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Kings of Queens: Life Beyond Baseball with the '86 Mets
In 1986, the bad guys of baseball won the World Series. Now, Erik Sherman, the New York Times bestselling coauthor of Mookie, profiles key players from that infamous Mets team, revealing never-before-exposed details about their lives after that championship year…as well as a look back at the magical season itself. Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden, Keith Hernandez, Lenny Dykstra, Mookie Wilson, Howard Johnson, Doug Sisk, Rafael Santana, Bobby Ojeda, Wally Backman, Kevin Mitchell, Ed Hearn, Danny Heep, and the late Gary Carter were all known for their heroics on the field. For some of them—known as the “Scum Bunch”—their debauchery off the field was even more awe-inspiring. But when that golden season ended, so did their aura of invincibility. Some faced battles with addiction, some were traded, and others struggled just to keep their lives together. Through interviews with these legendary players, Erik Sherman offers fans a new perspective on a team that will forever be remembered in sports history.INCLUDES PHOTOS
- GenresSportsBaseballNonfiction
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 22, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 8, 2018
The 1986 season was a magical one for the New York Mets. The team not only won the World Series that season, they also captured the heart of New York and many fans still have fond memories of the players on that team. Erik Sherman interviewed fourteen of the players on that team and also the widow of catcher Gary Carter, took the information and put it all together in this entertaining book on the lives of these players since that special year.
These are not the typical “where are they now” accounts of these players as they share with Sherman not only what they are doing now, but also memories of the season and the team. For example, a reader will learn not only that Kevin Mitchell believed he was traded from the Mets because he was allegedly a bad influence on the star players but also that the team doesn’t invite him back for any special events or celebrations.
These players were very open in their stories and opinions with Sherman and he wrote these in a breezy and conversational manner that readers will enjoy. It feels like the reader is sitting in on the conversation – whether it is Darryl Strawberry talking about his ministry, Lenny Dykstra telling the reader about being the most hated player in baseball in his entertaining style or Danny Heep quietly becoming a very successful college baseball coach.
Whether the reader wants to find out if the players from that team are succeeding now, what their favorite memories are of the 1986 season or just enjoy an easy and entertaining book, this is one that baseball fans - especially Mets fans – will want to add to the library.
I wish to thank Berkley Press for providing a copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
These are not the typical “where are they now” accounts of these players as they share with Sherman not only what they are doing now, but also memories of the season and the team. For example, a reader will learn not only that Kevin Mitchell believed he was traded from the Mets because he was allegedly a bad influence on the star players but also that the team doesn’t invite him back for any special events or celebrations.
These players were very open in their stories and opinions with Sherman and he wrote these in a breezy and conversational manner that readers will enjoy. It feels like the reader is sitting in on the conversation – whether it is Darryl Strawberry talking about his ministry, Lenny Dykstra telling the reader about being the most hated player in baseball in his entertaining style or Danny Heep quietly becoming a very successful college baseball coach.
Whether the reader wants to find out if the players from that team are succeeding now, what their favorite memories are of the 1986 season or just enjoy an easy and entertaining book, this is one that baseball fans - especially Mets fans – will want to add to the library.
I wish to thank Berkley Press for providing a copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2019
I’m a Midewstern New York Mets fan which generally draws questions.
Baseball has become a regional sport and being a fan of a long distance team makes no sense.
It goes like this though, around 1984, two of the most gifted athletes of my generation joined the Mets- one a hitter (Daryl Strawberry) and one a 19 year old pitcher like no one else (Dwight Gooden). Occurring closely to this was the acquisition of two stars (Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez) to join them. In 1986, the Mets won the World Series. They were a great team again in 1988 but fell short and have yet to win another one since.
For starters, I was prime age (12) and baseball was a national game in some sorts with the Game of the Week, This Week in Baseball and any chance you got to watch the game, you took.
Ironically, baseball is very regional nowadays despite Fox and ESPN both having highly publicized games of the week and technology making it very easy to watch any and every game of every team.
Yet, where football has done quite well with this, and National teams have been the norm (Cowboys, Niners), and a new generation has grown up cheering for the Steelers, Patriots and Packers regardless of locale.
The NBA has even taken that further to be a players league. Fans now follow LeBron James or Steph Curry or Kevin Durant or Giannis, and not necessarily their current team.
