With Spring Training only a week or two away, and with the football season over, save for the dreaded Pro Bowl, I have decided to assemble the All-Time Mets team.
The Mets, unlike their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees, aren't laden with geat all-time players. Nonethless, the bunch I've assembled are, in my opinion, a fascinating group of players who know the game.
First Base: Keith Hernandez
Not a surprise here. The greatest fielding first baseman of all-time who helped spark a turnaround in this franchise when the Mets acquired him on June 15, 1983, for Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey.
Hernandez' first game as a Met against the Montreal Expos saw him get two hits and establish his signature frequent trips to the mound to advise his pitcher as to what to throw the batting opposition.
Hernandez helped the Mets to five consecutive 90-win-or-more seasons, a World Series title and two division titles.
Second Base: Edgardo Alfonzo
One could argue that Felix Milan should get the nod, especially since Alfonzo played third base during his Mets tenure.
The choice here goes to Alfonzo because he could hit for both power and average and field his position. His best year was when he hit 27 home runs, 108 runs batted in and a .304 average.
In 1999, he was part of that dynamic infield that had made the fewest errors in the league.
Short Stop: Jose Reyes
I could have picked Bud Harrelson for his longer tenure, but Reyes' numbers are just better.
It's too bad that Reyes had such a disappointing end to his season. He regressed a bit, but his stolen base numbers were obviously very impressive given that this is the era of the home run.
Third Base: Howard Johnson
Once again, there were other candidates. Robin Ventura won a Gold Glove, but didn't have nearly enough good seasons.
Ray Knight was the 1986 World Series Most Valuable Player. David Wright had his first 30-30 season in 2007 and won a gold glove.
Nonetheless, a consistent .300 hitter, Howard Johnson is the choice. He had three 30-30 seasons, almost went 40-40 in 1989 and set a record for most runs batted in in 1991 with 117. In a year's time, Wright could be the new choice.
Catcher: Mike Piazza
A lot of other choices: Jerry Grote, John Stearns, Gary Carter, and even Todd Hundley.
Piazza's the pick here because of his eight and half years of great offense. You could break it down like this: Piazza as the greatest hitting cather in Mets history and Jerry Grote on defense.
Outfield: Mookie Wilson, Carlos Beltran, Darryl Strawberry
Wilson, the Mets all-time stolen base leader, was with the Mets in the lean times of the early 1980s through the glory years of 1984-1989. He was an underrated fielder, too.
Despite a disappointing first year in 2005, Beltran rebounded in 2006 by tying a Met record for home runs with 41. He is a marvelous outfielder who has won two consecutive Gold Gloves.
Despite all his off-the field problems, Strawberry still established the club career record in home runs with 254 to go along with numerous All-Star game appearances. Still, one has to ask: What could have been?
Starting Pitcher: Tom Seaver
What a shocker! The Franchise won three Cy-Youngs. Still the best Met ever.
Jerry Koosman, Dwight Gooden, David Cone and Al Leiter could fill out rest of staff.
Relief: Jessie Orosco and Tug McGraw
Both relievers may not have the gaudy save numbers that modern relievers have accumulated today, but Orosco and McGraw were clutch. Ya' Gotta Believe!
John Franco had a fine career, but he was more effective, in my opinion as a middle reliever.
Bench
Tommie Agee, Kevin McReynolds, Bud Harrelson, Rusty Staub, and Felix Millan.
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5 months ago
Being a Met fan for all of my 47 years, I cannot disagree with your list.
Mainly because there is so little to choose from.
Some omissions
Ed Kranepool - he really wasn't that good, but he played from 62-79. And the cheapo Mets never gave him a day.
Cleon Jones.....no mention of him? C'mon Andrew you know better
What about Jon Matlack, Ron Darling, Lee Mazzilli and Dave Kingman?
from 5 months ago
I'm surprised you didn't mention the likes of Leo Foster and Pepe Manguel.
Seriously, you make so excellent choices. There's also Frank Thomas, too.
5 months ago
Those painful late '70's teams........Bruce Boisclair, Frank Taveras, Joel Youngblood, Mazzilli, Lenny Randle, Pat Zachary...ugh
5 months ago
Ed Kranepool played for the first 18 seasons the mets were a franchize, he has to be included. I'd like to see Wright's name in there too.
from 5 months ago
Wright is there, in my comments about Hojo. If he does what he did last year or better, he's my new pick.
Good point about Kranepool. Met the guy back in the late seventies.
5 months ago
Wright is there, in my comments about Hojo. If he does what he did last year or better, he's my new pick.
Good point about Kranepool. Met the guy back in the late seventies.
5 months ago
Howard Johnson was an outstanding player, but he certainly was no "consistent .300 hitter." In nine seasons with the Mets, he batted as high as .287 and as low as .223. With a Met career batting average of .251 he was neither consistent nor a .300 hitter.
I'm guessign you meant for that phrase to fall in the comments about Wright.
2 months ago
Kranepool for sure. Seventeen-plus seasons (from the team's inaugural campaign [40-120 under Casey Stengel] through 1979), two trips to the World Series, one championship ring, a .300 hitter as a platoon player, an outstanding pinch hitter, versatile (he played some outfield). Local boy (James Madison H.S.). Should be on the bench.
I might pick Carter over Piazza-- a better fielding catcher than Piazza, and not a bad hitter either. Or Grote-- two trips to the World Series with a championship ring, and Johnny Bench once said that "If Grote played here (Cincy), I'd be at third base!" Rare praise indeed. But I wouldn't argue too long with you: Piazza may be the best hitting catcher, period.
I'll always remember the '69 World Series: Agee (not surprisingly) making two fabulous (and game-saving) catches in centerfield, while Ron Swoboda (a complete surprise) making an even more spectacular (and game-saving) diving catch in right....
from 2 months ago
Nick,
Gary Carter only had two really good seasons with the Mets. After 1986, Carter's numbers went down significantly. Piazza was excellent for six years with the Mets. Plus, Carter's defensive skill had diminished when he arrived in New York in 1985, though I'll grant you that he was a pure catcher, whereas Piazza was a hitter first and catcher second. Piazza will likely end up in the Hall as a Met, though Carter in there as an Expo.
I'll make room for steady Eddie, the original number 7.
Strange how such a slowpoke like Kranepool donned the same number that the speedy Jose Reyes wears.
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