Each year, the Mets induct a group of notable players from the past into their own Hall of Fame, which is located in the museum in the Jackie Robinson rotunda. This season, Jon Matlack, Edgardo Alfonzo, and Ron Darling will join the group of 27 other Met greats who brought both joy and success to Queens throughout the years.
A name that has yet to be mentioned as a Mets Hall of Fame inductee is former ace Al Leiter.
Leiter wore the orange and blue from 1998 to 2004. During his time in Queens, he toed the rubber for 1,360 innings, striking out 1,106 batters across that span. Leiter pitched to a 3.42 ERA and a 3.92 FIP while accumulating a 95-67 record. The southpaw also averaged 194.2 innings as a Met, while hitting the 200 innings mark on three separate occasions. He is in the Mets top 10 for pitching WAR, wins, games started, Win-Loss %, and innings pitched.
While Leiter’s numbers were certainly exemplary (especially considering the fact that they came during the steriod era), the importance he played during his seven years in the Mets rotation really speaks volumes. He was counted on to log innings and make the big start when he needed too, although he fell short in a few of his playoff starts.
Leiter was on a team that went to the World Series in 2000. A year prior, he pitched a two-hit complete game shutout in a one-game playoff to clinch the Wild Card for the Mets. Leiter’s team was the first in franchise history to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
During his time in Queens, Leiter played a significant role on one of the better teams in Mets history, and had plenty of notable moments. Wearing a Mets uniform, Leiter became the first player in MLB history to defeat all 30 teams when he beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002.
Looking at his individual accolades and his importance to the organization, there is no question that Leiter deserves to be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame.
