 || 33–41 |- bgcolor="#fcc"