The New York Mets have their own Hall of Fame. There are currently 26 members. There has only been one inductee since 2010 and only five since 2002. Why doesn’t Met management take their own Hall of Fame seriously? Here are the members (and what their primary association with the teams is):
1981 – Joan Whitney Payson – Owner
1981 – Casey Stengel – Manager
1982 – Gil Hodges – Field Manager
1982 – George Weiss – President
1983 – Johnny Murphy – Chief Scout
1983 – William Shea – Proponent
1984 – Ralph Kiner – Broadcaster
1984 – Bob Murphy – Broadcaster
1984 – Lindsey Nelson – Broadcaster
1986 – Bud Harrelson – Shortstop
1986 – Rusty Staub – Outfielder
1988 – Tom Seaver – Pitcher
1989 – Jerry Koosman – Pitcher
1990 – Ed Kranepool – 1st Baseman
1991 – Cleon Jones – Outfielder
1992 – Jerry Grote – Catcher
1993 – Tug McGraw – Pitcher
1996 – Mookie Wilson – Outfielder
1997 – Keith Hernandez – 1st Baseman
2001 – Gary Carter – Catcher
2002 – Tommie Agee – Outfielder
2010 – Frank Cashen – General Manager
2010 – Dwight Gooden – Pitcher
2010 – Davey Johnson – Field Manager
2010 – Darryl Strawberry – Outfielder
2012 – John Franco – Pitcher
Eleven of the twenty-six members (and I’m including Gil Hodges there) are not in the Hall due to their performances as a player for the Mets. That means that in fifty plus years, the Mets have only honored fifteen players. Why was there an eight year gap between 2002 and 2010? Is it because there is a general apathy of the ownership towards its own team?
I’ve prepared a short list of notable Mets players missing from the Hall. I’m sure readers can add to it with little effort:
Jon Matlack – Pitcher
Felix Millan – 2nd Baseman
Howard Johnson – 3rd Baseman
Ron Darling – Pitcher
Sid Fernandez – Pitcher
Kevin McReynolds – Outfielder
Jesse Orosco – Pitcher
Edgardo Alfonzo – 2nd Baseman
Roger McDowell – Pitcher
Neil Allen – Pitcher
Craig Swan – Pitcher
Mike Piazza – Catcher
Al Leiter – Pitcher
Tom Glavine – Pitcher
Ron Hunt – 2nd Baseman
Danny Frisella – Pitcher
Dave Magadan – 1st Baseman
Jon Milner – 1st Baseman
Donn Clendenon – 1st Baseman
Wayne Garrett – 3rd Baseman
Ron Swoboda – 1st Baseman
Al Jackson – Pitcher
Frank Thomas – Outfielder
Lee Mazzilli – Outfielder
Todd Hundley – Catcher
Hubie Brooks – 3rd Baseman
Greg Jefferies – 2nd Baseman
David Cone – Pitcher
Lets look at the statistics for just a few of the hitters on this list.
Edgardo Alfonzo: He played for the Mets from 1995-2002. He was an All-Star for the Mets in 2000 and a Silver Slugger Award Winner on 1999. He was the team’s leader in Runs Scored from 1998-2000 and 2002. He was the team’s Hit leader in 1997 and 1999-2000. He was their Batting Average leader from 1997-2002. He was their OBP leader in 2000 and 2002. He was their Total Bases leader in 1999.
Lee Mazzilli: He played for the Mets from 1976-1982 & 1986-1989. He was an All-Star for the Mets in 1979 and was a member of the 1986 World Series Championship Team. He was the Games Appearance Leader in 1977, 1979 and 1980. He was the team’s leader in Runs Scored in 1980. He was the team’s Hit leader in 1979-1980. He was their Home Run leader in 1980. He was their RBI leader in 1979 and 1980. He was their Stolen Base leader in 1980. He was the Batting Average leader in 1978-1979. He was their Slugging Percentage leader in 1978-1980. He lead the team in OBP in 1979-1980. He was their Total Bases leader in 1979-1980.
Howard Johnson: He played for the Mets from 1985-1993. He was an All-Star for the Mets in 1989 and 1991. He was a member of the 1986 World Series Championship Team. He was a Silver Slugger Award Winner in 1989 and 1991. He was the National League Home Run and the RBI champion in 1991. He was the Games Appearance Leader in 1987 and 1989-1991. He was the team’s leader in Runs Scored in 1989 and 1991. He led the team in Hits in 1989 and 1991. He lead the team in Doubles in 1989 and 1991. He led the team in Home Runs in 1989 and 1991. He led the team in RBIs in 1989 and 1991. He led the team in Stolen Bases in 1989. and 1990. He lead the team in Slugging Percentage in 1989 and 1991. He lead the team in OBP in 1989. He led the team in Walks in 1988-1989. He led the team in Total Bases in 1989.
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So the question is, do any of these players including the three position players noted in detail above deserve to be in the Mets Hall of Fame? There should be a regular review and induction of players deserving of that honor. Next time, I’ll look at some pitchers and detail their contributions to the team.
They definitely need to induct more people.Fire Terry Collins!
