Last month, Mets Merized Online began rolling out our Metsmerized Hall of Fame. We decided to begin with our FIVE FOUNDING MEMBERS just as they did when they got started in Cooperstown.

In the last four weeks we have selected Tom Seaver in week one, and Keith Hernandez in week two, Jerry Koosman in week three, and Dwight Gooden in week four. It is now, with great pleasure, that we announce our fifth founding member of the Metsmerized Hall of Fame…  A drum roll please for…

Everything Is All Wright: David Wright, 3B

You can ask ten different Baseball fans “Who is the best all-around player of all-time?” and you’d get ten different answers.

Babe Ruth saved the game and hit more home runs than entire teams. But Ruth did not have the speed. Ty Cobb’s lifetime .367 career batting average has never even been approached in almost a century. But Cobb, due to the era he played in, didn’t hit for power. Ted Williams was a natural hitter with 15/20 eyesight. But Ted was bored playing defense, frequently standing in left field practicing his swing in between pitches.

Me? I always choose Willie Mays for one simple reason. He did it all. He hit for power, average, was the best defensive center fielder in the game, had speed and well…, simply put, how could you not love Willie?

Now, ask yourself who is the best all-around Mets player of all time? There are several names that come to mind.

John Olerud’s .315 batting average is the highest in team history. But Olerud didn’t have any speed. Who is the Mets’ best home run hitter? You can say Strawberry or Piazza. But Straw’s best batting average was .284. Piazza’s offensive numbers were downright frightening, but we all know that opposing base runners seemed to steal at will on him. When you think Mets defense, how can you not think Keith Hernandez? Mex won six consecutive Gold Gloves with us, but he was not a long ball threat. His biggest home run total was 18 in 1987. One can choose Jose Reyes for his speed. Single-handedly, Reyes could change the flow of a game. Like Keith, however, Reyes was not a home run threat.

Me? I’d choose David Wright. In the nine years he’s been wearing the blue and orange, Wright, like Willie Mays, can do it all. He may not be GREAT at one single facet of the game. But he is very, very, very good at all facets of the game.

Former hitting coach Howard Johnson said of David, “He’s the complete package. He uses the whole field with power all over the place. Defensively he makes all the plays.” Teammate Joe McEwing said, “He’s a special player and a special person.” “He has natural ability and a tremendous work ethic,” stated his former High School coach, Steve Gedro. “To have both these things in one athlete is rare.”

David made his debut on July 21, 2004. In 263 AB that season, he swatted 14 home runs, plated 40 RBI’s and batted .293. Along with teammate and friend Jose Reyes, 21 year-old Wright would become the face of the Mets, the players that a championship would be built around.

In 2005, his first full season, the Mets won 12 more games, finishing over .500 for the first time in four years. David’s line was .306 – 27 HR – 102 RBI. He also scored 99 runs and for good measure stole 17 bases. He was the Mets leader in over a dozen different offensive categories.

On August 9th against the Padres, Wright, with his back to the infield, made a bare handed catch over the shoulder. This Year In Baseball chose this as the Best Defensive Play of the Year.

In 2006, David showed no signs of a Sophomore Jinx and in fact he improved across the board. Wright hit 26 homers and knocked in 116 while posting a .311 batting average. To go along with this there were 40 doubles, a .531 slugging percentage and even stole 20 bases in what was a truly amazing all-around season. Wright was in the top 3 of all team offensive categories. Oh, and for good measure, he was the starting third baseman for the NL in the All-Star Game where he promptly hit a home run in his very first at-bat.

In 2007, David showed no signs of slowing down. If anything, he improved, having probably his best offensive season. He reached 30 HR’s for the first time and topped 40 doubles for the 3rd straight year. His .325 BA was third highest at that time in Mets history. He also set career highs in slugging (.546) and OBP (.416). On September 16, David became the 29th player in MLB history to join the 30-30 club, but only the third before turning 25. And while doing all of this, David also put together a 26-game hitting streak. But wait, there’s more… He won his first of two consecutive Gold Gloves and in 39 stolen base attempts, he was safe 34 times. For his incredible season, he finished 4th in the MVP voting.

Yes, he can do it all.

2008 saw David set career highs in HR with 33 and RBI’s with 124, the latter tying a Mets record for most in a single season. He also hit 42 doubles while posting a 534 slugging percentage. And in between David sending outfielders looking over their shoulder or racing into the alley, he achieved a 75% success rate of steals, 15 steals in 20 attempts. Oh, and yes, another Gold Glove, too.

