The Biggest Stars of the New York Mets
While the New York Mets may not have the same recognition as the Yankees or some of the other original teams, they still had a very eventful history. The team was first formed to fill the void left by the defunct New York Giants and the departure of the Brooklyn Bombers.
They were one of the first teams in the first league expansion and started at the bottom of the rankings for two years before they surprised the baseball world and won the World Series in 1969. The Mets have had ups and downs since then and only one more title in 1886, but still managed to produce or acquire some of the best talents the game has ever seen. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stars in New York Mets history.
1. Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver was not only one of the best Mets in history but one of the best pitchers in the history of the sport. He was the best player on the first Mets team to ever win a world series and was a 3X Cy Young winner. He also led the league in WHIP three times and had the best ERA in the league for three seasons. He led the league in strikeouts five times and had the league’s best FIP for four years. The Mets officially retired his number in 1988 and he dons a Mets cap on his statue in Cooperstown.
2. Dwight Gooden
Dwight Gooden is the most recognizable Mets pitcher of the modern era and played a major role in the team winning the world series in 1986 by posting an incredible 1.06 ERA in the NLCS in his two starts against the Houston Astros. He also has one of the greatest starts in the league and had a 95-35 record by the time he was 23. He recorded a 2.46 FIP, and 2.62 ERA during that period too. He even edged out Roger Clemens in fWAR from 1984 to 1988. He retired as the pitcher with the greatest win-loss percentage in franchise history.
3. Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza is one of the most famous Mets ever and one of the most respected and decorated players in the history of the franchise too. He was at the center of what many consider to be one of the best trades in baseball history when then-GM Steve Phillips got him in exchange for Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall, and Geoff Goetz. He went on to become the best hitting catcher the league has ever seen posting .296/.373/.542 over his seven and a half years with the Mets. He also had 655 RBIs, 200 home runs, and recorded a .915 during that period.
His number was retired in 2016; the same year when he was accepted into the Hall of Fame. Interesting to note that he’s wearing a Mets cap on his statue even though he recorded some of his best years with the Dodgers.
Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Strawberry had a controversial run with the Mets, but no one will deny that he was one of the best talents in the league’s history. He recorded 263/.359/.520 during his tenure with the Mets with 252 and 733 RBIs. He was Rookie of the Year in 1983 and managed to make the all-star team eight years in a row after his rookie season.
Strawberry came second in national league MVP votes right behind Kirk Gibson in 1988, though many people believed he deserved it. He also ended up in the top 10 for MVP votes four times during his career.
Keith Hernandez
The Mets acquired Keith Hernandez from the St Louis Cardinals right after the young infielder helped them win the World Series in 1985. He was also instrumental in the Mets winning their second world series run in 1986.
He had an impressive run with the Mets ending up in the top 10 of MVP votes for three years. He also won five golden gloves during his time with the team and made three all-star teams. If you want to learn more about Keith Hernandez, the linked article has a few facts that might surprise you.
The Mets may not be the most glorious organization in baseball, but it is without a doubt one of its most iconic. And, with the way the team is looking right now, we can expect them to keep producing more legends and all Hall of Famers.
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