Jesse Orosco had a 24 year career on MLB, the most notable of which was spent with the New York Mets.  Orosco was the closer for the 1986 World Series Championship Team.  A two time All Star in New York, Orosco recorded 107 Saves as a Met and would have five scoreless innings in the ’86 World Series.  It was Orosco who was on the mound during both final pitches in both the NLCS and the World Series in ‘86.

Equally beloved by Mets fans and Phillies fans alike, Tug McGraw was part of the 1969 Mets team that won the World Series but it was after that where he became known as one of the top Relief Pitchers in the National League.  Assuming a leadership role in the clubhouse, McGraw would have a pair of 25 plus Save seasons, which was huge in those days, and would receive a few MVP votes in each of those campaigns.  McGraw was named an All-Star in 1972, and 21 years later, he entered the Mets Hall of Fame.

Cleon Jones caught the last out for the Mets in their shocking World Series win in 1969, but he is known for so much more than that in the ’69 campaign.

A very popular Starting Pitcher during his time with the New York Mets, Ron Darling would post a very impressive Won/Loss record with the New York Mets where he went 99 and 70.  The native Hawaiian finished 5th in Cy Young Voting in 1986 and went to his lone All Star Game the year before.  He would help New York win the 1986 World Series, and was chosen for the Mets Hall of Fame in 2020.

In one way you can argue that Bud Harrelson is the most successful New York Met of all time.  Harrelson was a member of the Miracle Mets World Series Championship Team in 1969 and was a Coach on the 1986 World Series Champions too.  This makes him the only Met to have two World Series rings who was once a player.

When you are nicknamed “Bad Dude” it is near impossible to not want to rank you as high as possible!

When you think of the MLB accomplishments of the Venezuelan Pitcher, Johan Santana, you think of the Minnesota Twins.  That train of thought isn’t wrong, but it can’t be forgotten just how much he still did with the New York Mets before his arm broke down.

From replacement player to two time Major League All-Star, Rick Reed had a very good run with the New York Mets, though it is astounding how much he is not regarded much at all in the Mets canon of history.

John Olerud was only with the New York Mets for three seasons, but the already two time World Series Champion subtly racked up a lot of hits, including a 1998 season where he batted .354 and finished 12th in MVP voting.  Overall, Olerud had an excellent Slash Line as a Met of .315/.425/.501, which is an incredible number that propelled him to this rank.

One of the most successful relief pitchers in New York Met history, John Franco had already been named to three All Star Games prior to joining New York.  The left hander would only be a one time All Star with the Mets but he would lead the National League twice in Saves, capturing the Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award in 1990 and finished 7th in Cy Young voting in 1994.  Franco would record 274 Saves as a Met and was inducted into their franchise Hall of Fame in 2012.

How can you not love a guy named Mookie?

You have to love him and he even if Mookie Wilson was actually named “Sour Bastard”, you would still love the guy because he had one of the most positive and infectious attitudes in Baseball and is easily one of the most popular players in Mets history.

R.A. Dickey arrived to the New York Mets in his mid-30’s and for the first time in his career would become a permanent starter.  It was the correct decision as Dickey proved to be a decent Starting Pitcher but his third season with New York was magical and is considered one of the best seasons ever by a knuckleballer.  Dickey won the Cy Young going 20 and 6 and led the National League in Strikeouts.  That season was so good that it propelled him to a higher spot than you would initially have someone who was only with the Mets for three seasons.

Edgardo Alfonzo (or Fonzie, as he is often called) spent a lot of time patrolling varying positions in the infield for the New York Mets.  Alfonzo was known for his above average defense but was also skilled with his bat.  He would have over 150 Hits in a season for New York five times, four of which saw him bat over .300.  Alfonzo would show off some power with 120 Home Runs as a New York Met.  Three times, he would receive MVP votes, and he gained entry into the Mets Hall of Fame in 2020.

David Cone has the distinction of being an incredible post season Pitcher, though he only had one chance to show that for the Mets.  He did however have plenty of opportunity to have regular season success for the New York Mets. 

By the time Howard Johnson became a full time player for the New York Mets he had already won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1984 and was in a platoon role for the Mets World Series win in 1986.  Johnson would not win a third World Series Championship, but he would become an excellent player for the Mets, becoming a 30-30 player in 1987.

Over his very long career, the six-and-a-half seasons as a New York Met was arguably the best of his career.  Five times he would be named an All-Star as a Met and it was in New York where he posted his best Home Run numbers (41 in 2006) and would earn two Silver Sluggers and three Gold Gloves while playing there.  The Puerto Rican Outfielder would also produce three seasons with 100 Runs Batted In and had four years where he slugged over .500.

Statisically, Beltran smacjed 149 Home Runs with 100 Stolen Bases and batted .280.

Al Leiter would have a very long career in Major League Baseball, nineteen seasons in total.  Seven of those were with the New York Mets, which were the most consistent of his career.  Arriving to New York after winning a World Series in Florida, Leiter would be a top or near top-of-the-rotation player for all of his seven years in New York.  Leiter would win 10 Games or more in all of his Mets seasons, accumulating 95 in total.  He would also represent the Mets in the All-Star Game in 2000, and 23 laters, he entered the Mets Hall of Fame.

While there were many ups and down of Sid Fernandez during his tenure as a New York Met he was arguably one of the best Starting Pitchers that they have ever had. 

When Mike Piazza entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016 he easily could have entered as a Los Angeles Dodger, a team where he had similar statistics and was also a multi-time All-Star and threat for the National League MVP Award.

He didn’t.  He entered Cooperstown as a New York Met.

The National League Rookie of the Year in 1972, Jon Matlack would go to three All-Star Games and was named the All-Star Game MVP in one of them.  Matlack did not win the World Series in 1969 but he did help them get there in 1973.  He would have five straight seasons where he would go over 13 Wins and in 1974 he would also lead the National League in FIP.  Jon Matlack would also lead the NL in Shutouts twice.

Matlack overall went 82 and 81 with a 3.03 ERA with the Mets.  The team inducted Matlack to their Hall of Fame in 2021.