Let’s take another look at the history of the Mets. I recently gave you my “Top 10 Teams in Mets History” list, now today I will give you to Top 50 Players in Mets history. Doing any type of list is difficult as it’s subjective, unless you use some sort of metric, or point system, to create it. I wanted to use three areas:

1.      Statistics (Mets Career)

2.      Length of Mets Career

3.      Intangibles

I didn’t see all these players, and some I saw after their prime, but I used my research, knowledge, conversations with individuals who did watch them over the years. Hopefully this list does a good job of combining the tangible and intangible value of the best players in Mets history.

Let the debate begin.

1. Tom Seaver (RHP) - No Brainer. The only Hall of Famer in Mets history. Won 198 games and struck out over 2,500 batters in orange and blue. His 19 strikeout game will always be remembered. Would probably have 300 wins in a Mets uniform if not for Dick Young, M. Donald Grant, and a little snafu by Frank Cashen after the 1983 season. Truly a master at the art of pitching.

2. Darryl Strawberry (OF) - Never quite lived up to the “black Ted Williams” moniker, but is the most feared cleanup hitter in team history. Rookie of the Year, Six All Star Appearances, and was robbed of the MVP in 1988. Rare combination of speed and power (30/30 in 1987) as he hit 252 homers and stole 191 bases with the team. Remember him now more for the good times than the bad exit in 1990. The ultimate “what if” in team history. I suspect he would be the second Mets Hall of Famer if he stayed clean.

3. Dwight Gooden (RHP) - Sometimes he is unfairly judged by what he should have been, instead of what he did. A .649 winning percentage is higher than Seaver’s. Won Rookie of the Year in 1984, and had one of the best seasons in modern history in 1985 (24-4, 1.52 ERA). The league average pitching after 1988 shouldn’t overshadow his accomplishments. Was it drugs or over usage that did him in? I say a combination of both, as Doc might have seen decline physically even if he stayed away from drugs.

4. David Wright (3B) - Will eventually go down as the best position player in Mets history. Wright is this team’s version of Mike Schmidt. No other player in team history can hit for average, power, and run like Wright. He proved in 2010 that he can hit at Citi Field, and unless something catastrophic happens, will be #2 on this list by the end of his tenure.

5. Mike Piazza (C) - The Mets didn’t get the Dodgers version of Piazza, but that was because age caught up with him (no pun intended) after 2002. His 1998 to 2002 is right up there with Wright and Strawberry. I knocked him down a peg because he wasn’t homegrown, but nonetheless was the heart and soul of the team during his tenure. Many criticize him for his throwing, but he called a good game, and blocked the plate with the best receivers in baseball. His flair for the dramatic might be second to none on this list. Who can ever forget his homer against the Braves post 9-11, against Houston in the Dome in ’98, or to cap off that 10 run eighth inning against the Braves in 2000? The Mets should retire his number in the very near future.

6. Jerry Koosman (LHP) - Could easily have the same win totals as a Bert Blyleven, or at the very least, Jack Morris. If he did, I suspect there would have been more debate about his Hall of Fame worthiness. It’s not easy to be a .500 pitcher (140-137) with a 3.08 ERA. That’s what Koosman did during his Mets tenure. The 108 complete games were also very impressive. Won two games against the Orioles in 1969. Without Koosman’s Game 2 performance that year we may never have a seen miracle.

7. Keith Hernandez (1B) - The ultimate team leader in Mets history. He was to the Mets what Mark Messier was to the Rangers in the nineties. Some have made a case that he belongs in the Hall of Fame, but I would settle for the team retiring his number 17. Clutch hitter, great eye at the plate, and one of the best defensive first basemen in the history of the league. Mex was a thinking man’s player, and I wonder if he legs didn’t give out after 1987 if the Mets would have won another title.

