The National Baseball Hall of Fame kicked off Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown on Saturday. Mets class of 2026 inductee, the former outfielder Carlos Beltrán, kicked off the weekend with Parade of Legends. He signed autographs and spent time with fans. On Sunday he becomes part of legendary group as he officially becomes one of the newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Beltrán posed for photos in front of where his plaque will be on Saturday as well with his family as the weekend’s celebrations continue. Bob Nightengale of USA Today shared the photo on X.

Per Jackson Wang of Spectrum Networks, Beltrán, Jones and Kent took time to reflect on their journey to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Photo via Bob Nightengale/USA Today

Latest Mets News

The Mets received unfortunate news on Saturday when they announced that Juan Soto has officially been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain. According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, though he is only on the 10-day injured list right now, Soto is expected to miss more than the 2 1/2 weeks he missed the last time he was on the injured list as this strain appears to be “fairly” significant.

In a corresponding move for Soto being placed on the injured list, the Mets recalled infielder Eric Wagaman from Triple-A Syracuse.

Latest MLB News

Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, former Cy Young award winner Dallas Keuchel and the Athletics are in agreement on a minor league contract. The 38-year old hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since he was with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. Coming back to baseball, he will report to Triple-A.

Per Mike Phillips of FanSided, MLB owners have one hidden incentive that could avoid a lockout next year.

The Kansas City Royals traded outfielder Kameron Misner to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations.

Salvador Perez on Saturday hit his 318th career home run, making the Kansas City Royals’ captain their franchise home run leader, passing George Brett for most home runs in Royals history.

Per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Cody Bellinger exited the Yankees’ game on Saturday with an apparent injury. He limped off the field and was replaced on the field by Max Schuemann.

Latest on MMO

David Melendi recapped the Mets’ minor league affiliate games from July 25 that included Jonah Tong striking out nine.

Mojo Hill talks about Luis Robert Jr. hitting his second home run in four games since returning from the injured list.

Robert Colonna takes a dive into the season that Francisco Alvarez is having, along with highlights of his career in an MMO Trade Profile piece.

Kai Chang discusses Juan Soto heading to the injured list with a left calf strain.

Chris Bellow breaks downt he 2026 MLB Power Rankings for week 14.

On this Date in Mets History

1983: Mookie Wilson hit his 11th career home run and gave the Mets a walk-off win.

1987: The Mets hosted “Rally Cap Day” at Shea Stadium. They dropped the game 5-2.

Born on This Date: Ryne Stanek (1991).

The post Morning Briefing: Hall of Fame Weekend Kicks Off For Beltrán appeared first on Metsmerized.

Darryl Strawberry had remarkable talent. Sure, he left us wanting more but had the type of skills that you couldn’t look away. And like Dwight Gooden, a different time with a better understanding could have led to better results.

After years of personal turmoil, Darryl found redemption, rejuvenation, and has changed for the better. As for his legacy—a player who had gifted abilities and enjoyed moments of tremendous success in New York—that will never change. Following the distinction that Gooden received earlier this season, the outfielder will have a permanent place in Mets history on Saturday with his number retirement.

No. 18 is the greatest power hitter the Mets ever produced. He came into the league seemingly destined for Cooperstown.

It was those kind of expectations that surrounded Strawberry even before the Mets made him the top overall pick in the 1980 amateur draft out of Los Angeles’s Crenshaw High School. He was tall and lean, blessed with a sweet name and a sweeter swing. A Sports Illustrated feature compared the 18-year-old to Ted Williams. With a thoroughbred build and a swift upper-cut made for home runs, he had all the makings of the revered “five-tool player.”

On May 6, 1983, the Mets unveiled their shiny new toy. For a team already 10 games out of first place, this was the sign of hope fans had and would cling to. Strawberry struggled as he tried to adjust to baseball’s top level. Over his first month, he hit .165 and struck out every 2.5 at-bats. But after about five weeks, he began to figure it out. His final totals of 26 homers and 76 RBIs stood as Mets rookie records.

The hope was Strawberry would ascend further into superstardom. In 1984, Darryl duplicated his rookie season’s home run total, struck out nearly as frequently, and batted around the .250 mark. Torn ligaments in his thumb, the consequence of diving for a sinking liner, kept Strawberry on the mend for all but 10 games in May and June of 1985. His blistering second half—which featured a 1.035 OPS and 60 RBIs—made up for lost time.

On August 5 at Wrigley Field, he hit three of the 23 homers he’d launch over the season’s final three months. On October 1 in St. Louis, his titanic 11th-inning blast caromed off the Busch Stadium clock to give the Mets a 1–0 win. It kept his team breathing in a frantic, yet futile, attempt to catch the Cardinals. Darryl did his best to try and stop time. Within a couple of days, though, the Mets ran out of it.

