It’s reasonable to expect that the Mets will retire Mike Piazza‘s 31 this year.
It’s equally reasonable to expect that they’ll handle the announcement in their patented tone-deaf manner, timed so that any reasonable cynic could mark it as compensation for a lost free agent or a lost season.
But never mind that– the bottom line is that the book is now closed on 31. So what better time to take a look back at the 14 players other than Piazza who have worn the number in team history, ranked in descending order…
14. Don Rose
Contrary to his name, Don never actually did rise– his time with the Mets amounted to two innings pitched in the backend of a September doubleheader in 1971. He achieved his greatest fame as the bag of balls the Mets sent to the Angels in the accursed Ryan for Fregosi trade later that same year.
13. Les Rohr
This native of Lowestoft, Sussex is one of 47 players in MLB history to be born in the UK. Also, he is the only player in MLB history with the middle name “Norvin.” That’s it.
12. Ron Herbel
Ron “Legalize It” Herbel logged 13 innings for the 1970 Mets, to the tune of a 1.38 ERA, but the team dealt him to the Braves for Bob Aspromonte in the offseason. (Fun fact: “Ass Pro Monte” was my porn name for a brief time in the mid ’80s.)
11. Gene Walter
Perhaps one could make a case that Walter should rank higher on this list, but I have an avowed prejudice toward players with given names for surnames. So Mike Scott, Nolan Ryan, Cliff Floyd? You can all go straight to hell…
10. Dwight Bernard
See previous entry.
9. Roy Lee Jackson
OK, see previous two entries. Plus, see 2-9 career Mets record, and attendant 4.80 ERA.
8. Larry Bearnarth
Points for persistence. Bearnarth pitched for the Mets from 1963 through 1966, compiling a 13-21 record over the course of 322.2 innings. He then found himself back in the minors until early 1971, when he pitched in two games for the Brewers, to diminishing returns.
7. Julio Machado
Gets some extra love from me because reading his name makes me start singing Hakuna Matata from The Lion King, always and without fail.
6. Bruce Berenyi
Another Elton John musical cue here: B-b-b-berenyi and the Mets.
5. Jack DiLauro
Contributed 63 quality innings to the Miracle Mets.
4. Harry Parker
Contributed 96.2 quality innings to the Ya Gotta Believe Mets.
3. Mike Vail
Ranked this high due solely to the Streak of ’75.
2. Ed Lynch
Gave the team seven years and over 730 innings of his noodly right arm, without ever once succumbing to the fascistic lure of the strikeout (tossed 190.1 innings in 1985 while registering just 65 Ks).
1. John Franco
It might be a bit extreme to suggest that we have a Bill Dickey/Yogi Berra dual-number-retirement scenario on our hands here, but it must be said that Franco did 31 as proud as Baskin-Robbins…
Julio Machado, what a wonderful phrase
Julio Machado, ain’t no passing craze
It means no worries for the rest of your days
It’s our problem free philosophy, Julio Machado
Why, when he was a young warthog
When I was a young warthog
Very nice, thanks
He found his aroma lacked a certain appeal
He could clear the Savannah after every meal
I’m a sensitive soul, though I seem thick-skinned
And it hurt that my friends never stood downwind
And oh, the shame, he was ashamed
Thoughta changin’ my name, oh, what’s in a name?
And I got downhearted, how did you feel? Every time that I
Pumbaa, not in front of the kids, oh sorry
Julio Machado, what a wonderful phrase
Julio Machado, ain’t no passing craze
It means no worries for the rest of your days, yeah, sing it, kid
It’s our problem-free philosophy, Julio Machado
Julio Machado
Julio Machado
Julio Machado
Julio Machado
It means no worries for the rest of your days
It’s our problem free philosophy, Julio Machado
Julio Machado
Julio Machado
Julio Machado
Re : Larry Bearnarth. Larry was a St. John graduate who majored in English literature. Ralph Kiner interviewed Larry on a show and I recall him being thoughtful, insightful and soft-spoken. He came across as a likable person. Carlton Wiley was the same way, too. I realize that space was limited in the article discussing the history of number 31. Upon reading the article, I remembered the 2nd game of a doubleheader the Mets played against the Giants at Shea on May 31, 1964. I endured the entire adventure on channel nine! Some research revealed details of this 23 inning and seven hour marathon.Larry came on in relief and pitched seven shoutout innings. In the lineup for that game for the Giants were Mays, Cepeda, McCovey, Duke Snyder, Harvey Kuenn and Matty Alou. Galen Cisco followed Larry and pitched an additional nine scoreless frames before losing the game in the 10th inning of work. This was one of Gaylord Perry’s first appearances in the majors. He pitched 10 innings and won the contest. Perry threw hard, kept the ball low and had terrific late movement. It must have been hot, muggy with a high moisture count in the air that evening.
You crack me the hell up Doug!