8. Carlos Beltran (OF) - Will always get knocked for his demeanor. Very similar to Kevin McReynolds, but “Big Mac” never put up Beltran’s numbers. By far the best defensive centerfielder in baseball during his Mets tenure, and has the bad knees to prove it. When you factor in his Gold Glove defense, 2006 (41 homers, 116 RBI. .275 batting average) might be the most complete season by a position player in Mets history.

9. Edgardo Alfonzo (2B/3B) - If only he didn’t hurt his back in 2001. If Piazza was the heart and soul of those late nineties Mets, then Alfonzo the “leader by example” as he was the model of what you would want in a player. Hit for average, power, and outstanding defensively. How many players could say they are above average defenders at second and third? Alfonzo was both, and moved positions for the good of the team twice. Wasn’t the same after 2001, but his 1999-2000 seasons were special. Was probably the one hitter on that team you wanted up with two outs and runners in scoring position.

10. Al Leiter (LHP) - Some may quibble because he left on bad terms in 2004, but Leiter was the ace of the staff for seven years. Will always remember his performance against Cincinnati in game number 163 in 1999. Just missed out on 100 wins with the team, but could be counted on for double digit wins, and about 200 innings of quality baseball each year. Give me one starter not named Seaver to pitch a big game, and it would be Al Leiter.

11. John Franco (LHP) - The overall numbers are very solid (276 saves, 3.10 ERA), but Franco was the ultimate “cardiac closer,” which shouldn’t be a surprise considering his career Mets WHIP of 1.365. With that said, Franco was a tough as they come on the mound. He may have blown saves, but he battled every night, and would be by his locker after a tough loss. We have seen many come through these parts that hide when the lights shine the brightest. I wonder if he was pitching the ninth inning, instead of Armando Benitez, in Game 1 of the 2000 World Series, if the Yankees would have come back. Could make an argument for Top 10, but decided to go with Leiter over Franco.

12. Gary Carter (C) -  Helped develop a young pitching staff, clutch hitter, and produced offensively at a position not known for it. His big years came in Montreal, but he helped bring a championship to New York. Fizzled after age 32, but the haul was worth his final two productive seasons. His production in 1985 and 1986 were right up there with Piazza, and probably better, if you factor in his defense.

13. David Cone (RHP) - Over .600 winning percentage with the Mets. His 20 win season in 1988 was right up there with Gooden and Seaver for one of the best in team history. The Mets got the young, immature, and hot headed Cone, or the numbers could have been better. Who could forget his 19 strikeout game the last day of 1991 while the cops were waiting to question him for rape? He would mature and become a key component of the late nineties Yankees dynasty, pitching a perfect game for them in 1999. Amazing that many remember him for his time with the Yankees, but the majority of his production came with the Mets.

14. Jose Reyes (SS) - His talent is such that he could be Rickey Henderson, but as of yet Reyes has never put his combination of speed, power, and plate discipline together for a full season. Has the tools to win a Gold Glove, but can’t concentrate consistently in the field. With that said, since he became the everyday shortstop in 2005, the Mets win when Reyes gets on base. Not many players can hit .300, with 20 homers, and 50+ stolen bases. Talent alone has put him in the Top 15, but he should be in the Top 10.

15. Ed Kranepool (1B/OF) - His career is more quantity than quality, but you can’t dismiss someone who played 18 years in the big leagues for one team. Perhaps his undoing was the fact he played for the Mets, as they rushed him to the majors at the age of 17. Was the team leader in many offensive categories for years, and a pinch hitter extraordinaire later in his career.

16. Ron Darling (RHP) - Won 99 games which is fourth in team history. Always seemed to battle himself ala John Maine. Came up small in both Game 7 opportunities (‘86 World Series, 88′ NLCS), but if it weren’t for his pitching the Mets wouldn’t have played in either one. He was good for 15 wins, 3.50 ERA, and 220 innings. Some may called that an “ace” by today’s standards.

17. Sid Fernandez (LHP) -  I will never forget his 16 strikeout performance in Atlanta that he lost on a Lonnie Smith ninth inning homer. Won 98 games, good for fifth in team history, but his stingy 3.14 ERA probably should have resulted in more wins. Maybe the unluckiest pitcher in team history.