So, through the years from WOR to MLB.TV, I have followed the Mets. That special Mets team was never able to go back to the top again. Years of mismanagement led to 1986 (a bunch of early draft picks) and arguably mismanagement has made the team the LOLMets of today’s Deadspin
An aura has been attached to the team because of this, as well as the drugs and personal issues that have derailed Gooden and Strawberry through the years.
Erik Sherman picked 14 of the most interesting players from that 86 team and met them and interviewed them.
Doc Gooden and Strawberry are here, of course, as well as fan favorite Mookie Wilson, Keith Hernandez, Wally Backman, loose cannon Lenny Dykstra, and “scum bunch”ers Danny Heep and Doug Sisk.
It’s a simple enough format which some classic baseball books have followed. To Sherman’s credit, it makes it a quite breezy book. Sherman knows the team well and he stays positive throughout. It never varies from being a love letter to the team. Even the crazy Dykstra gets a free pass. (Conversely, he probably wouldn’t have gotten the interviews he got without being supportive of the subject).
Unfortunately, it seems to keep that book at a certain level. Written in the internet age, there’s little surprise. Daryl and Doc have been chronicled extensively (an ESPN documentary in recent years was pretty high profile) and in a 24/7 news cycle, many Mets fans know about Backman and Dykstra’s progress.
It was logical to make each player their unique charter. However, it seems like each one runs a sequence of went to visit and asked these questions, then wished them well. Sherman has great questions but his incidental reporting seems limited to “his beautiful wife brought us lemonade” style comments. One feels the book might have been better served by just printing the Questions and Answers outright.
Even then, perhaps grouping chapters into topics might have gave it better flow. The last chapter focuses on the late Gary Carter and works well as each player shares their thoughts. Bouncing back and forth between voices would liven things up.
Trends do show up. Much has been made of how hard the 86 Mets partied. It gets played down here but the thread is that these guys loved baseball through and through. The other thread is that the Mets have passed on using these veterans to fill coaching and management vacancies.
All in all, as a Mets fan, this was a nice breezy nostalgic read, and I got to learn stuff about players I had not heard from in awhile. I also loved that Sherman did brief profiles on the players he could not fit in.
Baseball has become a regional sport and being a fan of a long distance team makes no sense.
It goes like this though, around 1984, two of the most gifted athletes of my generation joined the Mets- one a hitter (Daryl Strawberry) and one a 19 year old pitcher like no one else (Dwight Gooden). Occurring closely to this was the acquisition of two stars (Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez) to join them. In 1986, the Mets won the World Series. They were a great team again in 1988 but fell short and have yet to win another one since.
For starters, I was prime age (12) and baseball was a national game in some sorts with the Game of the Week, This Week in Baseball and any chance you got to watch the game, you took.
Ironically, baseball is very regional nowadays despite Fox and ESPN both having highly publicized games of the week and technology making it very easy to watch any and every game of every team.
Yet, where football has done quite well with this, and National teams have been the norm (Cowboys, Niners), and a new generation has grown up cheering for the Steelers, Patriots and Packers regardless of locale.
The NBA has even taken that further to be a players league. Fans now follow LeBron James or Steph Curry or Kevin Durant or Giannis, and not necessarily their current team.
So, through the years from WOR to MLB.TV, I have followed the Mets. That special Mets team was never able to go back to the top again. Years of mismanagement led to 1986 (a bunch of early draft picks) and arguably mismanagement has made the team the LOLMets of today’s Deadspin
An aura has been attached to the team because of this, as well as the drugs and personal issues that have derailed Gooden and Strawberry through the years.
Erik Sherman picked 14 of the most interesting players from that 86 team and met them and interviewed them.
Doc Gooden and Strawberry are here, of course, as well as fan favorite Mookie Wilson, Keith Hernandez, Wally Backman, loose cannon Lenny Dykstra, and “scum bunch”ers Danny Heep and Doug Sisk.
It’s a simple enough format which some classic baseball books have followed. To Sherman’s credit, it makes it a quite breezy book. Sherman knows the team well and he stays positive throughout. It never varies from being a love letter to the team. Even the crazy Dykstra gets a free pass. (Conversely, he probably wouldn’t have gotten the interviews he got without being supportive of the subject).
Unfortunately, it seems to keep that book at a certain level. Written in the internet age, there’s little surprise. Daryl and Doc have been chronicled extensively (an ESPN documentary in recent years was pretty high profile) and in a 24/7 news cycle, many Mets fans know about Backman and Dykstra’s progress.