But in 1986, everyone was chasing New York. Strawberry—clouting 27 homers and driving in 93—was one of several major contributors. The Mets piled on wins and added to their division lead, becoming the subject of intense media attention for their dominance and arrogance.

The white-hot spotlight made Darryl open to ridicule. This wasn’t limited to opposing fan bases. Even the Shea faithful got on his case in August, when he failed to produce a hit at home for the whole month.

He rode out the rest of the season, then endured a turbulent postseason of tumult and triumph. His 12 strikeouts in the NLCS against Houston were offset by two clutch tying home runs.

New York chipped away at a 4–0 lead in Game 3 with two hits and an error that brought in a run. Shea was waiting to burst. Strawberry wouldn’t let them down. As Bob Knepper tried to get ahead in the count with a first-pitch fastball, he didn’t have the velocity to throw it by Darryl’s quick bat.

Strawberry delivered again in Game 5. Nolan Ryan had retired the first 13 batters. Not the 14th. Darryl ended Ryan’s hitless day—and the shutout—with a tracer that had enough height and hook to sneak over the fence in the right-field corner.

By the World Series, Strawberry was not just a big target but an easy one. Fenway Park took full advantage in Game 5. The Red Sox were sewing up a victory, giving the crowd a chance to turn its focus on the temperamental right fielder. A “Daaarrrr-ylll, Daaarrrr-ylll” serenade lasted minutes.

But he had an answer in Game 7. Strawberry sent a towering drive over the right-center-field wall to lead off the bottom of the eighth—his first home run and first run batted in of the Fall Classic—and gave the Mets breathing room in an 8–5 win. Strawberry savored the moment, then fittingly offered one last curtain call in a year filled with them.

That homer washed away the scorn of two nights prior, when he was removed by Davey Johnson in the eighth inning of Game 6 on a double-switch and publicly shared his frustration with the media. Choosing the worst possible time for public outbursts became something of a habit.

During the 1988 NLCS against Los Angeles, Strawberry hinted at the possibility of joining the Dodgers after his contract expired. A few months later, he took out his frustration with Keith Hernandez by trying to fight him at team picture day. On top of that were routine accounts of loafing, lateness, and legal battles.

In 1987, he attained personal highs in homers (39), RBIs (104), steals (36), along with batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. But those stats were clouded by pointed criticism of Johnson and a war of words with teammates Wally Backman and Lee Mazzilli after they questioned his desire to play.

Strawberry began 1988 with a 4-for-4 day and two home runs. The second reached the nether regions of Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, a ball that might have cleared customs if not for the roof. He’d hit 37 more to match his career-high total from ’87 and lead the National League. He topped 100 RBIs for the second straight year and was one steal short of back-to-back appearances in the 30-30 club.

For the first time, Darryl was garnering serious consideration for Most Valuable Player, thanks in part to the Mets pulling away from their NL East competition in September and claiming their second division title in three years. Yet it was Kirk Gibson and the Dodgers who took top billing over Strawberry and the Mets later that fall.

Darryl was not the most valuable in ’88, but he was definitely the most volatile during spring training ’89 after his quarrel with Hernandez. That kind of fighting spirit was hard to find during the season as his numbers declined. But with Hernandez and Gary Carter gone before 1990, it was officially Darryl’s team.

In what would turn out to be Strawberry’s swan song, but it didn’t go by quietly. He batted .412 during an 18-game hitting streak, bashed 10 homers, and drove in 27 in June. The Mets advanced up the standings—getting into first place in July before ultimately coming up three games short of Pittsburgh.

By driving in 108 runs, he set a single-season franchise record to go along with 37 homers and an .879 OPS. He was also among the top five outfielders in fielding percentage and the top five National Leaguers in WAR. Strawberry made good on his threats to explore free agency. He jetted for Los Angeles, leaving behind many thrills and controversies.

His career continued to be marked by indiscretions that prevented what should’ve been an easy entrance into the Hall of Fame. He’s owned up to his troubled past and has done his best to keep others from doing similar. He is especially grateful, especially so after suffering a heart attack earlier this year.

Saturday at Citi Field, fans will show their gratitude toward one of the most spectacular players to ever wear a Mets uniform. Darryl Strawberry is one of baseball’s “could have beens.” But what’s true is that he’s a Mets Hall of Famer, which was made so in 2010. He’s forever a legendary figure of the team in Queens. Placing his number atop the rafters alongside Seaver, Piazza, Gooden, and others certainly confirms that.

The post The Straw Stirred: An Ode to the Mets’ Home Run King appeared first on Metsmerized.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to imagine a recent Mets moment without Howie Rose or Gary Cohen. And it’s impossible for many Mets fans to watch or listen to a game without them.

