Top 10 New York Mets Players of All Time
The greatest pitcher of all time.
Dwight had an unforgettable 1984 season. In his rookie campaign, he struck out 276 batters, a major league and Mets rookie record. He established a major league record with an average of 11.39 strikeouts per nine innings. He struck out 10 or more batters 15 times in 1984 and set a National League record by striking out 32 batters in consecutive games. He also played in the All-Star Game that year. Twice that season, he struck out 16 batters and was named National League Rookie of the Year. Good old Dr. K.
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Piazza is the best hitting catcher of all time!
Darryl Strawberry's troubles off the field cannot take away his greatness on it. In 1983, he had his first taste of greatness as the National League Rookie of the Year. He went on to play in eight straight All-Star Games from 1984 to 1991. In 1987, he hit 39 home runs, stole 36 bases, and had 32 doubles, driving in 104 runs.
He was the 1988 National League Home Run King with 39 home runs and won two Silver Slugger Awards (1988, 1990). In 1990, he hit 37 home runs and drove in 108 runs. From 1984 to 1990, Darryl's New York Mets formed one of the premier teams in the National League, finishing first or second every year. Darryl is a member of the New York Mets Hall of Fame.
Like a rock, Keith was just that. As a Met, he won Gold Gloves as a first baseman from 1983 to 1988, a Silver Slugger award in 1984, and played in the 1984, 1986, and 1987 MLB All-Star Games. Keith made all the great plays that were key to the Mets' 1986 World Championship season. He still holds the record for most game-winning RBIs in MLB history with 129, a stat that no longer exists. He was the first team captain in Mets history and has been a member of the New York Mets Hall of Fame since 1997.
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He turned around the whole attitude that led to the 1986 Mets World Championship.
Kooz became a star in 1968, winning 19 games, with 7 shutouts, 178 strikeouts, and a 2.08 ERA. He even earned a save in the All-Star Game. In 1969, he won 17 games, struck out 180 batters, and earned his second straight All-Star berth. In the World Series, he registered two complete game wins in the Mets' World Championship season.
Four years later, he shined again in the postseason, earning a win in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series and another in Game 5 of the World Series. Finally, in 1976, he achieved his only 20-win season as a Met and struck out 200 batters. Koosman is a member of the New York Mets Hall of Fame.
He was "Nailz," and long before he was the savior for the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies, he was a clutch hero for the 1986 Mets. That year, he teamed with Wally Backman to form "Partners in Grime" for their scrappy play as spark plugs for the New York Mets' star-studded lineup. Game 3 of the NLCS showcased Dykstra at his best, with a walk-off home run. The Mets later took the pennant over the 1986 Houston Astros. It was Dykstra who kick-started the Mets' drive to their second world championship in Game 3 of the 1986 World Series with a lead-off home run.
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Carlos Beltran arrived in New York in 2005, hoping for a Mets revival and a return to the postseason. He was injured a lot in the first season, but in season two, he emerged. Now healthy, Beltran hit 10 home runs in May and sparked the Mets into playoff contention. He played in the All-Star Game, the first of four such appearances as a Met.
At the end of 2006, he hit 41 home runs, tying the Mets' record for home runs in a season, and helped the Mets win the NL East title and reach the National League Championship Series. During his time as a Met, he collected two Silver Slugger Awards (2006 and 2007) and three straight Gold Gloves (2006-08).
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When John Franco arrived in New York in 1990, the Mets were four years removed from a world championship and needed a closer to win games and get back to the World Series. They got Franco, and in his first year as a Met, he led the entire National League in saves and won the Rolaids National League Relief Man Award.
He survived a chaotic 1992 team, later called "The Worst Team Money Can Buy," and stayed on with the Mets. In 1999, he finally made the postseason, and in 2000, as promised, John finally played in the World Series. His number of saves was more than enough to be inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame.
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David Cone joined the Mets in 1987, one year after their world championship. Just one year later, he became a 20-game winner. On August 30, 1991, he struck out three hitters on nine pitches in a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds, becoming only the 25th pitcher in MLB history to achieve this feat. Then, on October 6, 1991, he struck out 19 Phillies and gave up only three hits in a Mets' 7-0 victory in the season finale.
In 1992, on a Mets team loaded with turmoil, he was the lone Met to play in the MLB All-Star Game. He was one of the Mets' best pitchers of all time.
He's truly a popular player who is best known for his speed, positive attitude, and being one of the best Mets players of the 1980s. In 1982, on a team that was rebuilding, his 58 stolen bases set a team record (since broken). In 1984, he set the Mets career record for most stolen bases (also since broken).
1986 was the Mets' year, and Mookie played a big part in it. His hit in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series paved the way for Game 7 and made Bill Buckner a part of baseball lore.
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He was one of the New York Mets' best players and a key member of the 1969 World Championship team. He played in the 1969 MLB All-Star Game, hit .340 that year, and hit .429 in the 1969 NL Championship Series. He was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame and held a then-Mets record 23-game hitting streak in 1970.
He had 64 outfield assists, including 10 in 1966 and 1970. He also played in the 1973 World Series. On the Mets' 50th Anniversary, he was named their all-time left fielder.
Rusty came to the Mets in 1972 when the team needed offense to back up their great pitching. In his first season, Rusty was hitting .313 when he was hit by a pitch from Atlanta Braves' George Stone, fracturing his right wrist. He returned in 1973, but was still not 100 percent. However, he led the Mets to the National League Championship Series, where he separated his right shoulder while making a spectacular catch in Game 4.
Despite the injury, the Mets won the pennant and advanced to the World Series. Though still hurt, he hit .341 with 4 home runs and 11 RBIs. In 1974 and 1975, Rusty was injury-free and producing great results. Especially in 1975, when he became the first Met to surpass 100 RBIs with 105. In 1981, after six seasons away, he returned to the Mets as a great pinch-hitter, which was good enough to land him in the New York Mets Hall of Fame.
John was a catcher who was unfortunate to play on bad Mets teams, but he was a hardworking player. He played in the MLB All-Star Game in 1977, 1979 (though he did not play), 1980, and 1982. In 1978, he stole 25 bases, the most by any catcher in MLB history. He was an excellent defensive catcher with a .985 fielding percentage. In 1978, he hit 15 home runs and had 73 RBIs, playing hard every day on a team that won only 66 games. Stearns was a true blue-collar man.
Lee played during a time when the Mets were struggling. In 1979, he was probably the lone Mets star, shining and playing very well in the All-Star Game. By the time Lee returned in 1986, he was a backup but contributed significantly to bringing the Mets a World Championship.