On April 13, 2009, David became forever linked with Gil Hodges and Ron Hunt as the first Mets player to hit a HR in a new home stadium.

Since Citi Field opened, David’s numbers have dropped. He’s also been hit with injuries as well, However, while his stats have decreased since 09, they are still very respectable. In the last 4 seasons (including playing just 102 games in 2011), Wright has averaged 152 hits, 35 doubles, 82 RBI’s, 19 HR’s, a 288 BA and 467 slugging.

His career stats with the Mets are a 301 BA, 204 HR’s, 818 RBI’s, 381 OBP, 506 SLG, 322 doubles and has stolen 166 bases while being caught just 54 times, a 75% success rate.

He is the Mets all-time leader in hits (1426) Runs (790), doubles (322), RBI’s (818) and walks (616). He is 2nd in Batting Average (301) and At Bats (4742), 3rd in HR’s (204), tied for 3rd in slugging (506), 4th in OBP (381) and 5th in SB’s with 166.

In addition to the power, average, speed and glove, David is also the type of athlete that’s become a rarity. He is the consummate professional. When things are going bad for the Mets, he tips his hat to the opponent and makes no excuses. He’ll be the first to admit that the club, himself included, need to work on things. When some of his teammates avoid the media after a tough loss, David is always there, representing the team. He’s the type of ballplayer you can have your son or daughter look up to. In that respect he is like another one time Met, Tom Seaver. Mike Piazza one said, “He’s a good kid. You pull for someone like that.”

I don’t remember the exact date. I don’t even remember the exact year. I think it was about 1976. But I do remember we were playing the Phillies. I was at a game with my dad. I did my duty as a Mets fan, cheering for John Milner and Buddy and Grote and promptly booing Greg Luzinski and Garry Maddox and Steve Carlton. My father leaned over and pointed to the guy playing 3B for the Phillies and said, “You won’t realize what a great player he is until he retires.” Sure, Mike Schmidt was good and hit a lot of home runs, but he was no Dave Kingman! My dad was right. Schmidt went into the Hall of Fame and Dave Kingman? Well, I don’t know what ever happened to him.

Being the best all-around player in team history, it’s safe to say a player like David Wright comes around to the Mets only once every fifty years.

Metsmerized Hall of Fame

Congratulations, David!

Now that our Five Founding Members have been selected, next week we will roll out our 2013 Metsmerized Hall of Fame Ballot. We will ask you, our readers, to cast your vote for who should be selected for enshrinement in 2013. Learn more by visiting our Metsmerized Hall of Fame.

It will be fun playing baseball using solid hard wood bats and other high quality baseball equipments.

Mets Merized Online is rolling out our Metsmerized Hall of Fame. We will be enshrining one player each week until our five founding members are all unveiled. So far, we’ve selected Tom Seaver in week one, Keith Hernandez in week two, and Jerry Koosman in week three. After our five Founding Members are selected, we will ask you, our readers, to cast your ballot for who should be selected for enshrinement in 2013. Learn more by visiting our Metsmerized Hall of Fame. It’s with great pleasure that we announce our fourth founding member of the Metsmerized Hall of Fame…

The Doctor Is In: Dwight Gooden, RHP

In the spring of 1973, I was seven years old when my dad introduced me to Baseball. It’s been a love that has lasted 40 years and still going strong. I started reading about the greats of the game, ballplayers who were like Greek Gods to a young boy. I asked my dad what it was like to actually see in person guys like Snider, Campanella, Robinson, Hodges, Mantle, Berra. My dad told me about Ebbets Field and stories of some of the ones I mentioned. However, being a Brooklyn fan, he had no stories about Mickey or Yogi. After all, they were part of the hated Yankees.

On May 5, 1991, no longer living in New York, I took my wife to her first major league game and my first at Shea in 8 years. We sat in the loge section along 3rd base. In the top of the first, I leaned over to my wife, pointed to the guy on the mound for the Mets and said, “One day we’ll be able to tell our grand-kids we saw Doc Gooden pitch.”

THAT was Doc Gooden.

Mets fans had been hearing about this rookie phenom for a while. Along with friend and former Tidewater teammate Darryl Strawberry, Dwight was supposed to lead us to the promised land. For it was he who we would build our dynasty around.

Dwight made his debut on April 7, 1984. He picked up a win in a 3-2 victory over Houston, striking out five in five innings pitched and allowing just three hits.

Knowing how management always leads us to believe that every rookie we bring up will be the next Pete Rose (Gregg Jefferies anyone?) we were, as usual, cautiously optimistic. However, with this Gooden kid, he was the real deal. He possessed a 98 MPH fastball that painted the black and a sweeping knee-buckling curve. Yes, the Mets FINALLY had a rookie superstar.

