Picking the most popular Met players of all time is by nature subjective, but hey, I’m willing give it a shot. I am only going to go with players who were regulars for at least a few seasons with the Mets, and who won the affection of fans and teammates. There will be no stars who were moody or aloof on this team.
At first base we’ll put Keith Hernandez. This fan favorite was a defensive whiz hauling down 6 Golden Gloves with the Mets, and a stellar performer at the plate. He was a team Captain as well, a sign he was a team leader. He was one of the mainstays of the mid 80’s Met powerhouse teams, and has since been a successful broadcaster with the Mets.
At second base is Daniel Murphy. Considered a stand-up guy and good clubhouse presence, he also was a productive clutch hitter, never more so than in the 2015 NLDS and NLCS. When Murphy returned to Citi Field in 2016 as a Washington National, he received a thunderous ovation from the crowd, a sure sign of his popularity.
Our shortstop is Bud Harrelson. Harrelson was an excellent fielder who hauled in a Golden Glove award in 1971. He was a scrappy stalwart on the 1969 World champion Mets team as well as the 1973 National League pennant winning club.
Playing third base would be the Captain, David Wright. Heart and soul of the Mets from 2005 onwards into this season. Played through pain, had clutch hits and won two silver slugger and gold glove awards.
In the outfield we have Rusty Staub. A class act, known as “Le Grande Orange” in Montreal where he was wildly popular, both for his solid play and the fact that he learned French to better communicate with the fans. He was just about as popular in New York. With the Mets from 1972-1975, he was a devastating force at the plate, he batted .423 in the 1973 World Series. He returned to the Mets primarily as a pinch hitter where he excelled from 1981 to 1985.
Also patrolling the outfield is Mookie Wilson. A Met from from 1980 to 1989, a hustling speedster on the base paths with gap power, Wilson was a Mets Ambassador after his playing career was over.
The final outfield spot goes to Lee Mazzilli. The New York natives’ best years with the Mets were in the 70’s, where he displayed speed and doubles power. He did bat .400 in the 1986 World Series win as a pinch hitter. Described by Wikipedia as possessing “Matinee idol looks,” a characteristic especially appealing to the female fan base.
Picking the catcher is tough, with two good candidates, Gary Carter and Mike Piazza. I’ll go with Piazza, he of the iconic home run in the first New York sporting event after the 9/11 attacks and the recipient of huge cheers when he returned to Shea Stadium as a Padre. The deciding factor was Piazza choosing to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Met while Carter is enshrined in an Expo uniform.
Tom Seaver is an obvious choice as the right-handed pitcher, the only other Hall of Famer wearing the Mets uniform. He won three Cy Young awards with the Mets. He too received an ovation from the Shea Stadium crowd when he pitched against them after his trade to Cincinnati.
John Franco is my choice as left-handed pitcher. A closer with ice-water in his veins, the Brooklyn native was a team captain, a rarity for a reliever.
We’ll also throw in one more pitcher, Bartolo Colon. Beloved by fans, teammates, even the press, this ageless wonder can even make back-handed flips to first base.
Managing this crew will be Gil Hodges, field boss of the 1969 championship team. The long time Brooklyn Dodger slugger rarely if ever heard a boo at Ebbetts Field. He became a Brooklyn resident, and carried over his popularity to the Mets.
So this is my choice for the all-time most popular Met team. Feel free to agree or disagree with my selections.
My favorite Met of all time was Joe Christopher. Early outfielder who always waved to the fans going out to the outfield. I bet noone else remembers him.
agree on hernandez, wright, seaver, piazza, and arguably wilson. at 2b and ss, i cant believe you would pick murphy and harrelson over alfonzo and reyes: two of the top ten offensive players ever to come up thru the system, and both stronger on defense than their counterparts (in alfonzos case, ridiculously so). rusty staub over darryl strawberry? if this is strictly a popularity contest, i can listen to your points. but then you come to your most absurd and downright stupid pick: lee mazilli. a run of the mill outfielder in tight pants! picking him over the likes of carlos beltran (ooo, he struck out) is the height of madness. and john franco? you wanna gripe about familia blowing big games? he will never be in the same ballpark as john franco on that count. and guys, i loved gil hodges too but its time to get over the sanctification mets fans feel and recognize that our best manager was davey johnson. i wont make mention of the fact that your egregious omissions tended to be either latino or black, but take a look at your list and answer truthfully: strawberry or mazilli? alfonzo or murphy? sigh …
Love your point about Alfonso. Truly an under appreciated Met.
As a fan from 1962, I like your list. However it is far too short for me. For openers missing are: Cleon Jones and Tommy Agee, Ray Knight and Hojo, Jerry Koosman and Jon Matlack, and Doc and Darryl. No mention of Beltran – look at his numbers as a Met? Pre 1969 was a class all by itself: Roger Ron Hunt, Craig, Ed Kranepool, Marvelous Marv, Frank Thomas, Carl Willey, Al Jackson, yes, Joe Christopher, Rocky Swoboda with Gil Hodges as the manager from 1968. Some honorable mentions from other teams include: Willy Mays, Warren Spahn, Duke Snyder, Dave Kingman, John Olerude (sp?), Bret Saberhagen, and Donn Clendenon (69 WS MVP) and Richie Ashburn. After he hopefully re-signs Cespedes belongs on this list as well. (Hampton was the 2000 NLCS MVP). Lets Go Mets!
I would like to remember Ron Hunt as well – the first NYM to be voted on to as AS team in 1964 the year Shea Stadium opened. In 1963 Hunt finished second in the ROY voting to Pete Rose.
I liked Ron Hunt too, scrappy second baseman who was willing to take one for the team (he had a lot of hbp)
i so agree on ronald edward hunt. #33 gave everything in his four seasons in new york: the prototypical limited talent but hard knocks second baseman. if he had spent his career with contenders he would be much better remembered.
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Many of the most beloved Mets players were not stars, but role players. We have fond memories of the quirky, fun guys and the guys who provided just one heroic moment. Think Turk Wendell, Endy Chavez, et al.
I loved Harrelson…Love Reyes More! Rusty Staub would be in That OF. Ya Gotta Believe That Tug was in The Bullpen!
I go through this exercise every couple of years but I always build up and start with who deserves to be an all-time great Met and don’t worry about a specific number not to exceed. Its more satisfying to know you can have Olerud, Clendenon, Kranepool, Hernandez, and Milner and not have to exclude one or more of them at first base.
love most of the choices in the article Nd those mentioned in the comments but for me Wally Backman has to be the 2nd baseman.
Excellent choices. I would go with Darryl Strawberry in the third outfield spot. For left handed pitcher I would choose Jerry Koosman over John Franco. Koosman was 4-0 in the postseason for the Mets (including the clinching game in the 1969 World Series). He was also popular enough to be the on the cover of the 1977 Mets Yearbook. I would also pick Edgardo Alfonzo over Murphy at second.
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