18. Howard Johnson (3B/SS) - Was better in odd years than even years. Was a 30/30 man in 1987 when everyone was worried how the team would survive after Ray Knight signed with Baltimore. Achieved the feat in ’89 and ’91. The organization has struggled at third base throughout its history, but HoJo was the gold standard at the position before David Wright came along. His career totals of 192 homers, 629 RBI, 202 stolen bases, and .801 OPS aren’t that far off from Wright’s. The difference was Johnson was a late bloomer, and lacked the consistency of D-Wright.

19. Jon Matlack (LHP) - Another victim of the anemic offense of the seventies Mets. Career ERA with the team of 3.03, yet was only 82-81 during that time. Was Rookie of the Year in 1972, and probably had his best season in 1974 when he posted a 2.41 ERA, but was only 13-15. Koosman and Matlack give the Sabermetrician claim that “wins don’t matter” some merit when you look at their peripherals.

20. Johan Santana (LHP) - This story is still in progress, but we probably won’t see Santana again until July 2011. To date he is 40-25, with a 2.85 ERA. His performance down the stretch in 2008 was classic, as he dragged the Mets to the finish line. Knowing that he’s pitched like this with bone chips in his elbow, torn meniscus, and a shoulder injury makes it even more impressive.

21. Jesse Orosco (LHP) - Amazing career that lasted 24 seasons, and some thought he was done when the Mets traded him after the 1987 season. 107 saves in eight years with a 2.73 ERA. His 1983 season might be the best for any Mets reliever as he finished third in the Cy Young voting (13 wins, 17 saves, 1.47 ERA). Might be the real MVP of the ’86 NLCS and World Series as it seemed he got the call every night. That 16th inning performance in Game 6 in Houston was about as gutty as it gets.

22. Tom Glavine (LHP) - Everyone remembers Game 162 in 2007, but forgets how he anchored the staff from late 2005 to 2007. Give him credit for adjusting late in his career, and compiling a 41-28, 3.93 record during that period. He was exceptional during the ’06 playoffs when the rotation was in shambles. The Mets didn’t get the Tom Glavine of Atlanta, but you could see why he was a Hall of Famer by how he went about his craft. One game should not define his Mets career.

23. Tug McGraw (LHP) - He reminded me of the seventies version of John Franco when I was watching a recap of the 1973 season. His “You Gotta Believe” chant is still being used today. Garnered 86 saves during a time where closers were expected to go more than one inning. Was good as any reliever in Mets history from 1969-1972. Not many players can be loved in both New York and Philadelphia, but Tug accomplished that with near identical pitching lines, and a championship in both towns.

24. Rusty Staub (OF/PH) - The heart and soul of the team when he was acquired from Montreal after the 1971 season. Impressive walk to strikeout ratio (333 to 204), with 75 homers, and 399 RBI during his Mets career. Put on a show during the ’73 playoffs (4 homers, 11 RBI, OPS of 1.096). Foolish trade sent him to Detroit after the ’75 season for Mickey Lolich. Would return in 1981 and become one of the best pinch hitters in team history. Too bad he retired a year early, or could have been a part of the ’86 championship club.

25. Kevin McReynolds (OF) - Even though they traded Kevin Mitchell - who would win the 1989 NL MVP - for McReynolds, he was steady on both sides of the ball. Perhaps his personality was the reason some fans complain about that deal, but Mitchell came into his own as McReynolds began to decline. Had an MVP type season in 1988 with the important task of protecting Darryl Strawberry in the lineup. Without his production the Mets best hitter would have rarely gotten an opportunity to punish the opposition. Probably the best defensive left fielder in team history, with a good arm to boot. It would be fun watching him man Citi Field in his prime.