As the strikeouts piled up and “K’s” started getting hung, Dwight became known as Doctor K. Then simply Doc. Later that summer, the 19 year old became the youngest player to ever appear in the All-Star Game. He pitched one inning—and promptly struck out the side.

As the season wore on and the Mets found themselves in a pennant race for the first time in nearly a decade, the rookie did not show signs of slowing down. If anything, Doc became stronger. He won eight of his last nine starts. In his last three starts alone, the numbers were mind-boggling: He struck out 41 and walked just a single batter. He averaged 11.39 K/9 IP, setting a record. His 17 wins were the most by a Mets rookie since Jerry Koosman in 1968. He was named Rookie of the Year, one year after teammate Strawberry won it in 83 and 4th in Mets history.

Yes, Gooden was definitely living up to the hype. However, it was only the beginning.

By 1985, I was no longer a 7 year old kid who thought of Baseball players as Gods. But I started to rethink that upon seeing Doc pitch.

In previous days, when Tom Seaver would take the mound, Mets fans felt confident we’d win. When Doc took the mound, it was a sure thing. Seeing Doc lose was just…incomprehensible. Attendance at Shea went up by 7500 when he pitched. (Apparently, other fans also wanted something to tell their grandkids about). Gooden dominated the league in a way not seen in a generation. His 1.53 ERA was the 2nd lowest in history since the end of the Dead Ball era. Only Bob Gibson’s 1.12 in 1968 was lower. From his 2nd start of the season, his ERA was never over 2.00. Doc went 24-4 and fanned 268. En route to his first Cy Young award, his ERA, wins and K’s were enough to lead the majors. He also led the NL in IP (276 2/3) and CG (16).

Down the stretch, as the Mets battled St. Louis, Gooden put together a string of 31 scoreless innings.

With numbers like this, it’s easy to see how and why he won 24 games. But what about those 4 losses? Well, in those 4 games, he allowed only 26 hits in 28 innings. He walked just 5 while whiffing 28. His ERA for those 4 losses was 2.89.

In September Doc had two back-to-back no decisions. In each of those he pitched nine innings and allowed no runs.

An enormous photo of Doc was put up in Penn Station that tallied his strikeouts. Sports Illustrated exhibited a 102 foot mural in Times Square. The image was of Doc in the middle of his wind-up. The caption underneath read, ‘How does it feel to be looking down the barrel of a loaded gun?’

Ah, yes. The Mets owned New York.

Although Doc could never repeat his once-in-a-lifetime 1985 season, he still had superb numbers in 1986. He went 17-6 with 200 K’s and a 2.84 ERA. That summer, he became the youngest pitcher ever to start an All-Star Game.

With 3 full seasons under his belt, Doc’s numbers were incredible. His record was 58-19, he had a career 2.32 ERA and 744 strikeouts in 744 2/3 IP. He was just 21. And Cooperstown was a lock!

To actually witness a pitcher like this was something to behold. Knowing he was on MY Mets made it a beautiful thing.

Although he pitched superbly in the NLCS against Houston, he failed to pick up a win. Facing Cy Young winner Mike Scott in Game 1 and Nolan Ryan in game 5, Gooden allowed just 2 ER in 17 innings for a 1.06 ERA. But he was 0-1.

Against Boston in the World Series, Gooden struggled miserably. It was hard for fans to watch, much less fathom. Gooden did not just not pitch well. He got crushed. Of the 3 games the Red Sox won, Doc was the loser in 2 of them. He never made it beyond the 5th. In a total of 9 IP, he gave up 8 ER on 17 hits. Doc was not just human after all. He was ineffective. Something was definitely wrong. A few days later, when the World Champion Mets received their victory parade, Gooden was nowhere to be seen.

Six weeks after that great moment in team history, Gooden was arrested in Tampa for fighting with a police officer. The following spring he tested positive for Cocaine and went into rehab. The 87 season had not even started and already it seemed impossible to repeat as World Champions.

Although Doc did not make his first start until June 5, he still managed to win 15 games.

In 1988, the Mets entered the post-season heavily favored over the Dodgers. In Game 1, Doc matched up against Orel Hershiser who finished the season with 59 scoreless innings. Doc fanned 10 and allowed only 2 ER thru 7. The Mets won, but he got a no-decision.

