It is funny that Opening Day was four months ago. It seemed like it was a week ago that I in my ’85 Rusty Staub throw back uniform attended the first game of the season ( Johan’s win over Josh Johnson and the Florida Marlins), believing that this could possibly be the year that we win it all again. Yes I go into every season with this warped mindset that every year could be the year that we break the now twenty-four season without a World Series trophy drought.One of the reasons why I felt so positive is that it seemed like the Mets were finally embracing their history. Gone was a big expanse of the team store outside of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, in it’s place was the newly reformed Mets Hall Of Fame ! There You could see the busts of previous inductees such as Hernandez and Staub, Koosman and Seaver along with former managers Hodges and Stengel.Also enshrined in the hallows halls of Mets lore are the legendary broadcast trio of Kiner, Murphy and Nelson along with original owner Joan Payson and pariah M. Donald Grant. Yes there were artifacts such as world series rings, original bats and uniforms and constant video reminders of amazing Mets moments on television screens. The place is perfect ! Fast forward to August first – Hall of Fame day ! The Mets are still in the playoff hunt although whatever momentum they had was fading rapidly. Before Jonathan Niese would be shellacked by the Arizona Diamondbacks the Mets held a revival of sorts. They welcomed back four prodigal sons to be enshrined in the new incarnation of the Hall of Fame. They included the architect of the dominant ’80′s team, Frank Cashen , The firey manager who guided them to victory, Davey Johnson, along with two of the best talents ever to be produced by our farms system -pitching phenom Dwight Gooden and outfielder Darryl Strawberry. The day was perfect – yes the Mets were routed that day but to see these men back on the field was cathartic.
Now here we are in the closing waning days of the ’10 season I am looking forward towards next years crop of inductees. I feel that a list should be culled from five of the six decades of the Mets existence.
Here is my short list
From The ’60′s – Ron Swoboda
From the ’70′s – Lee Mazzilli, Craig Swan , John Matlack and John Stearns
From the ’80′s – David Cone, Sid Fernandez and Lenny Dykstra
From the ’90′s – Edgardo Alfonzo, John Olerud, Rey Ordonez
From the last decade- Mike Piazza, John Franco, Al Leiter
I know there are many that I missed so please write in who you feel should be enshrined in Mets history next year.
” Who should be in the class of ’11?”
And with that said …HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Today marks sixty fourth birthday of possibly the worst play by play analyst in Mets history ! That’s right it’s Fran Healy (1946) !
One time five tool prospect who flamed out before he reached the big leagues,Alex Escobar is 32 (1978) .
New York Mets purchased middle reliever,Larry Foss from the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 6, 1962.
New York Mets signed free agent infielder,Keith Miller on September 6, 1984.
And lastly Mo Vaughn is currently enrolling himself in Opera classes – He has heard that there is a job for a singing fat lady at Citi Field
10 comments
stickguy
9/6/2010-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
El sid and Rey Rey? Not exactly monument park there.
If those are your standards, put McReynolds in too. Or just skip all of them!
Now, not knowing who is in there already but how about Orosco?
stickguy
9/6/2010-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
Hey, next year I think you should just close the place up for the weekend. Not sure if MF an I can keep the comments going for you again!
rustyjr
9/6/2010-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
Lol you are cruel – ok so I was stretching it with ordonez – just stoking the fires for debate lol can u believe I forgot about Jesse – shoot me now
GravediggerHebner
9/6/2010-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
It’s even funnier that Opening Day was 5 months ago.
Do I understand correctly that you want the team to induct 14 people into the HOF next year? Or is this just a list you think next years inductees should come from.
My own opinion is putting 14 people in both waters down that day’s ceremony and makes any future ceremonies difficult so my hope is that at least 1 guy goes in and I won’t ask for much more than that in 2011.
Of the people from Mets history not yet in there that you mention I think Piazza of course, Cone, Matlack, Alfonzo & Franco should all get enshrined eventually and I’m willing to be swayed on some others pending more investigation.
GravediggerHebner
9/6/2010-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
And before anyone goes ballistic I’m not suggesting that other people are not deserving but rather the names I listed are those I think are most deserving.
rustyjr
9/6/2010-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
No of course not – I meant pick 2-4 deserving players from that pool or make a case for a player that I didn’t mention I.e orosco or hojo
hazmet
9/6/2010-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
From the pool: Mazzilli, Matlack, Piazza, Franco
Reasons for not buying on others that would seem obvious:
Cone – only 5 years as a Met, more success with Yankee’s
Dykstra – only 4 years as a Met then become the poster child, imo, for burgeoning performance enhancement with the Philths
Fonzie – Love Fonzie, was one of my favorites, but as fast as he rose he sunk even faster and often injured. To get into the Mets HOF higher standards required. If you say yes Fonzie, then why not Hubie Brooks, after all he netted us Carter.
Not mentioned and should be there: Yogi Berra – I know Yankee ties but he was with the Mets for 10 years from 1965 – 75, got them to the series in ’73 while spinning such great yogi-ism’s as “It ain’t over till it’s over, It ain’t over till the Fat Lady sings” – that alone warrants induction.
rustyjr
9/6/2010-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
You’re right about yogi
and I guess kranepool is in there because he has the longest tenure in mets history I would also line to see Joe pignitano and rube walker since they were essential to the mets success in ’69
kingman 26
9/6/2010-2:55pm at 2:55 pm (UTC -4)
Well if Maz, Swan, and Stearns all get in…
rustyjr
9/6/2010-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
Welcome back kong – u were missed !