Like DiMaggio's streak, the New York Mets are observing an anniversary, too. Matthew Silverman, who's made a cottage industry of publishing about the team, has come up with a proper tribute with NEW YORK METS: THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, a must-have for any serious fan of the team.

From the drawing-board days when a new team was sought to fill the National League void created by the Dodgers' and Giants' exodus to the West Coast to the frustrating woes of the late “aughts,” THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY serves as a massive yearbook --- sans the distracting advertisements --- as it recreates the ups and downs from the hilariously inept play of an expansion team through the Miracle Mets of 1969 and beyond (although, until this writing, some were drawing parallels between the current crop and their predecessors).

No space goes unfilled as Silverman fits dozens of factoids as well as his choices for the top 50 Mets of all time (certainly a launch point for controversy and discussion) and the obligatory section on team stats.