Gooden took the mound again in game 4. The Mets were up 2 games to 1 and things were looking good. Although Doc gave up 2 in the 1st, the Mets rallied. We had a 4-2 lead going to the 9th, just 3 outs away from going up in the series, 3-1. Gooden ended up giving a 9th inning HR to Mike Scioscia. The Dodgers won the game in 12 and went on to win the pennant. With the shocking defeat, Keith and Gary entering the twilight of their careers and Doc being less effective, this was the moment in team history when we realized the dynasty of the 80’s would never quite materialize.

In 89, Doc was injured. He made only 17 starts and posted a 9-4 record. The following season, he bounced back, going 19-7 and recording 223 K’s.

By 1991, however, it was becoming clear Doc was a shadow of what he had once been. There was the drug use, the numerous run-ins with the law and injuries that were taking their toll.

Was it just one thing or a combination of all three? That’s open for discussion. Many have criticized the Mets for overusing him. Only two pitchers, knuckleballer Charlie Hough and Roger Clemens, have tossed more innings than Doc’s 276 total in 85. Estimates show that from 83-85, Gooden threw just under 11,000 pitches. He was not even 21.

Dwight Gooden was a four time All-Star who throughout his career also pitched for the Yankees, Astros, Indians and Devil Rays. He retired in 2001 with a record of 194-112. Of those 194 wins, more than half came before he turned 25.

Although he struggled at the end of his career with the Mets, he still is amongst the best we ever had. His record with us was 157-85. He is 5th in team history with a 3.10 ERA, 2nd in strikeouts with 1875, 3rd in IP with 2169 2/3 and 4th in shut-outs with 23.

Many can point to Doc and blame him for the reason the Mets of the 80’s never lived up to expectations. And yes, while it is sad ‘what could’ve been,’ Doc, at least for a while, was someone we will never forget.

Dwight Gooden was eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2006. His name was only mentioned on 17 of the 520 ballots cast. Since he received less than 5%, his name was removed and he will no longer be considered to be enshrined. Cooperstown was not a lock after all.

Metsmerized Hall of Fame

Congratulations, Doc! 

Last week Mets Merized Online rolled out our Metsmerized Hall of Fame. We will be enshrining one player each week until our five founding members are all unveiled. So far, we’ve selected Tom Seaver in week one, and Keith Hernandez in week two. After our five Founding Members are selected, we will ask you, our readers, to cast your ballot for who should be selected for enshrinement in 2013. Learn more by visiting our Metsmerized Hall of Fame. It’s with great pleasure that we announce our third founding member of the Metsmerized Hall of Fame…

Out Of The Shadows: Jerry Koosman

There have been many great players who lived in the shadow of an even greater teammate. Lou Gehrig had Babe Ruth. Don Drysdale had Sandy Koufax. Jeff Kent had Barry Bonds. Jerry Koosman had Tom Seaver.

Along with Seaver, Koosman played in a time when pitching dominated the game. It seemed like every team had a legitimate ace. However, no team had a 1-2 righty-lefty punch like the Mets. While Tom Seaver turned the Mets into a legitimate team, it was with Koosman pitching the next game that turned the Mets into a pitching powerhouse.

In the mid 1960’s, a young man stationed at Fort Bliss, TX saw one of his fellow soldiers pitching. The man wrote a letter to his father who worked as an usher at Shea Stadium and told his dad about this ‘guy who looks pretty good.’ The usher told some people in the Mets brass about this young kid named Jerry Koosman. Eventually, the Mets gambled and signed the young LHP after being discharged from the Army.

The relationship between Jerry and the Mets got off to a rocky start. En route to his first spring training his car broke down. Standing on the side of the road, broke and broken down, Koosman called the Mets who regrettably wired money to this kid. The always frugal Mets were already disenchanted with having to shell out a few bucks to a nobody. They were ready to give up on him when Joe McDonald had a different idea. He suggested to keep Koosman until he got his first paycheck so they could at least see him pitch. After his first paycheck, they planned to dock him the money they forked over for a tow truck.

In 1968, rookie Koosman burst onto the scene. The Mets won 73 games that season. Koosman won 19 of them. He also whiffed 178 and posted a 2.08 ERA to go along with 7 shut-outs. The wins, shutouts and ERA were Mets records, set the previous season by teammate Tom Seaver. The 7 shut-outs stood as the team record until 1985. On July 9 of that season, the Mets rookie appeared in his first of 2 consecutive All-Star games. In the only 1-0 game in All-Star history, Koosman struck out Carl Yastrzemski to record the save.

At the end of the year, Koosman was in the shadows. He finished 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting, losing out to Reds catcher and future Hall of Famer Johnny Bench.

