Casey Stengel, the Mets, and the Fight for NYC: A Conversation with Mark Galley
“There’s never been a movie or TV series about Casey Stengel—and he’s the most animated, fun-loving, Robin Williams-type of character ever. And I intend to change that.” — Mark Galley
In this very special episode of Uncorking a Story, I’m joined by Emmy-winning PA announcer for the NY Mets Colin Cosell—yes, that Cosell—as we welcome author, creative force, and lifelong storyteller Mark Galley. Mark takes us behind the scenes of his new book How the Worst Was Won, a comedic, heartfelt, and historically rich look at the birth of the New York Mets. From Casey Stengel’s quirks to the bizarre and beautiful chaos of the 1962 season, Mark makes the case for why this story belongs on the screen. And trust me—you’ll never think of “traded for yourself” the same way again.
How the Worst Was Won started as a 900+ page screenplay before becoming a book. Casey Stengel was more than a manager—he was the quirky, reluctant savior of the Mets franchise. The 1962 Mets weren’t just bad—they were legendarily bad, in the most entertaining way possible. The economic ripple effect of losing the Giants and Dodgers devastated NYC—until the Mets brought civic pride (and fans) back. Mark built fictional characters based on real fans to represent the five archetypes of Mets fandom. Colin Cosell draws powerful connections between the early Mets, the Savannah Bananas, and modern sports entertainment.
Buy How the Worst Was Won
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