It was logical to make each player their unique charter. However, it seems like each one runs a sequence of went to visit and asked these questions, then wished them well. Sherman has great questions but his incidental reporting seems limited to “his beautiful wife brought us lemonade” style comments. One feels the book might have been better served by just printing the Questions and Answers outright.
Even then, perhaps grouping chapters into topics might have gave it better flow. The last chapter focuses on the late Gary Carter and works well as each player shares their thoughts. Bouncing back and forth between voices would liven things up.
Trends do show up. Much has been made of how hard the 86 Mets partied. It gets played down here but the thread is that these guys loved baseball through and through. The other thread is that the Mets have passed on using these veterans to fill coaching and management vacancies.
All in all, as a Mets fan, this was a nice breezy nostalgic read, and I got to learn stuff about players I had not heard from in awhile. I also loved that Sherman did brief profiles on the players he could not fit in.
July 9, 2025
3.5 stars. Fun to see what the ‘86 Mets are up to now. Cool and unique way of approaching the team, but honestly sometimes felt like just reading off a tape recorder. Better article than book. Had a blast with this though.
April 18, 2016
As a longtime Mets fan, I'm glad this book exists so I could catch up with the '86 World Champions. But I only gave it three stars because, quite frankly, it was kinda boring.
The writing was subpar. The author really, really likes himself, and insisted on quoting himself in every damn chapter. Did you know he co-wrote a biography -- which he mistakenly calls an autobiograpy -- with Mookie Wilson? And he became close friends with Mookie and his family because he spent a lot of time with them while he was co-writing the book with Mookie Wilson, whom he became close friends with because he spent some much time with Mookie while he was co-wrting a book with him -- well, you get the idea. He told us this in every other chapter.
I kid. He told us in just about every chapter.
As for this book, the author insists he did not want to do a "where are they now" book, but that's exactly what he wrote. He does write about their players' lives since the '86 season, which is good, but it's still very much a "how are they doing now" book.
Oh, and he's sexist. Any time a woman -- a player's wife or daughter, or a reporter -- appears, the author tells us how pretty she is, giving us a review of her figure, her hair and her clothes.
Otherwise, I liked the book.
The writing was subpar. The author really, really likes himself, and insisted on quoting himself in every damn chapter. Did you know he co-wrote a biography -- which he mistakenly calls an autobiograpy -- with Mookie Wilson? And he became close friends with Mookie and his family because he spent a lot of time with them while he was co-writing the book with Mookie Wilson, whom he became close friends with because he spent some much time with Mookie while he was co-wrting a book with him -- well, you get the idea. He told us this in every other chapter.
I kid. He told us in just about every chapter.
As for this book, the author insists he did not want to do a "where are they now" book, but that's exactly what he wrote. He does write about their players' lives since the '86 season, which is good, but it's still very much a "how are they doing now" book.
Oh, and he's sexist. Any time a woman -- a player's wife or daughter, or a reporter -- appears, the author tells us how pretty she is, giving us a review of her figure, her hair and her clothes.
Otherwise, I liked the book.
July 24, 2020
Because of its basic premise, the book is unique. The idea of a book centered on getting together with many prominent members of the 1986 New York Mets, to ask them to talk not only of one season or one game in their careers, but rather do a deeper dive in finding out where they are now and what projects they’re working on some 30 years later is a new and much needed fresh approach when discussing the team.
The stories and tales told by the Mets’ players themselves range from wildly comical, to fresh perspective on certain events, and in the case of remembrances of Mets great Gary Carter, beyond moving, soulful, deep, and wonderfully written and spoken of.
My only complaint with this book is with its author. While he does a terrific job in traveling to many parts to speak with the players in the comforts of their own homes and communities, Mr. Sherman at times appears to over-express himself. He comes off as someone who likes to hear himself talk, a lot, and at times his “fireside chats” with these players seem to shine more light on him and his thoughts, his own stories and comments than it does the Mets player, who by this point has been asked a question that has apparently three paragraphs to spit out. This more than anything bothered me about the book. It’s not enough to stop me from reading Mr. Sherman’s other works, but his own talking and ramblings casts too far a shadow that can obscure what the player actually says.