As the Mets found themselves in their first pennant race ever the following season, Jerry was struggling. On August 12, 1969, the Mets lost to Houston 9-8. Kooz gave up 6 ER in 6 1/3 IP. He dropped to 9-8 and with 6 weeks left the Mets dropped to 9 games back.

Koosman then turned it up a notch. He displayed for the first time that he was a ‘Big Game Pitcher.’ As the Miracle took form and the Mets chased down the heavily favored Cubs, Jerry went 8-1. He finished the season 17-9 with 180 strikeouts and a 2.28 ERA.

In Game 1 of the World Series, the Orioles showed why they were heavily favored over the Amazins. Mets ace and 25 game winner Tom Seaver didn’t make it past the 5th. He allowed 4 ER’s and 6 hits. Mets faithful began wondering if reality was setting in.

Under the brightest spotlight in Baseball, Jerry yet again shone. In game 2, Koosman took the mound. And took control. When the Mets NEEDED a victory, he stepped up. The big bats like Frank and Brooks Robinson, Paul Blair and Boog Powell went silent. Koosman conjured up images of Don Larsen as he took a no-hitter into the 6th. Jerry got the win, allowing just 2 hits in 8 2/3. The series was now tied 1-1 and went back to Shea.

A few days later, Koosman took the mound again. With the Mets up 3-1 and just 27 outs shy of a championship, knowing a loss would send the series back to Baltimore, Koosman struggled early, allowing a couple of HR’s. But with the Mets trailing 3-0 early, he didn’t crack. He settled down and took control of the game. The Mets won 5-3 and The Miracle came to fruition. Koosman pitched a complete game, allowing 5 hits and 3 ER.

The Mets won 4 games to 1. Koosman was the winning pitcher in 2 of them.

In 1971 and 1972, Koosman struggled. He battled arm problems in 71 and went just 6-11. He struggled again in 72, posting a record of 11-12 and his ERA of 4.14 was over a run higher than his career average.

1973 saw the Mets in the midst of one of the tightest pennant races ever. On August 17th, the Mets were only 7 ½ back, but were in last place and 13 games under 500. As he did 4 years earlier, Koosman performed brilliantly down the stretch. As the Mets ended up eking out a division title, Jerry did not lose. He went 5-0 and when the Mets needed him the most, he tossed 31 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, a record that stood for almost 40 years until RA Dickey in 2012.

In the 73 NLCS, it was Koosman who was on the mound for Game 3, a game better remembered for the altercation between Buddy Harrelson and Pete Rose.

In game 5 of the Fall Classic, he outpitched another great LHP, Vida Blue. He allowed just 3 hits and no earned runs through 6 1/3 innings pitched. The Mets won the game and with Koosman’s victory, the Mets were just 1 win away from their 2nd championship. As Koosman walked off the mound, there would not be another World Series game played at Shea for 13 years.

In 1976, Koosman finally became a 20 game winner. He went 21-10 with 200 K’s and a 2.69 ERA. In spite of his stellar numbers, he was again in the shadows. He finished 2nd in the Cy Young Award to Randy Jones.

Arguably one of the top lefties in the game, Koosman could have written his own ticket. He could have gone to another team where he’d have been the ace of the staff. And playing for a different club he could have more run support than the light hitting Mets and increased his win total. But Koosman chose to stay with the team he loved…for a while.

By the late 70’s, M. Donald Grant was like a sniper with a rifle in a bell tower, slowly picking out his next victim. As Jerry Koosman stood on the mound he was surrounded by new faces, strange faces. Gone were his friends like Rusty and Cleon and Buddy. When he looked into the bullpen he didn’t see Tug McGraw. His best friend, Tom Seaver, was not in the dugout. When he’d look in at home plate it was not Jerry Grote putting down any fingers.

With the trade of Tom Seaver, Koosman became the de facto ace of the staff. But being the ace of a staff on the worst hitting team in the league is not appealing. In 1977 and 78, Kooz posted a respectable ERA of 3.62 and fanned 352 while walking 165. However, run support was non-existent. In spite of solid stats, Koosman went just 11-35.

Seeing the writing on the wall and realizing the Mets were going nowhere, the 34 year old demanded to be traded. The Appleton, MN native was sent to the Twins for young pitchers Greg Field and Jesse Orosco.

Over the next 2 seasons, the aging lefty won 36 games.

For a team that is best known for pitching, Koosman remains near the top of every Mets category. He is 3rd wins (140) and strikeouts (1799), 2nd in Shutouts (26), IP (2544), starts (346) and 5th in ERA (3.09).

