This rivalry began in the late 1990's when the Mets were starting to build a contender to battle against the powerful Braves. In 1999, the Mets defeated the Diamondbacks in the 1999 National League Division Series. In the next round, the Braves and Mets met. The Braves would win the first three contests. But John Olerud would shut John Rocker up as he hit a crucial two-run single off the New York-hating closer.

If Game 4 was crucial, then the next game was a marathon. The game began shortly after 4 p.m. with Greg Maddux pitching for Atlanta and Masato Yoshii starting for the Mets. The Mets would take an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning as John Olerud hit his second home run in as many days with Rickey Henderson on first. The lead would last into the 4th inning, when Atlanta struck back with consecutive doubles by Bret Boone and Chipper Jones, eventually knotting the score at 2-2 when Brian Jordan singled home Jones. Mets Manager Bobby Valentine was immediately prompted to remove Yoshii from the game in favor of Orel Hershiser, which would begin a run on pitching changes that would result in the Mets emptying their bullpen by game's end, relying on starter Kenny Rogers and rookie Octavio Dotel for key innings, and would have gone to game 4's starter Rick Reed had the game progressed past the 15th inning. In all, the Mets would use a postseason record 9 pitchers in this game.

The game would continue on well into the night, accompanied by a steady rainfall which would not delay the game. Although both teams would mount some threats as the game continued, neither team was able to break through for the tie-breaking run. Atlanta would eventually set a mark for futility, stranding a record 19 men on base over the course of the game. A most notable failure occurred in the 13th inning, with two out and Keith Lockhart on first base and Chipper Jones at the plate. With Lockhart running, Jones laced an offering from Octavio Dotel into the right field corner. But the ball would be cut off by Melvin Mora before it reached the wall, and Mora's strong relay throw would, via Edgardo Alfonzo, cut down Lockhart at the plate and end the inning.

Pitching on his 25th birthday, local villain John Rocker would enter the game in the bottom of the 13th inning to a loud chorus of boos and several projectiles hurled in his direction. He would retire 4 batters over one and one-third innings, including a strikeout of the ailing Mike Piazza. Upon being removed from the game, Rocker mocked the Shea Stadium fans by pretending to boo, and yelled at fans sitting around the Atlanta dugout as he left the field.

The Mets' season appeared over after Keith Lockhart tripled home a run in the top of the 15th off Octavio Dotel to put the Braves ahead 3-2. However, McGlinchy could not hold the lead. Shawon Dunston, who misplayed Lockhart's triple, atoned with a leadoff single after fouling off several pitches with a full count. With pinch-hitter Matt Franco batting, Dunston would steal second base. Franco would eventually work out a walk, which was followed by Edgardo Alfonzo selflessly laying down a sacrifice bunt to move Dunston to third. John Olerud -- whose homer in the first was now a distant memory -- was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Todd Pratt, again thrust into the spotlight with Mike Piazza nursing several injuries, hit next. McGlinchy walked Todd Pratt on five pitches and fell behind the slumping Ventura. At 9:47 p.m., McGlinchy grooved a fastball on a 2 ball, 1 strike count, and Ventura launched it through the steady rain and over the right-field fence. Although Ventura had seen the ball clear the wall, and was waving Todd Pratt around the bases, Pratt tackled Ventura between 1st and 2nd base, and most of the Mets team ran out on the field and mobbed Ventura in a wild scene.

This forced the series to return to Atlanta. After tying the game at 8, the game went into extras. In the 10th inning, the Mets would once again regain the lead, and again Mora was in the center of things. His one-out single off of John Rocker put Agbayani in position to score on Todd Pratt's sacrifice fly. But again, Atlanta would rally to tie in the last of the 10th, with Ozzie Guillen singling home Andruw Jones off of Armando Benitez to re-knot the game at 9-9.

Finally, in the 11th, the Mets' magic ran out. Kenny Rogers would enter the game (although most had speculated that it would be rookie Octavio Dotel) and give up a leadoff double to Gerald Williams. A Bret Boone sacrifice bunt would move Williams to third with one out. Following intentional walks to Chipper Jones and Brian Jordan, Rogers would walk Andruw Jones on a 3-1 pitch to score Williams and win the pennant for Atlanta.

This series would prove to be a harbinger of many events that would shape the 2000 baseball season. Rocker would go on to make several controversial remarks in an Sports Illustrated article. Jones, and many other members of this Braves team, most notably Andruw Jones and Brian Jordan, would continue to be heckled mercilessly at Shea Stadium, which still continues at the current time. The Mets would post a remarkable 10-run rally to defeat Atlanta 11-8 in a game they once trailed 8-1, on June 30, 2000. This victory would spur the Mets on to an appearance in the 2000 World Series.

Fans hoped for a repeat in the 2000 playoffs. But St. Louis would eliminate Atlanta. This gave the Mets an easier challenge for the pennant (which they eventually won).

After a dormant time, the Mets rejuvenated in 2006. In a mid-July series in Atlanta, they swept the now-weak Braves for the first time since 1985.