The New York Mets Mount Rushmore: The Greats of Queens
Since their creation in 1962, the New York Mets have appeared in nine postseasons winning the World Series just twice. Although winning games has not been the strong suit for the Mets, they have been able to add many players over the years who are now considered the greats of the franchise. These greats have found themselves a part of my New York Mets Mount Rushmore list.
Tom Seaver
Regarded as the great Met of all time, Tom Seaver finds himself at the #1 spot on my Mets Mount Rushmore. Better known as “Tom Terrific,” the Mets legend was a 3 time CY Young winner, 12 time All-Star, and finished his career with 311 wins. Seaver’s dominance can also be seen in his career 3640 strikeouts, with 2541 of those coming with the Mets. In 1969, Seaver was a key aspect to the Mets winning the World Series. Seaver threw a shutout Game 4 which propelled the Mets to their first World Series win in team history and is to this day regarded as one of the greatest postseason pitching performances. In 1977 the Mets traded Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds, ending his reign in New York as “The Franchise.” Tom Seaver, unfortunately, passed away this August due to complications with Lewy body dementia, but will forever be remembered for his outstanding time with the Mets.
Mike Piazza
In 1998, the Mets completed a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers for star catcher Mike Piazza. Regarded as the best hitting catcher at the time, Piazza recorded 220 HRs and hit for a .296 average for the Mets. His insane talent at the plate was also complimented by his outstanding defense. During his time in New York, Piazza caught 174 runners attempting to steal, throwing out 21% of all runners. When it comes to other aspects of his defense, Piazza recorded only 57 errors and only allowed 34 passed balls. Piazza’s success has given him the much deserving title of the best catcher of all time and his accolades with the Mets have placed him at the #2 spot on my Mets Mount Rushmore
David Wright
Coming in at the #3 spot is no one other than “The Captain.” Although David Wright comes in at just the #3 spot, he is the only one on this list that had spent his whole career with the Mets. Drafted by the Mets in 2001, Wright was not given his chance to shine until 2004. From 2004 on, Wright proved himself as the team’s best player and took the role of captain. At the plate, Wright recorded a career batting average of .296, hitting 242 HRs and driving in 970 RBIs. Along with his great hitting, Wright solidified his fielding ability only recording 190 errors in his long 14 year career. Unfortunately, Wright’s career ended abruptly when he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. After multiple attempts to come back, Wright came back to play his final game in a Mets uniform in 2018. The constant fight with injury will be the main reason David Wright does not make the Hall of Fame, but his dedication and production to the New York Mets lands him a place on my Mets Mount Rushmore.
Dwight “Doc” Gooden
The final spot on the Mets Mount Rushmore can be held by many but my pick goes to Dwight “Doc” Gooden. Drafted with the 5th pick in the 1982 MLB Amateur Draft, Gooden found himself flying through the minors and making his MLB debut at the young age of 19. At just 19, Gooden recorded a 2.60 ERA, striking out a mind blowing 260 batters in the 1984 season. His dominance did not stop there, Gooden went on to be named the 1984 Rookie of the Year and finished runner up in the CY Young race the same year. For the rest of his career with the Mets, Doc recorded 157 wins and helped the Mets win their second World Series title in 1986. Gooden is also known for his stellar 1985 campaign in which he was able to secure the CY Young Award. Coming in right behind Tom Seaver, Gooden established himself as the second best pitcher in Mets history and is a must when considering who sits atop the Mets Mount Rushmore.
