Top Five First Basemen Campaigns in Mets History

On Wednesday, April 11, 1962, manager Casey Stengel penciled in Gil Hodges to play first base for a fledgling team from Queens known as the New York Mets for their first game ever against the St. Louis Cardinals. Hodges went one-for-four with an RBI and a run scored. Of course, Mr. Hodges would make his mark on the team as the decade progressed but he was the first to play first on a New York’s new National League franchise.

From Alonso to Zeile, the Mets franchise has had a plethora of fine first basemen in its history. Some won Gold Gloves, some hit for power, some struck out too much and some made the All-Star team. And then there are others that even the most ardent Mets fan would have trouble remembering. Does anyone recall who started the 1963 season at first base?

First base for the Mets, in the sixties at least, was bit of a merry-go-round as six different players were the Opening Day starters from 1962-1967. It wasn’t until 1968 and the presence of the steady Ed Kranepool that the Mets had some stability at the position. Then, in the seventies, John Milner joined Kranepool and the duo became the preeminent starters at first. The eighties were dominated by two players Dave Kingman and Keith Hernandez. The nineties saw the likes of Eddie Murray and Rico Brogna at first, but it wasn’t until 1997 until the position was solidified by John Olerud.

As the new millennium dawned, Todd Zeile then Mo Vaughn occupied first for the Amazins’. Later in the decade, Carlos Delgado spent three productive years for the Mets culminating in his one and only appearance in the post-season. The 2010s were dominated by two players at first, Ike Davis and Lucas Duda. Then, in 2019, a young rookie phenom named Pete Alonso took over at first and he produced one of the finest offensive season, power-wise, a rookie has ever had.

Overall, throughout the Mets 59- year history, 164 ball players have played at least one game at first base for New York. Ed Kranepool had the most, appearing in 1302 games, followed by Keith Hernandez’s 854. What then are the top five seasons that these players produced? Some might say, just put Keith Hernandez and John Olerud in the top-five and call it a day, and that wouldn’t be all wrong as these two are widely regarded as the Mets best first basemen in their history. But for sake of variety (and some raw stats), there is only one player in the list who appears more than once.

Here then are the top five seasons one writer has chosen as the best in Mets history: (Please feel free to list yours in the comments below).

5) Pete Alonso — 2019

As Alonso’s career progresses, it is likely his 2019 season might be one of several on this list. He has certainly started things off with a bang. The 25-year old Alonso appeared on the scene in 2019 and took the baseball scene by storm and in the process captured the hearts and the imagination of Mets fans world wide. Interestingly, he was not even guaranteed a spot as a starter in Spring Training, but his solid Grapefruit League campaign erased all doubts.

Alonso got out of the gait quickly in April slugging 9 HRs and 26 RBIs on his way to being named Rookie of the Month. He garnered that distinction two more times in his rookie year, in June and September. By the All-Star break he had already past Darryl Strawberry‘s mark for home runs by a Mets rookie. He was selected to participate in the mid-summer classic and proceeded to win an exciting Home Run Derby competition.

Home run number 42 made him the franchise leader in home runs surpassing Carlos Beltran and Todd Hundley. On September 20, he became the first Met to hit the 50-home run mark and on September 28, off of the Atlanta Braves’ Mike Foltynewicz, hit home run number 53 which bested Aaron Judge‘s mark for most home runs by a rookie in one season in MLB history. His overall line for 2019 was in impressive .260/.358/.583 with 53 home runs and 120 RBIs. He was a near unanimous choice for NL Rookie of the Year.

His defense at first was thought to be a liability, but Pete showed steady improvement as the season wore on and made his share of fine plays.

He set many more team and NL records along the way, but suffice it to say it was a terrific season, worthy of inclusion on this list.

4) Carlos Delgado — 2006

Carlos Delgado arrived in New York in 2006 after spending a dozen years with Toronto and one with Florida. While in the AL, he was twice an All-Star and three times a Silver Slugger. He performed admirably for the Mets in his three plus seasons in Flushing appearing in 468 games for the Amazins’. He slashed a more than respectable .267/.351/.506 while twice hitting 38 home runs and knocking in over 100 runs.

Delgado’s stats for his 2006 and 2008 seasons are very similar and either campaign could have made this list, but 2006 gets the nod owing to the Mets playoff appearance that year and Delgado’s excellent performance in his first post-season. His WAR and OPS were also higher in the 2006. In addition to hitting 38 homers, Delgado had 114 RBIs and a slash line of .265/.361/.548.

In the playoffs, Delgado nearly carried his team to a World Series berth in 2006. He hit an impressive .351/.442/.757 with 4 home runs through the two series the Mets played. His defense was certainly above average. Some rank Delgado as the third best player to have ever played first for the Mets, behind only Olerud and Hernandez.

3) Keith Hernandez — 1986

Keith Hernandez has spanned the generations as a Met. Whether it was during the seven years playing for New York or his 15 years broadcasting on SNY and WPIX, Hernandez is a fixture in New York Mets lore and a household name to even the most casual of Mets fans. He came to the Amazins’ in 1983 and set the standard for playing first base as exemplified by his 11 consecutive Gold Gloves while twice leading the NL in defense (1985 and 1986).

On May 6, 1987, his teammates elected him the first captain in Mets history.

A five-time All-Star, Hernandez ranks second on the Mets all-time list in batting average (.297), ninth in RBI (468), and is the club’s all-time leader with a .387 on-base percentage. Hernandez slashed .297/.387/.429 as a member of the Mets while hitting 80 home runs.

The 1986 season was one of several terrific campaigns for Mex, as he is fondly known. Hernandez batted .310/.413/.446 for the Mets and led the league with 94 walks. He won his customary Gold Glove and was an All-Star for the fourth time. Though not known for his playoff performance, Hernandez did have an important 2-RBI hit in game seven against the Boston Red Sox to help propel the Mets to victory.

2) Keith Hernandez — 1984

In his first full season as member of the Mets, Hernandez had a stellar season, both offensively and defensively, that resulted in a Gold Glove, an All-Star appearance and the second of his two Silver Slugger awards. He finished second to Ryne Sandberg for the National League MVP in 1984.

His slash line was .311/.409/.449 with 15 home runs to go with 94 RBI. Patient at the plate as always, Hernandez walked 94 times.

Many observers believe that 1984 was perhaps Keith Hernandez’s finest as a Met. It certainly one of several wonderful campaigns that earn Hernandez the distinction of being the finest first baseman in New York Mets history.

1) John Olerud — 1998

John Olerud only spent three seasons with the Mets, 1997-1999, but made a lasting impression. In each of those campaigns, Olerud had an OBP of over .400. In 1999, Olerud played in all 162 games and only missed 10 games in his three-year stint with New York.

In 1998 Olerud set a team record, since tied by Ike Davis in 2013, by reaching base at least twice in 12 straight starts. That year Olerud set team single-season records for batting average (.354), on-base percentage (.447) and runs created (138). He was in the race for the National League batting title until the final day of the season, when Larry Walker edged him out with a .363 average.

Defensively, Olerud was stellar and in 1999 graced the cover of Sports Illustrated along with fellow infielders Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordonez and Robin Ventura. The magazine raised the debate as to whether this foursome comprised the best defensive infield ever.

Never a slugger in the same breath as a Lucas Duda or Carlos Delgado, John Olerud contributed in other ways equally valuable to his team and for this and more, his 1998 season is, arguably, the finest by a first baseman in Mets history.