This is why I gave the book a 3 star rating. It’s a great premise, with great stories from most (not all) players and is a different angle from other books about the team. The author, however, could have left a few of his own feelings off the page instead of devoting entire swaths of pages to his long and drawn-out questions. It’s still a good book and I would recommend it to any fans who remain interested in the ‘86 Mets.
The stories and tales told by the Mets’ players themselves range from wildly comical, to fresh perspective on certain events, and in the case of remembrances of Mets great Gary Carter, beyond moving, soulful, deep, and wonderfully written and spoken of.
My only complaint with this book is with its author. While he does a terrific job in traveling to many parts to speak with the players in the comforts of their own homes and communities, Mr. Sherman at times appears to over-express himself. He comes off as someone who likes to hear himself talk, a lot, and at times his “fireside chats” with these players seem to shine more light on him and his thoughts, his own stories and comments than it does the Mets player, who by this point has been asked a question that has apparently three paragraphs to spit out. This more than anything bothered me about the book. It’s not enough to stop me from reading Mr. Sherman’s other works, but his own talking and ramblings casts too far a shadow that can obscure what the player actually says.
This is why I gave the book a 3 star rating. It’s a great premise, with great stories from most (not all) players and is a different angle from other books about the team. The author, however, could have left a few of his own feelings off the page instead of devoting entire swaths of pages to his long and drawn-out questions. It’s still a good book and I would recommend it to any fans who remain interested in the ‘86 Mets.
May 10, 2020
The ‘86 Mets are, and always will be, my team. It was great to catch up with the players I idolized in childhood, regardless of their outcomes in life. Many ended up on highly divergent paths. And I enjoyed hearing about the post-playing years of several of the more underrated, out-of-the-spotlight guys. A very persuasive argument is also made for the enshrinement of Keith Hernandez in the Baseball Hall Of Fame. As a kid who grew up in Cooperstown, I’ve often felt his absence there. And the final chapter tribute to Gary Carter was very moving.
Be-that-as-it-may, this book suffers from an author who cannot get out of his own way: repeatedly and recklessly inserting himself and his opinions into his interviews and sometimes leading his subject around by the nose. It got to a point where I had to start skimming over this self-centeredness. We are not here to read about you! Knowing he’s written several other books about the ‘86 Mets does not bode well for me. One of the all-time great teams deserves better.
Be-that-as-it-may, this book suffers from an author who cannot get out of his own way: repeatedly and recklessly inserting himself and his opinions into his interviews and sometimes leading his subject around by the nose. It got to a point where I had to start skimming over this self-centeredness. We are not here to read about you! Knowing he’s written several other books about the ‘86 Mets does not bode well for me. One of the all-time great teams deserves better.
June 2, 2019
Being a NY Yankee fan I did root for the Mets in these unforgettable '86 NLCS And World Series championships. That was one of the best, if not the best, World Series ever played.
Very happy that Straw and Doc are sober and have a higher calling now. Nails still needs to grow up but hopefully is on a straighter path now. Kid RIP...just a phenomenal catcher. Mookie always smiling! Wally Bachman....there's always two sides to every story and now it's time for the NY Mets to do right by the man and make him their manager.
Erik Sherman's book is a great piece on the '86 Mets and what they're all up to today. Even if you're not a Met fan read this book.
Very happy that Straw and Doc are sober and have a higher calling now. Nails still needs to grow up but hopefully is on a straighter path now. Kid RIP...just a phenomenal catcher. Mookie always smiling! Wally Bachman....there's always two sides to every story and now it's time for the NY Mets to do right by the man and make him their manager.
Erik Sherman's book is a great piece on the '86 Mets and what they're all up to today. Even if you're not a Met fan read this book.
October 1, 2023
If you know me, I have to get and read every book I can get my hands on about the Mets. There’s very little I haven’t consumed, so when I picked this up and saw it was another book about the ‘86 team I didn’t have very high hopes. Boy was I pleasantly surprised. It is not just another rehash of the ‘86 season that’s been talked about 6 ways to Sunday (is that the saying?) but more of a where are they now (or then since the book came out in 2015/2016. There still wasn’t too much I didn’t know, but it was nice to read from a fresh perspective. Very much enjoyed.
May 15, 2019
Erik Sherman profiles 14 members of the Amazins 1986 World championship season. He finds answers to some questions Mets fans have had through the years including should the team have won more than one World Series as well as was the team a bunch of partiers. Baseball fans will will enjoy this book; Mets fans will love this book. Lets go Mets and Wally Backman should have been a manager by now.