26. John Olerud (1b) -My favorite player from the nineties, as Olerud was an OBP machine. He fit that offense perfectly, and benefited from hitting in front of Mike Piazza. Only Keith Hernandez was better defensively at first. Will never forget the second half of 1998 where it seemed he was always on base, and just missed winning the batting title with his .354 average. Only played three years in New York, but had a .315 batting average, and OPS of .926 at that time. Huge mistake letting him sign with Seattle in 2000.

27. Bob Ojeda (LHP) - A huge part of those eighties Mets. Won 18 games in 1986, and pitched a pivotal Game 2 in Houston, and Game 3 in Fenway. No Ojeda and the Mets don’t win in 1986. His alleged hedge trimmer accident in 1988 was a big reason why they lost to the Dodgers in the NLCS. Won 51 games in five years with a 3.14 ERA. He deserves this high billing just for his ’86 performance alone.

28. Rick Reed (RHP) - One of the better “scrapheap” pickups in team history. Went 59-36 from 1997 to 2001. Didn’t have overpowering stuff, but great location. I was at two June of ’98 starts where he nearly threw no hitters.  Pitched well in a huge game against the Pirates the last weekend of 1999 as well. Could always be counted on for a quality start, and the record proves it.

29. Carlos Delgado (1B) - Probably the most prolific cleanup hitter in team history next to Strawberry. His 2006 and 2008 seasons were right up there with all the great offensive performances in history. Combined in those seasons he hit 76 homers, and drove in 229 runs. Had 4 homers, 11 RBI, and an OPS of 1.199 during the 2006 playoffs. A big time player that was slowed by a hip injury, or the numbers would have been far better.

30. Jerry Grote (C) - Was a defensive cog behind the plate for 12 years. Didn’t hit much (career batting average of .252), but did enough to make a couple of All Star Teams. Known to be very competitive and gave those late sixties/early seventies Mets teams some “spit and vinegar.” If not for the fact he played at the same time as Johnny Bench he would have a few Gold Gloves to his name.

31. Todd Hundley (C) - Did he juice? Who knows, but he came up a skinny kid in 1990 known for his defense, and set the record for most homers as a catcher (40 in 1996) just a few years later, until it was broken by Javy Lopez in 2003. 71 homers, 198 RBI, and a .922 OPS over two years are dominant for a catcher. Only Piazza was better offensively during that time. Will always give him credit for trying to play the outfield in ‘98, although it was painful to watch.

32. Armando Benitez (RHP) - Probably the best regular season closer in team history, but will always be remembered for blowing Game 1 of the 2000 World Series. 160 Saves over five years with a 2.70 ERA, and over 11 strikeouts per nine innings, but his postseason failings knock him down on the list. Perfect example of how pitching is just as much mental as physical.

33. Bobby Jones (RHP) - Will always be remembered for his one hitter in Game 4 of the 2000 NLDS against San Francisco. Won 74 games in a Mets uniform posting a respectable 4.13 ERA. In his prime he was a league average pitcher that gave you 195 innings, and 15 victories. Sounds an awful lot like Jon Garland, who many Mets fans clamored for this offseason. It’s not easy to win double digit ballgames in this league with his stuff.

34. Cleon Jones (OF) - Was the Mets offense, along with Tommie Agee, in 1969 (12 HR, 75 RBI, .904 OPS). Would have been interesting to see how he fared as a complementary player on a good offensive team. Career .281 batting average with a .744 OPS isn’t shabby when you consider what surrounded him in the lineup.

35. Mookie Wilson (OF) - Played ten years in New York, and did his best work when he split time with Lenny Dykstra. A popular Met because he was one of the few left from the dark days. His Game 6 at bat against Bob Stanley was classic, as the strikeout prone Wilson managed to stay alive, barely, until the wild pitch. I think he wouldn’t be viewed as favorably today because of the obsession with OBP. Wilson was a useful player when used in the platoon role. I bump him up because of his “Q Rating” with the fan base.

