The Mets are hosting a 1986 World Series Reunion and Celebration to honor the 40th anniversary of their 1986 championship team on August 1, 2026. While Citi Field hosts some legendary names, Ron Darling wants to end the feud with former teammate Lenny Dykstra once and for all.

“I don’t know how it’s going to work. Certainly, we’re not in the place that we should be. I will say that playing with Lenny Dykstra was one of the immense pleasures of my life. I can say that you could argue that he’s the greatest postseason player in Mets history. He was just an amazing player,” Darling shared on a podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman.

Darling and Dykstra gained cult status within the Mets. In his nine seasons (1983–1991), Darling had 99 wins, a 3.50 ERA, and 1,148 SOs. He currently ranks fourth on the franchise’s all-time wins list. He was absolutely untouchable in the 1986 World Series, pitching to a 1.53 ERA over three starts.

Meanwhile, in his five seasons, Dykstra batted .278 with 116 stolen bases and established himself as one of the most clutch postseason performers in franchise history. His biggest clutch moment came in Game 3 of the 1986 World Series, when he hit a leadoff home run, helping the Mets recover after losing the first two games.

So, for the fans, it’s difficult to consider one. But do the Mets have a photo of the two legends in one frame, given their troubled relationship since 2019?

Dykstra reportedly sued Darling for defamation following claims in Darling’s 2019 book, 108 Stitches. Darling accused Dykstra of shouting racial slurs at pitcher Dennis Boyd. According to him, Dykstra shouted “every imaginable and unimaginable insult and expletive.” However, Wally Backman, their Mets teammate, countered the allegations. “I know he didn’t say that. That’s a fact,” he said.

Even Dykstra disagreed, calling Darling’s allegations a “flat-out lie.” A judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2020, citing Dykstra’s already tarnished reputation.

But till today, Darling has stood by his account. Now that their chance of a reunion nears in Citi Field, Darling doesn’t want to take their feud any further. Fans are waiting to see them together, just like they complement each other in the 1986 NLCS Game 3. In that game, Darling allowed 4 runs in 5 innings, but riding on Dykstra’s walk-off homer in the 9th inning, the Mets won the game.

Darling is all set to resolve the feud; hopefully, Dykstra will agree.

Lenny Dykstra had a controversial past

Apart from Darling’s allegations, Lenny Dykstra was a prominent figure in baseball’s “Steroid Era” controversies.

His name was in the 2007 Mitchell Report as a user of performance-enhancing drugs. Dykstra later admitted to using steroids and human growth hormone (HGH), once famously joking that he put HGH in his cereal to maintain his career. Most recently, this year, the state charged him with drug possession and paraphernalia following a traffic stop in Pennsylvania.

These are a few reasons the league never nominated Dykstra for the Hall of Fame. His first appearance on the BBWAA ballot was in 2002, but he received no votes. Still, Dykstra remains one of the greatest postseason hitters in history, with a career 1.094 OPS and 10 home runs in just 32 playoff games.

The Mets’ celebration of their 1986 World Series in August would be a picture-perfect moment to witness all the legends at once. Names like Keith Hernandez, Dwight Gooden, and Mookie Wilson will be at the event. But all eyes would be on Darling, hoping he shakes Dykstra’s hand, even if it is for the last time.