August 8, 2019
Listened to the audiobook. It was ok. Some of the stories about the current lives of the 86 Mets were very touching. Others were a bit boring - which is to say that they are living ordinary, normal lives. Nothing is wrong with that, it just doesn’t make for a very interesting story is all. And I recently read Mookie’s autobiography so I knew some of the stories already. But being a Mets fan I still love them all.
May 10, 2018
I was at Shea Stadium when the Mets won the 1986 World Series. The 86 Mets were an unbelievable team.
This is a great book for fans of that particular team, and fans of the Mets in general. The only chapter that doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the book is the one about Gary Carter. Otherwise, this book is perfect.
This is a great book for fans of that particular team, and fans of the Mets in general. The only chapter that doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the book is the one about Gary Carter. Otherwise, this book is perfect.
July 30, 2021
Wasn’t bad but wasn’t all I was expecting or maybe hoping for. Some moments shine and give some great insight and storytelling about the players. Other moments fall flat. Not sure if it’s the writing style or something else. As a sports fan though, it was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it.
April 12, 2018
I loved reading about life after baseball for this special team.
May 24, 2018
This was a moderately entertaining listen during a long road trip with a Mets fan. Add a star if you like the Mets.
June 15, 2021
9 hour long interview. Love the '86 Mets, but this book is just boring.
Read "The Bad Guys Won" by Jeff Pearlman. That book is WAY better.
Read "The Bad Guys Won" by Jeff Pearlman. That book is WAY better.
July 9, 2023
lenny dykstra is a chiller
September 27, 2023
Thought I would learn about the team and the season. This is just interviews with various members. I expected much more. Maybe you will feel differently. Enjoy!
April 19, 2022
2.5 stars
December 14, 2017
3.5/5. I borrowed this book from my Dad at his recommendation. He enjoyed it more than I did because of his knowledge of the players as a fan. A Long Island boy, my dad grew up watching the Mets. The 86 players profiled here are familiar to him, and he enjoyed the interview style of the book because it showcased the diverse personalities that made up the championship club.
Sherman treats the players like old friends so, if like me, your knowledge of the 86 series is that the Mets won and there was a big play involving some guy named Buckner, it’s going to take a bit of time to settle in to this book. I began to get a good picture of the team as I went and enjoyed the book more the further I got. Sherman definitely has an over-inflated perspective of how much readers care about him (very little) and inserts himself into the book far more than necessary.
TL;DR- It’s fine, will be most enjoyed by those already familiar with the team rather than younger readers.
Sherman treats the players like old friends so, if like me, your knowledge of the 86 series is that the Mets won and there was a big play involving some guy named Buckner, it’s going to take a bit of time to settle in to this book. I began to get a good picture of the team as I went and enjoyed the book more the further I got. Sherman definitely has an over-inflated perspective of how much readers care about him (very little) and inserts himself into the book far more than necessary.
TL;DR- It’s fine, will be most enjoyed by those already familiar with the team rather than younger readers.
January 3, 2017
Sherman inexplicably inserts his questions into the narrative of this story, which would probably be forgivable if he'd decided to just transcribe the interviews as interviews, with the questions in bold black print and the responses rendered as given. Instead, you get a book filled with synonyms for the word "said" and a host of described asides that do nothing to add to or enhance the stories being told. Had Sherman made the choice to tell the story that way, or to edit and transcribe the interviews omitting the questions the way Lawrence Ritter did in The Glory of Their Times, this would have been a far better book to read. The players make Kings of Queens a compelling read despite the clunky way it is delivered by the author.
April 22, 2016
4.5 / 5 stars
April 19, 2017
(Audiobook) A simple, quick listen for a book which can help get you into the mood for baseball. I am coming at this book as an Astros fan, so discussions about the classic 1986 NLCS can be a little tough at times. However, this book was not so much about the classic 1986 Mets team, with all of its superstars and talent, but more about the players and life for those players, especially after their careers ended. Some could not escape the headlines and others seemingly managed to stay out of the limelight. It is insightful and provides more than just a quick, Wikipedia-level type biographical entry. The author took his time to get to know these players and their stories. I would say it leans more towards a Mets fan, but for a casual baseball fan, it is worth taking some time to read/listen. It is short, but quality.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews