Jan
4
2013

Mets Trades From The Past: Bernard Gilkey

An article by Barry Duchan

When discussing the outstanding trades the Mets have made over the years, the acquisition of Bernard Gilkey from the Cardinals is usually forgotten. In part, this could be because Gilkey really had only one good year for the Mets – although it was a terrific one, and also because even with Gilkey, the 1996 Mets weren’t a very good team.

Yet, Gilkey remains possibly the only experienced hitter ever to come to the Mets and immediately respond with the very best year of his career.

Gilkey had been the regular left fielder for the Cardinals for a few years and always was solid, if unspectacular In 1995, Gilkey batted .298 with 17 home runs and 69 RBI. Then in December of 1995, St. Louis signed Ron Gant as a free agent and suddenly Gilkey was out of a job.

Based on his past performances, it would have seemed that the Cardinals could have dealt Gilkey for much more than they got in return from the Mets in January, 1996 – minor league pitchers Eric Hiljus and Eric Ludwick (brother of current Cardinal of Ryan Ludwick) and outfielder Yudith Rosario.

It seemed like a trade the Mets really couldn’t lose on, unless one of the young players they sent away became a star. Of course, that didn’t happen.

Remarkably, though, Gilkey had an exceptional season for the Mets in ’96, batting .317 with 30 homers and 117 RBI – career highs in every department (compared to Gant’s .246, 30, 82 for the ’96 Cardinals).

Gilkey sort of reverted to form in 1997 and was soon gone from the Mets, but his legacy remains as possibly the only hitter in the 51-year history of the Mets to post a career year immediately after being traded to Flushing.

Did you know…

Bernard Gilkey had a small role in the 1997 film Men in Black? The climax of the film took place in Flushing Meadows where Gilkey appeared in his real life role as a Mets outfielder. Gilkey was distracted by a massive spacecraft above Shea Stadium (actually one of the two circular observation towers from the 1964 World’s Fair) and was hit on the head by a fly ball.

bernard gilkey MIB

About the Author: Barry Duchan

I've been following the Mets since 1962. Have to admit I was a Yankee fan as a kid, but I found it to be so much more interesting to see how a young team could build itself up rather than following a team where the season didn't really begin until October. I remember them all - Casey, Marv, ChooChoo, Don Bosch, The Stork, etc. As the years went on, I became more and more of a Mets fan, and a Yankee hater once Steinbrenner and Billy Martin entered the picture. After retiring, I relocated with my family from Long Island to Chapel Hill, NC in 2005. I spend a lot of my time now checking out all the various Mets blogs. Fortunately, I still get to watch almost all of the Mets games (except those that are blacked out here).

8 Comments + Add Comment

taskmaster4450 January 4, 2013 at 12:10 pm

That 1996 season ranks up there as one of the best single seasons for a Met everyday player along with Wrights 2007 and Beltrans 2006.
- TRS86 January 4, 2013 at 12:17 pm
  
  I would throw in Olerud’s 1998 season too:
  .354 .447 .551 .998 wowsa.
ray sadecki January 4, 2013 at 12:12 pm

Gilkey had a monster year and got his big contract. After that he came back down to earth (get it?) I cant say if he had a little help but it sure is suspicious. Maybe Hundley slipped him some of his real good vitamins.
Gina January 4, 2013 at 1:14 pm

I loved Gilkey as a Met. And I loved Cliff Floyd too!
Mr North Jersey January 4, 2013 at 3:53 pm

“Gilkey was distracted by a massive spacecraft above Shea Stadium (actually one of the two circular observation towers from the 1964 World’s Fair) and was hit on the head by a fly ball.”

You mean that didn’t really happen during a game?
- Satish Ram January 4, 2013 at 4:05 pm
  
  Could’ve fooled me. Lol.
Mr North Jersey January 4, 2013 at 4:03 pm

Off Topic: LMAO Who Knew?

@TommyLasorda
Happy National Spaghetti Day! Make sure you have a bowl or two, and don’t forget the meatballs.
https://twitter.com/TommyLasorda/status/287301250737913857
Barry Duchan January 4, 2013 at 5:00 pm

Ironic that Joe D. chose to put up this old post of mine now when the Mets could use a present-day version of Gilkey. Wonder if we could make a similar trade today ? Seems when we got Gilkey, no one asked or cared what his salary was. Even if it was possible to get a proven.veteran .280 plus hitting major league outfielder with plus speed, power, and defense for 3 grade-c prospects, that guy would probably be due $8-10 million for this year, and there’s no way the Mets make that deal.

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