During his time with Mets he was in the Top 10 in the NL in ERA five times, shutouts four times, and strikeouts six times.

Jerry Koosman was the best #2 in the game. He is the top LHP in Mets history. Buddy Harrelson once stated that in a must-win game, he’d go with Koosman every time. Of the 7 games the Mets won in the 69 and 73 World Series, Koosman won 3 of them posting a 2.39 ERA and allowing just 16 hits in 26 1/3 IP. Although he pitched in the shadow of Tom Seaver, in spite of the fact that he lost the Rookie of the Year to Johnny Bench, even though he was runner-up for the Cy Young Award in 1976 to Randy Jones, it was in the post-season where Jerry Koosman emerged from the shadows.

Congratulations to lefthander Jerry Koosman, the third Mets player to be enshrined into the…

Metsmerized Hall of Fame

Feel more like a baseball player by putting on front buttoned baseball jerseys and heat resistant arm guards.

Keith Hernandez: The Darkness Comes To An End

There are times in our life when we remember exactly where we were and what we were doing. For Mets fans one of those times is June 15, 1977. With one swift move, M. Donald Grant effectively ripped out the heart of this club when he traded away Tom Seaver. The departure of Seaver immediately sent the entire organization into a tailspin. That season the Mets finished last for the first time in a decade, 37 games back. The Mets would remain in the cellar of the NL East for 2 more years after that and 5 of the next 7. Six years after the darkest day in Mets history, we finally saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

When Nelson Doubleday bought the Mets after the 79 season, we were told The Magic is Back. New GM Frank Cashen stated it would take 5 years to rebuild and be competitive. Although attendance improved, the Mets did not. Over the next 3 seasons, our winning percentage was a meek 404.

Half way across the country there was dissension amongst the Cardinals. They were defending World Champions, having defeated Milwaukee in the 1982 World Series. First baseman Keith Hernandez had led St. Louis to a title, knocking in 8 RBI’s in the fall classic. But by the following summer, Keith and Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog were at odds. Herzog questioned Keith’s work ethic, accused him of doing crossword puzzles rather than being involved in the game and called him “a cancer on the club.”

A thousand miles away in Flushing, Frank Cashen picked up the phone.

Cashen knew the Mets had promising stars on the horizon. But he needed a veteran presence to build a winner around. Cashen sent pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey to St. Louis in exchange for Keith. But the Mets obtained more than just a first baseman. They got a batting champion, former co-MVP and a proven winner. With the acquisition of Mex, the wheels were set in motion. The trade occurred on June 15,1983. Six years to the day after the Seaver trade, the veil of darkness was lifted.

Keith’s contentious relationship with former manager Herzog was the basis for the Mets/Cardinals rivalry throughout the decade.

In St. Louis, Keith had worn #37. Ironically, that was the only number the Mets had retired. He wanted to wear something ending with a ‘7’ as a tribute to his hero and the man he shared a birthday with, Mickey Mantle. Keith elected to go with #17.

The following season, 1984, along with rookie phenoms Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, Keith’s winning attitude seemed contagious. We won 22 more games, going from 68 wins to 90. The Mets had their first winning season since 1976 and the 90 victories was the 2nd most in club history.

Over the next 4 seasons Keith put up solid respectable stats. He averaged 88 Runs, 174 hits, 32 doubles, 89 RBI’s, batted 305 with an OBP of 396 and slugged at 440. But it was more than just his stats. Keith was a champion. He was one of those rare combinations who was loved by fans, respected by teammates and admired by his opponents.

Intensity. It was written on Keith’s face all the time. Every at-bat, every pitch of every at-bat, Keith approached like it was the bottom of the 9th of a Game 7. In the dugout or on a day off, he was always standing close to Davey Johnson, shadowing him, almost as if he was co-managing.

In Football, the quarterback is referred to as The Field General. For all intents and purposes, Keith was the Mets ‘Field General.’ It was he, almost more than Gary Carter, who would walk to the mound to calm the nerves of a pitcher. He won 6 consecutive Gold Gloves while with the Mets. He played the game and his position the way it was supposed to be played: With class, with flare.

His aggressive defensive prowess literally altered the game. Hal Lanier, manager of the Astros said, “Bunting against the Mets is nearly impossible.” Cubs manager Jim Frey stated, “When you bunt against Hernandez, you’re simply asking for a force out at 2nd and now you’ve got your pitcher running the bases.”

Keith also would take pick-off throws while squatting in foul territory. This allowed him an easier tag on the leg of the baserunner. The move is now illegal.