They are direct descendants of a generation that saw and heard Bob Murphy, Ralph Kiner, and Lindsey Nelson. That’s what makes them beloved: they are who we are. Howie and Gary are not transplants.  They became a central part of our Mets’ lives in the 80s, but they’ve essentially been a part of it since the early days. Their loyalty to the Mets has been evident over the decades on the air, supported by an encyclopedic knowledge of the team’s history.

On June 1, 2012, each raised their level just as Johan Santana was doing the same. As the night culminated in the franchise’s first no-hitter following more than 50 years of trying, Rose and Cohen fully understood its significance.

They’ve been there as the soundtrack for many happy moments — every “put it in the books” and every “outta here.”

They’ve been there when the only reason to follow the game is to hear them — for familiarity, reflection, and humor.

Rose began doing play-by-play for the Mets in 1996, but he’s been a presence at Mets games dating back to 1987 when he hosted pre-and post-game shows for WFAN. In 1989, Cohen joined the radio broadcasts and paired with Murphy through the 1990s and early 2000s.

It was on the radio that Gary implemented his signature home run call — repeating it if the occasion warranted it.

While Gary was doing then what Howie does now, Howie was the television voice. The networks may have changed but he hasn’t. His call of the Mike Piazza home run on September 21, 2001 — letting the crowd tell the story — remains unforgettable.

Howie has excelled with various partners while Gary is the master of ceremonies alongside Keith and Ron — the best television broadcast in the business and so engrained saying their last names would be unnecessary. A Mets game on FOX or ESPN is more than enough reason to press mute, sync up the radio broadcast, and bring in some normalcy.

After all, who else would we want to hear about the pennant victory in 2015?

When the miracle in San Diego took place in 2016 off the bat of Bartolo Colon, the amazement and amusement from both of them were clearly apparent (only the Gary call can be found).

The sound of Gary Cohen’s excitement is special enough. Watching him react has been a perfect accompaniment.

The post Gary Cohen and Howie Rose: The Voices of Mets Summers appeared first on Metsmerized.

Because it had taken so long for the Mets Hall of Fame to expand its member base, the recent inductees have been overdue. That holds true for the players joining this year.

Howard Johnson and Al Leiter‘s Mets careers don’t overlap. HoJo generated the fourth-most homers, fourth-most RBIs, and third-highest stolen base total, primarily in the racing stripe uniforms. Leiter pitched t0 a 124 ERA+ with more than 1,100 strikeouts in a variety of colors, black included.

Both arrived to New York through offseason trades from the reigning World Champions. Both deals would be instrumental in helping solidify the franchise as a title contender for multiple years. Both are still among the top 15 in overall bWAR.

Johnson was a platoon third baseman when the Mets won it all, while Leiter was an integral part of a starting rotation that came up short in the Fall Classic. In fact, Leiter’s most admirable performance might have been the World Series-deciding loss.

He strove to single-handedly fend off a Yankee three-peat, even creating a run-scoring play with a perfectly-placed bunt. As his pitch count crept toward a season-high 142, two-out ninth-inning hits against the exhausted lefty plated the tie-breaking runs and spoiled hopes of sending the Subway Series back to the Bronx.

It was so much of what Leiter was about: tough, fearless, durable, emotional.

The value of pitching wins notwithstanding, Leiter never earned a victory in his seven postseason appearances despite six of them being quality starts. But he was at his best when the Mets’ first playoff trip in 11 years was at stake in Cincinnati.

For the one-game tiebreaker to determine the 1999 NL Wild Card, Leiter dealt a two-hit shutout. He allowed a baserunner in each of the first three innings, but then went on to retire 13 Reds in a row. He dotted the strike zone beautifully with pitches that led to seven strikeouts and rarely resulted in hard contact.

Leiter’s masterpiece holds a special place in the history of the Mets, the team this Toms River, New Jersey native watched while growing up. The left-hander had been a part of championship teams in Toronto and Florida when he joined the Mets prior to 1998. But playing for the team he rooted for fulfilled a childhood dream.

Leiter gave no misconceptions about his feelings on the mound. That infectious passion was a feeling the Mets fed off of during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He began exceptionally well. During a ’98 season when home runs were flying out at a record pace, Leiter gave up only eight. When the median ERA of all major-league pitchers was a hefty 4.42, Leiter’s was a robust 2.47. And in a season in which the collective league-wide batting average was .266, Leiter held opposing hitters to .216. He also led all Mets in victories with 17 while losing just six and walked 71 batters two years after he led the NL with 119.

