Mets All-Time Team Unveiled

Last night in Manhattan and via Twitter, SNY announced the Mets All-Time Team.

As is usually the case with these types of lists, some of the choices were obvious while others not-so obvious. Here is how SNY’s version shaked out:

Manager: Davey Johnson – Would have preferred to see Gil Hodges here, but as time goes on more and more people forget just how much more significant and difficult to achieve 1969 was. It’s not a knock on Davey, but just an indication of the ever-decreasing number of Mets fans who remember that magical season in the summer of ’69.
Catcher: Mike Piazza – No complaints here and I’m certain that “Kid” Carter would agree.
First Base: Keith Hernandez – A no-doubter…
Second Base: Edgardo Alfonzo – Fonzie certainly earned the nod at second.
Shortstop: Jose Reyes – Would it be slanderous of me to say Buddy Harrelson deserved this spot? Maybe a 1A and 1B was in order here.
Third Base: David Wright – The chosen one was the right choice.
Left Field: Cleon Jones – With apologies to Kevin McReynolds, you’ll get no argument from me on Cleon.
Center Field: Carlos Beltran – Sorry Lenny… You too Mookie… Beltran may have been the most complete position player ever to don the orange and blue. Power, average, on-base, speed, defense; there was nothing he couldn’t do.
Right Field: Darryl Strawberry – Of course the Straw Man takes this one in a landslide. Over 20 years later and we are still trying to find a replacement for Strawberry in right field.
RH Starter: Tom Seaver – They didn’t call him The Franchise for nothing you know…
LH Starter: Jerry Koosman – If Koosman had played his career for a half-way decent team, he’d probably be in the HOF right now. His career numbers are jaw dropping. It’s nice to see him get some respect here.
RH Reliever: Roger McDowell – Roger is the beneficiary of what has been a decades long drought of solid right-handed closers for the Mets. He was the best of a very weak group.
LH Reliever: Tug McGraw – Sorry Franco, but Tug’ wasn’t just a closer he was an old-school fireman who would answer the call no matter what inning it was and snuff out the fire with amazing regularity.