On bang-bang plays at first base, Keith would sneakily lift his foot from the bag a split second before actually catching the throw, a move perfected by Gil Hodges in the 1950’s.

It was this intensity and style of play, his winning approach to the game itself, which was the reason he became first team captain in Mets history.

Keith was penciled in to the #3 spot for 7 years in New York. However, by 1988, Mex was turning 35 and the years were catching up to him. He battled hamstring problems throughout the summer and played in just 95 games. The following year, 1989, Keith missed nearly 2 months with a fractured kneecap. He played in just 75 games and hit 233. He played one more season in the majors, with Cleveland, before retiring.

During his career, both in New York and St. Louis, Keith batted over 300 6 times. He won two Silver Sluggers, was a five time All-Star. He won eleven consecutive Gold Gloves, the only First Baseman in Baseball History to achieve that.

Keith’s batting average of 297 over seven seasons with the Mets is the third highest in team history, trailing only John Olerud and David Wright. His career 387 OBP is also third highest in team history, behind Olerud and Dave Magadan.

Teammates David Cone (with the Mets) and Ron Darling, Bob Ojeda and Roger McDowell (after they left the Mets) all wore #17 as a tribute to Keith.

Throughout the history of this team, we’ve had countless great and unforgettable moments: Amazin’ catches by outfielders in the post-season, a playoff winning walk-off HR by a reserve catcher, a grand slam single, black cats, a no-hitter tossed by an aging left-hander, a shot to straight away center that healed a city days after the unthinkable happened.

However, in the fifty years the Mets have been part of the Grand Ol’ Game, only a few select moments can be marked as turning points, be it good or bad, in the course of this club. The discarding of Tom Seaver stands as one. Or Tom Terrific’s Imperfect Game in that glorious summer of 1969. The trade that brought us Mike Piazza from Florida.

And yes, the acquisition of Keith Hernandez was also a turning point. When we all think back to the glory days of the 1980’s and the Dynasty that never quite materialized, a smile crosses our collective faces. It all began on June 15, 1983 when Keith put on the blue and orange for the very first time.

It’s with great pleasure that we announce Keith Hernandez as the second player to be enshrined into the…

Metsmerized Hall of Fame

The Franchise: The Name Says It All

One of the many great things about the history of Baseball is the abundance of nicknames. Some are based around physical appearance of a player: The Splendid Splinter, Pee Wee, Three Finger, The Beard. For others, the way they played the game is summed up in a nickname: Mr. October, The Wizard, The Iron Horse, Nails. Other monikers can be classified as downright intimidating: Hammerin’ Hank, The Ryan Express, Louisiana Lightning, The Mad Hungarian. In certain cases the nickname has, for all and intents and purposes, become their first name just because it sounds better: The guy who hit those 714 HR’s–George Ruth. The CFer for the Brooklyn Dodgers–Edwin Snider. The outfielder who hit a slow roller to Buckner–William Wilson.

Then, there is The Franchise. This tells us nothing about Tom Seaver’s physical appearance, his professional demeanor on the mound and honestly, is not really even that cool. However, it tells everyone exactly what they need to know. Simply put, Tom Seaver WAS The Franchise.

The 22 year old made his Major League debut on April 13, 1967. Facing Clemente, Stargell and the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seaver pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing 2 ER and striking out 8. Although he got a no-decision, the Mets won the game. Yes, it was only the 2nd game of the year but the Mets had pulled to .500. Always a bright spot of us fans. The previous day we lost 6-3. The following day we lost 5-1. One week later, April 20, Seaver shut down the Cubs, 6-1. It was his first win. There would be 310 more to follow.

Tom Seaver would go on to win the NL Rookie of the Year with a 2.76 ERA, 170 K’s and 16 wins for a team that only won 61. It was the first time in the short history of this franchise that Mets fans saw hope for a bright future. Tom Terrific was our first superstar. At least once every five days this club had a pretty good shot at putting up a “W.” The days of being the lovable losers were coming to an end.

George Thomas Seaver played in an era when pitching dominated the game. But Seaver dominated pitching. The Franchise was not just one of the best pitchers of his time. He was one of the best in history. He used what was known as ‘Drop and Drive,’ a style of pitching perfected by Christy Mathewson. Seaver relied on strength in his legs to ease the pressure on his arm and in turn prolong his career that was relatively injury free. One could easily tell how well Seaver was in command by looking at the amount of mound dirt on his knee.