While Leiter was a key component upon arrival, Johnson’s progression didn’t happen overnight. Once a middling utility player in Detroit, he averaged a little more than 10 homers and 42 RBIs in his first two seasons in New York. He certainly had his moments during the championship year. Most notably, a key long ball in St. Louis to propel the Amazin’s to a four-game sweep versus their NL East rivals and assert themselves as a dominant club.

He split his time at the hot corner with Ray Knight, who enjoyed a comeback season that ended with World Series MVP honors. Shortly after the champagne dried, Knight was gone and Johnson was the everyday starter.

But as the Mets continued to be in a state of disrepair, Johnson was breaking down. Injuries derailed his final two seasons in New York and he was a Colorado Rockie by 1994 before retiring after 1995.

Johnson is perhaps the most underrated player in franchise history. He’s certainly among those names at the top. His best years came while the Mets were underachieving or, sometimes, worse. And that’s a big reason why Johnson doesn’t get enough consideration when discussing the franchise’s best.

Hopefully, this weekend’s ceremonies help give HoJo the esteem he deserves as he and get their well-earned recognition together.

The post HoJo, Leiter Get Deserved Mets Hall of Fame Nods appeared first on Metsmerized.

Howard Johnson, Al Leiter, Gary Cohen, and Howie Rose will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame as the 2023 class of inductees, the team announced on Wednesday.

Additionally, Jay Horowitz, the team’s longtime media relations guru, will receive the team’s Hall of Fame Achievement Award.

Johnson, Leiter, Cohen and Rose will officially be inducted on Saturday, June 3 in a pre-game ceremony prior to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citi Field. The four new additions means that there is now a total of 34 inductees in the Mets Hall of Fame.

The organization also announced that they will host a Zoom meeting on Thursday, January 19 at 11am with Johnson, Leiter, Cohen, Rose and Horowitz.

“It was an honor informing each of the four new members that they were going to be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said in a statement. “Howard Johnson was the classic combination of speed and power, with three seasons of 30-homers and 30-stolen bases. Al Leiter, who grew up in New Jersey rooting for the Mets, ranks in the top 10 in team history in wins and strikeouts.

“Mets fans are privileged to have two of the very best in all of baseball describing the action with years of institutional Mets knowledge. Gary Cohen is set to start his 35th year of calling Mets games and Howie Rose has been covering the team since 1987. In addition, we are honoring Jay Horowitz, who has passionately worked for this organization for over 40 years, with the Hall of Fame Achievement Award. I’m looking forward to celebrating more Mets history on June 3.”

Johnson and Leiter are being inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame for their prowess on the field in a Mets uniform. Johnson put together three seasons of 30-homers and 30-stolen bases (1987, 1989, and 1991), which rank as the most in team history. The two-time All-Star (1989, 1991) and two-time Silver Slugger (1989, 1991) was the first switch-hitter to join the 30-30 club in major league history. He also ranks in the top five in franchise history in home runs, doubles, RBI and stolen bases. Johnson was a member of the 1986 World Series team and he spent nine years with the Mets.

Leiter, meanwhile, excelled on the mound for the Mets and he won double-digit games in seven straight years between 1998-2004. The two-time World Series winner ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in wins, innings, strikeouts and quality starts. Perhaps Leiter’s finest moment in a Mets uniform came in 1999 when he threw a two-hit shutout in a one-game playoff at Cincinnati. He also became the first pitcher to defeat all 30 major league teams. Leiter won both the Roberto Clemente Award and the Branch Rickey Award for his charitable endeavors.

As richly deserving as Johnson and Leiter are of being inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame for their heroics on the field, so too are Cohen and Rose for their expertise off it. Cohen began calling Mets games in the booth in 1989, right up until 2006 when he transitioned into the SNY booth. Cohen, who is the second-longest tenured Mets play-by-play announcer in team history, makes up one part of SNY’s famous broadcast booth with Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling.

Rose is known for entertaining the Mets masses with his distinctive voice on the radio as the team’s play-by-play announcer, a job he’s proudly been doing since 1996. Rose has been with the Mets since 1987 having grown up going to Shea Stadium. Inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2012, and welcomed into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019, Rose’s signature “Put it in the books” call is a welcome sound to all Mets fans after a win.

Finally, the organization will also honor Horowitz in a classy move. The longtime Mets PR guy joined the team on April, 1 1980 as the director of public relations. He was promoted to vice president of media relations in 2001, and he has been honored on a plethora of occasions for his undying commitment to the Mets. The decision to honor Horowitz is another sign that owner Steve Cohen is determined to pay tribute to all those who have left their mark on the franchise.

Further details will be announced by the Mets in due course. Mets fans can now purchase tickets for the June 3 game vs. the Blue Jays and the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony by clicking here.

The post Mets Announce 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees appeared first on Metsmerized.