I agree, it is time to review the Mets Hall of Fame. There are many listed who should be acknowledged for there efforts to make this team successful. Some when the team wasn’t successful. I’m not sure I agree which all the names listed. I’ve been a fan of this team since 1960. I know your wondering why 1960 when the team came into existence in 1962. Well the announcement of the NY Metropolitans came in 1960. It is my opinion the following players should be inducted: Ron Hunt – 2nd Baseman, Frank Thomas – Outfielder, Jon Matlack – Pitcher, Howard Johnson – 3rd Baseman, Ron Darling – Pitcher, Sid Fernandez – Pitcher, Jesse Orosco – Pitcher, Edgardo Alfonzo – 2nd Baseman, Mike Piazza – Catcher, Al Jackson – Pitcher, Wally Bachman – 2nd Baseman, John Stearn – Catcher,and eventually David Wright, 3rd Baseman. There are probably others from the list above and even some not on the list but never Tom Glavine – Pitcher (He’s a Brave and should never been signed as a free agent). The organization needs to recognize these players who are in Met lore.
Without Piazza and Alfonso the Mets HOF is a sham!
My list would include Clendenon(69),Jesse, Roger, and Mazzilli from ’86. Hojo’s numbers came later, but include him also. Alfonso, Leiter, and of course Big Mike for 9/21/2001 alone. Sure Ron Hunt( first starter in the ASG) and I would be remiss in if I didn’t include Rocky Swoboda. Don’t even mention Glavine with these guys. Still not sure he didn’t tank in ’07 on purpose to make his former mates less disapointed for missing playoffs for the second time in a row.
Michael, I am really disappointed that you think that Glavine might have tanked in ’07. While his last effort was a great disappointment to all us Mets fans, you have missed the essence of a great competitor. Glavine, in his prime was an outstanding pitcher. Unfortunately, by the time he came to the Mets he was beyond his prime. The fact that his heart was really in Atlanta should not besmirch his reputation and his moral/ethical conduct. Believe what you wish, but your post is more harmful to Mets fans as a body. We should not be thought of as parochial and believing that the whole world is against us. We, as Mets fans, should be partisan, but realistic enough to realize that the sun does not revolve around us and the team. Glavine will go into the HOF despite your unfortunate feelings.
Sorry Norm but when I think of the Colemans and the Bonillas we had to deal with, Glavine in that performance was a microcosm of what I ‘ve seen over 50 years of Mets baseball.
Hey … I can see arguments against Glavine. I can see arguments for Glavine. Nobody argued for Duffy Dyer!
Glavine? NEVER! Final game of the season and the Mets have to beat the Marlins and what happened in the first inning? You will not see a new player added to the Met hall of fame for some time since its expensive to fly someone deserving in and spend all that money that could be going to the Wilpons pockets. Cheap, cheap, cheap! Maybe a Brooklyn Dodger like Snider before they resume to add on to their hall of fame. Just on a side note Jim. Take a look at Fred’s face on the photo for his induction. He doesn’t look very happy standing next to Dwight. Looks like he wishes he was somewhere else.
Dave Magadan?…Wayne Garret?…Greg Jefferies?…. wow!!!! Maybe YOU are not taking the Mets HOF Concept seriously!
The list of “missing” probably begina and ends with Piazza. Special Consideration may be Granted to Rube Walker, for years the pitching coach who worked with all of those arms in the late 60’s and 70’s….. Yogi Berra may also deserve consideration. His was a large and beloved association.
I agree. It’s sad the ownership of this team more or less seems to despise it, it’s history and players, and fans. I wonder every day if that’s why we play so shitty at citi.
Your list of hotable mets players that should be in the hall is a bit of a joke. Craig Swan? Dave Magadan? Greg Jefferies? What did those guys do in a Mets uniform?
Craig Swan led the league in era one year but other than that he was a joke,
Jefferies never really amounted to much with the Mets and his best yrs were after he left. Magadan had one decent season where he hit 328 but other than that he played for many bad teams and was not very productive.
Hubie Brooks had one good season for the Mets in ’84 before he was traded and his best seasons were after he left.
I hope you listing of Tom Glavine is a joke because he has absolutely no business being in the Mets HOF. You might as well add Mike Scott and Jeff Reardon to the list if you are going to add those guys to the HOF.
Mike Piazza is probably the only one I can see being a shoe in for the Mets HOF and his # should be retired, but unfortunately because of his association with the steroids era, that might not happen. You don’t see the Mets push for him for HOF or mention him at all for anything. Orosco, Alfonzo and Mazilli I can see possibly in the HOF, but that’s about it.
piazza is already in mets hall of fame, last day of season in 2013 i believe, i agree with some on your list but some no way, no allen or swan or thomas, frisella
alfonzo, mazzilli, hojo most deserving on that list
i just read this over im sorry i did not notice date was before piazza went in
Any list that includes McReynolds cannot be taken seriously. His dedication to the game was nil.
When asked how he felt about being out of the post season his response was no problem, now he got to go fishing earlier.
No thanks. Keep him out.
No, Ray Knight?! His attitude only makes him eligible only: his fight with the Reds’ Eric Davis and his belief that moving your batting stance higher in the batter’s box would be effective against Mike Scott’s scruff ball.
John Stern, John Matlack and Ron Hunt deserve to be in.