36. Dave Magadan (1B/3B) - Toiled behind Keith Hernandez for three seasons until given his chance in 1990. Never developed the power that many thought his 6’3” frame would yield, but would have been a “Moneyball” favorite for his good eye at the plate if such a term existed then. Had a glass half empty Mets career because he wasn’t Keith Hernandez, which is patently unfair. Overall spent seven seasons playing first and third for the Mets, hit .292 and had an outstanding .391 OBP. Best season was 1990 when he hit .328, and contended for the NL batting title. No surprise the Mets took off that year when Magadan was inserted into the lineup every day. Lack of power regulated him to a backup role after leaving the Mets in 1992.

37. Lenny Dykstra (OF) - We all laugh at his off the field exploits today, but Dykstra might have been the most popular Met of that eighties team. Was everything you wanted in a leadoff hitter: got on base, patient, speed, and even a little pop. He could have spent a decade producing as he did in 1986 (.295 BA, 8 homers, 58 walks, 55 strikeouts), and would have been an All Star. Instead, he decided to “enhance” himself, which resulted in a payday, but a truncated career. His home run off Dave Smith in the ’86 NLCS was the turning point of that series. He also got the Mets started with a homer in Game 3 at Fenway in the World Series. The problem was it seemed to make him swing for the fences the rest of his Mets career. Davey Johnson finally lost patience, and the Mets made that disastrous trade sending him to the Phillies for Juan Samuel.

38. Robin Ventura (3B) - Chants of “MVP’ rained down on Ventura throughout his ’99 campaign (32 homers, 120 RBI, .301 batting average, Gold Glove). That year might be the best overall individual season for any Mets third basemen. Who can forget his penchant for Grand Slams, including the famous “Grand Slam Single” in the 1999 NLCS. Injuries slowed him the final two years of his contract, but he still provided great defense, leadership, and clutch hitting. Personified what the 99-00 Mets were all about.

39. Frank Viola (LHP) - The local St. John’s product was the last 20 game winner in Mets history, as he went 20-12 in 1990. Was acquired from the Minnesota Twins at the 1989 trade deadline for five players, most notably Rick Aguilera, but never lived up to his “co-ace” status outside of the ’90 season. Regardless, he gave them tons of innings in two and a half seasons (566 to be exact), and hurled 12 complete games. An ace in 1990, but performed like a #3 starter the rest of his tenure. Pitched against Ron Darling in one of the greatest college baseball games ever.

40. John Stearns (C) - Was a two sport athlete at the University of Colorado. The Phillies drafted him number two in the nation, and he was also drafted by the Buffalo Bills. Had power, good eye, and even some speed (stole 25 bases in 1978). Known for tackling Braves mascot “Chief Noc a Homa.”  His ’77-’78 numbers (27 homers, 128 RBI, .367 OBP, 34 steals) were probably the best for a Mets catcher not named Carter, Piazza, or Hundley, but the reckless play caught up to him as he fizzled shortly thereafter. Younger fans might remember him as the Mets bench coach under Bobby Valentine who yelled “the monster is out of the cage” before the 2000 NLCS. Runs Mets Fantasy Camp each year, and I can tell you from personal experience that he hasn’t lost his passion for the game.

41. Pedro Martinez (RHP) - Was more valuable off the field than on, but still had one of the best pitching seasons in Mets history in 2005 when he went 15-8, with a 2.52 ERA. His starts were an “event” which can only be said for two others in Mets history, and they are in the Top 10. If not for a porous bullpen, and a manager who failed bullpen management 101, Martinez would have won 20 games, and maybe the Cy Young that year. The shoulder injury made the rest of his Mets career very pedestrian, but without the Pedro signing the Mets probably never get Carlos Beltran, or have their three year run from 2006-2008 where they were NL favorites.

42. Bobby Bonilla (OF/3B/1B) - The most hated Met in team history, but still produced during his first stint with the team. Everyone says Bonilla didn’t produce like he did with the Pirates, but the numbers are very similar, and he developed better power during his Mets days. His ’95 season (18, 53, .325 batting average), would have been one of the better performances in Mets history if he wasn’t traded to Baltimore. Would have been served better as a second banana than the main offensive cog. He seemed to fit that role well in Pittsburgh, Florida, and Baltimore.