In just his 3rd year in the majors, 1969, Seaver won 25 games, a team record which still stands. On July 9 that year, he threw a perfect game for 8 1/3 until giving up a bloop hit to Jimmie Qualls. As great an accomplishment as this would be under any circumstances, the fact that it came against the first place Cubs was that much sweeter. Seaver put the entire league on notice that the New York Mets, for the first time in history, were a serious contender. He posted a 2.21 ERA, struck out 208 and won his first of three Cy Young Awards. He was runner up in MVP voting, finishing second to Willie McCovey.

In Game 4 of the World Series, Seaver shut down the Orioles, pitching 10 innings en route to a Mets 2-1 victory. (Sorry, I don’t know what the pitch count was). The following day the Mets were World Champions.

Seaver had won the hearts of Mets fans. But it was only the beginning.

In one of his first starts the following April, Seaver whiffed 19 Padres, including the last 10 he faced. The 19 K’s tied the major league record at that time.

He stated his best season was 1971. He led the league in strikeouts with 289 (in 286 IP) and ERA (1.79). However, it was Fergie Jenkins who won the Cy Young due primarily to the fact he had more wins.

The Franchise led the NL in strikeouts 5 times and ERA 3 times. He represented the Mets in the All Star game 9 different occasions between 67 and 76.

Tom Seaver also pitched for the Reds, White Sox and Red Sox throughout his 20 year career. At the time he retired he was 3rd in strikeouts with 3640, behind only Ryan and Carlton. His career average of 6.85 K/9 IP is 2nd only to Ryan of any Hall of Famer with 300 wins. He holds the Major League record of 9 consecutive seasons of 200 or more strikeouts. His career ERA of 2.86 is 3rd lowest in the Live Ball era. His 61 shut-outs ties him with Nolan Ryan for the most by a RHP during the Live Ball Era — 8th all-time.

At the end of the twentieth century The Sporting News listed Seaver as the 11th best pitcher in Baseball history. ESPN took a poll of some of Tom’s contemporaries: Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, Bert Blyleven and Don Sutton all agreed that it was Seaver who was the best of their generation. Reggie Jackson once said of Seaver, “Blind men come to the park just to listen to him pitch.” In his first year of eligibility, 1992, Tom Seaver was elected to the Hall of Fame with 99.84%, the highest ever recorded.

So, yes, Tom Seaver was a great pitcher. But bringing this full circle, let’s not forget his nickname: The Franchise. Tom remains the Mets leader in wins (198), ERA (2.57), Strikeouts (2541), Shutouts (44), IP (3045 1/3), starts (395), WHIP (1.08) and is 3rd in OAV (219).

Before his arrival the Mets were a joke, a doormat for the National League. With the coming of #41, the Mets had taken the first step to respectability. But as much of a positive impact as his arrival had, his departure brought with it the darkest time in team history.

After M. Donald Grant sent Seaver to Cincinnati in The Midnight Massacre of June 15, 1977, the Mets immediately returned to their pre-Seaver days. The team went on to lose 45 of their remaining 75 games that year and finished in last place for the first time in a decade. The Mets would finish last again in 78 and 79. The 3 straight seasons of finishing last was not something they had done since 1963-1965. Seaver’s dismissal was a big stab in the heart to fans. It took the club nearly ten years to recover.

Attendance dropped to Expos-esque numbers. Shea became known as Grant’s Tomb and frequently the upper level, sometimes upper two levels, were not even opened. In 1979, with the reality of Seaver’s absence setting in, the Mets averaged an embarrassing 9740 fans per game. Seaver’s impact, or lack thereof, was felt on the field as well as in the stands and standings.

From 1968 through 1976, with Tom at the top of our rotation, the Mets averaged 83 wins per year. After Seaver left, from 1978 through 1983 (excluding the strike season of 81), the Mets averaged just 65 wins per year, 18 less with Seaver gone.

If that doesn’t prove his value and importance, here’s something else to consider. From 68-76, the Mets record was 743-714. Seaver’s record during that period was 166-94. The Mets, as a team, were only 29 games over .500. Tom Seaver was 72 games over .500.

It’s been nearly 30 years since this Hometown Hero donned the blue and orange. Yet, he still remains the face of this team. When I told some friends—Mets fans and non-Mets fans—of my involvement in selecting 5 Mets to be enshrined in the Metsmerized Hall of Fame, the first name every one mentioned was Tom Seaver…and 4 others. Seaver is, and always will be, in a class by himself. Seaver is and always will be The Franchise.

It’s with great pleasure that we announce Tom Seaver as the first player to be enshrined into the…

Metsmerized Hall of Fame