Let’s step into our special Amazin’s time machine and set the dial back to January 3, 2000, the day the New York Mets released Bobby Bonilla and agreed to that so-called infamous annuity to defer his remaining salary. The Situation The Twin Towers are standing over downtown Manhattan, and Shea Stadium stands tall in Queens. The Mets have just finished a strong 1999 season, going 97-66 and...
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Long before Mets shortstop Jose Reyes was even born in 1983, the Mets had a switch-hitting shortstop with speed who played gold glove caliber defense and held down the position for 13 years. The shortstop in question is none other than Bud Harrelson, pictured above on his 1971 Topps card, applying a tag to an Astros base runner. The card, number 355 in the set, depicts four players on the card...
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It was 22 years ago today that Dominic Smith, (currently hitting .318 in AAA despite being four years younger than league average) was born. Smith was a graduate from Junipero Serra High School a few miles west of Compton, in Gardena California when he was selected by the Mets with the eleventh overall selection of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft. At the time, many Mets fans (and...
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The 1962 Mets lost more games (120) than any team since 1900, finishing 60.5 games behind the San Francisco Giants. However, in their inaugural season the Mets produced their first slugging outfielder, left fielder Frank Thomas, who turns 88 today. In 1962, Frank Thomas batted 266/329/496 with 34 home runs and 94 RBIs, good for an OPS 17% better than the National League average in 1962. Despite...
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Bryce Harper is a former National League MVP, and is looking at a contract that has been speculated could exceed $400 million when he reaches free agency after the 2018 season. Bryce Harper is a four-time All Star and has played all three outfield positions. However, in Flushing the Mets currently have a young outfielder who has played all three outfield positions, and may be Harper’s...
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