43. Lee Mazzilli (OF/PH) - Another “Moneyball” player before its time. Produced an .811 OPS from 1978 to 1980, .374 OBP, and hit a dramatic homer in the All Star Game. Better known for returning in 1986, and becoming a pinch hitting extraordinaire off the bench. Great story of local boy who becomes a star, gets traded, and comes back at the tail end of his career to win a championship. Don’t forget he produced Ron Darling and Walt Terrell, who ultimately was flipped for Howard Johnson.

44. Tommie Agee (OF) - His defense highlights the ’69 series. Great two year stint from 1969-1970, averaging 25 homers, 75 RBI, and a .280 batting average, along with a Gold Glove. A knee injury caught up with him and he was never the same after 1970. If he would have stayed healthy I could have seen him most up on this list past Wilson and Dykstra. Agee and Cleon Jones were the Mets offense those years.

45. Bret Saberhagen (RHP) - Had some dominant performances, but was injured, and better known for that foolish bleach incident in the clubhouse. If not for the ’94 strike, might have had one of the best pitching season in Mets history. Was 14-4 with a 2.74 ERA in a very offensive year, and walked only 13 batters in 177 innings. Yes, that isn’t a typo, 13 batters. The return the Mets got from Colorado in that midseason trade in ’95 was abysmal. Overall had a 3.16 ERA during his Mets career, and would have been right up there with some of the best pitchers if he stayed healthy.

46. Nolan Ryan (RHP) - We could have debated who was #1, Ryan or Seaver, but the trade that sent Ryan to Anaheim for Jim Fregosi ended that. I am not sure Ryan was built for New York, and I have heard some interviews where he believed leaving the Mets was good for his career. Was a below league average pitcher during his Mets tenure, but had huge 7 inning/2 run relief performance in Game 3 of the NLCS in ’69. Look at that Braves lineup and tell me if that is an easy task for a young pitcher. Played a valuable enough role as the sixth starter/middle reliever during his tenure that he belongs on this list.

47. Craig Swan (RHP) - Played for some lousy Mets teams, and was gone by the time things turned around. Despite playing in one of the worst periods in Mets history still had respectable career numbers (59-71, 3.72). Shoulder problems derailed him, or perhaps he could have been a backend veteran starter on the ‘84 team. Still trying to figure out how he won 14 games for that awful 1979 Mets team.

48. Jeff Kent (2b/3b) - I believe Kent is a Hall of Famer, but unfortunately will go in as a member of the San Francisco Giants. The trade of David Cone for Kent and Ryan Thompson in 1992 turned out to be one of Al Harazin’s best, although I would have preferred the Mets sign Cone to an extension. Kent was still maturing, and New York wasn’t the right environment for a country boy. Didn’t have a position as he moved from second to third (switching positions is a Mets trait throughout their history), but still averaged about 15 homers, 70 RBI, and a .280 batting average during his Mets career. I wonder how things would have worked out if the Mets gave Kent one more season, instead of trading him for the over the hill Carlos Baerga.

49. John Milner (1b/OF) - One of the underrated offensive players in Mets history. As I have mentioned before, the seventies wasn’t a decade of offense for the team. Had good left handed pop hitting 23 homers for the ’73 squad, splitting time between first and the outfield. Hamstring injuries kept him off the field at various points during his career..

50. Bud Harrelson (SS) -  The Rey Ordonez of the sixties and seventies. Good field/no hit, but was very important to those Mets teams for his leadership. Finished in the top 25 of MVP three times, won a Gold Glove, and appeared in two All Star Games. Was a shortstop when the gold standard for the position was Phil Rizzuto and Pee Wee Reese, not Alex Rodriguez.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com

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Tags: New York Mets, Top 50 Mets of All Time