" He will always be the " Fonz "!!!
If there has ever been a position that the Mets have never had a problem with filling ( except for the past four seasons) , it has to be the second baseman. Throughout the past 50 years this organization has had more than a few men who were able to make breathtaking acrobatic plays, going all out to turn the double play. There has been the likes of Hunt , Flynn, and not to forget Wally to name a few. But there has only been one who has been able to excel in the field while dominating with a power bat at the plate. That man is as voted by you number 15 on the list of the top 50 Mets of all time. Yes that man is none other than Edgardo ” Fonzie “ Alfonzo .
Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo was born in Miranda State.Venezuela on November 8, 1973 . When he was 19, Edgardo signed with the Mets as an undrafted free agent in 1991. He was immediately assigned to their Gulf Coast League affiliate, the Gulf Coast Mets. In 1992, Alfonzo was Alfonzo promoted twice. First to the short season “A” Pittsfield Mets of the New York-Penn League , and after that season ended he would be sent to their Class “A” Florida State League St. Lucie Mets. In 1993, Edgardo would play the entire season in Port St Lucie. In 1994, Edgardo was promoted to the Mets AA Eastern league affiliate in Binghamton, where Edgardo would lead the team in both homers as well as RBI’s.
In mid April of ’95, Edgardo made his Major League debut. He started out in more of a reserve role, splitting time at second base, shortstop, and third base. He finished the ’95 season batting .273 with four homers and forty-one RBI’s in just 101 games. In 1996. he was stll used in a reserve role and had almost the same numbers in 123 games. During the 1997 season, Edgardo won the Mets starting third base job. He would move to second base in 1999 after the Mets would sign veteran third baseman, Robin Ventura as a free agent. Edgardo adapted quickly to his new position, and soon there after he was considered one of the top second basemen in the league. In 1999 the Mets infield that consisted of him, Rey Ordonez, John Olerud and Robin Ventura was often referred to the best in baseball. In 2002 , after the Mets traded Ventura to the New York Yankees, the Mets moved Edgardo back to third base, to make room for Roberto Alomar.Edgardo continued to be a defensive threat but his skills as a third baseman were quite rusty.
After the ’02 season came to a close, Alfonzo would become a free agent. He wanted desperately to re-sign with the Mets , but they were uninterested. Edgardo would eventually sign a big contract with the San Francisco Giants, but as a act of thanks to the New York fans, Edgardo bought up ad space on New York Taxis to thank the fans for their support during his tenure with the Mets.
During his time with the Giants, Edgardo’s power numbers would decline and he began to suffer from back problems. He would return to his old form briefly in 2004. He hit for average, but his power numbers declined.
He was traded to the Angels in ’95 for pitcher Steve Finely, and he took on more of a role as a bench player. He would end up being released in the middle of the season by the Angels.
He has since bounced around through many organizations such as the Blue Jays as well as stints within the Texas Rangers organization as well a brief time back with the Mets AAA team. He has played in the independent Leagues as well as in Japan. Last season he played for the Newark Bears Independent team. H retired from baseball after last season.
He is now currently hitting coach in Houston Astro Minor league system with their Gulf Coast League team.
Edgardo was on hand for the closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium in September of 2008.
Tomorrow we will unravel the mystery of number 14 . All I will say in that he was one of the best offensive players of the ’90′s !
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today include :
One of the most heralded acquisitions of the past ten years ( and also one of the biggest busts ) eighth inning set up man from the ’09 season, J. J. Putz is 34 (1977) .
New York Mets traded utility infielder, Bobby Klaus,third baseman, Wayne Graham and catcher, Jimmie Schaffer to the Philadelphia Phillies for first baseman, Dick Stuart on February 22, 1966.
New York Mets signed free agent pitcher, Juan Berenguer on February 22, 1975. He would play for three seasons for the Mets (’78–’80) before being traded to the Kansas City Royals for minor league outfielders, Marvell Wynne and John Skinner.
New York Mets released reserve outfielder, Mark Bradley on February 22, 1984.
New York Mets signed free agent reserve first baseman/outfielder, Mark Johnson on February 22, 2000.
The Montreal Expos claimed reserve outfielder Endy Chavez ( Yes that Endy !!)of the New York Mets on waivers on February 22, 2002.
And while you are waiting for the temperatures to change from subarctic to tropical, just remember that there are just 38 Skip Lockwood days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami and only
45 more days to go until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn is starting to suffer from cabin fever !!!
17 comments
metsfan4decades
2/22/2011-8:09am at 8:09 am (UTC -4)
I remember that SI cover.
Will never forget his clutch hitting in the 1999 one game playoff for the WC and post season series against the D’backs. Followed that up in 2000 with some post season clutch hitting as well. I’m hard pressed to come up with someone who was more ‘clutch’ in post season since, but then again, 2006 would have been the only year for comparison….
rustyjr
2/22/2011-8:15am at 8:15 am (UTC -4)
I always thought Beltran and LoDuca were extremely clutch in the ’06 post season
metsfan4decades
2/22/2011-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
True. But Fonzie sticks out in my mind more b/c of the two first at bat HRs in ’99 (one game playoff and first game of post season) . I believe he hit a grand slam as well in that first D’backs game (or was it the 2nd?)
stickguy
2/22/2011-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
what’s a grand slam? Isn’t that a breakfast at Denny’s?
metsfan4decades
2/22/2011-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
LOL…now you’re making me hungry.
ajgmets
2/22/2011-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
While I was never the biggest fan of “Fonzie w/o the Leather Jacket” AY!!! (Now Arthur Fonzarelli (The Fonz of Milwaukee), he was cool), I always respected Edgardo’s ability to be a pretty consistent hitter while moving through the infield positions as team needs dictated. His Silver Slugger Award in 1999 is quite indicative of his talents in the era in which he played, as his award was sandwiched among the piles earned by the likes of Craig Biggio, Jeff Kent and just after the dominant period owned by Ryne Sandberg. (All HOFers or soon to be)
As far as his Mets legacy, the fact that he was never entrenched in a position for more than 3 years makes it hard for me to accept that he’s the 15th greatest Mets player to field grounders at the ball yard in Flushing. His receipt of MVP votes during 3 of his eight years in New York is also testament to the Mets obscene lack of production from bigger name payers in the era from 1994-1999. Obviously, this fact isn’t a knock on the “Fonz of Queens” or his career.
I do of course realize that this list is merely a tabulation of votes/lists received and is the most equitable manner of disseminating the information, but again, based on my observations and the information available, I don’t regard Edgardo Alfonzo as even a top 40 Met of All Time.
Pretty nice post Ed….
I have a bad feeling that you plan on “rolling” out Carlos Delgado tomorrow, hopefully I’ll be wrong..LOL
rustyjr
2/22/2011-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
Lol in all seriousness Delgado came in at number 60
TRS86
2/22/2011-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
I think you are a very logical poster and have enjoyed your contributions BUT…. LOL. This one is crazy talk. Have you ever looked at where Fonzie stands on the Mets records?
Single Season WAR #7
Career WAR #3
Single Season Off WAR #6
Career Off WAR #5
Defensive WAR #3
BA Career #6
OBP Season #3
OBP Career #6
OPS Season #7
GP #8
AB’s #8
PA #6
RS season #6
RS Career #5
Hits Season #6
Hits Career #4
Total Bases season #7
TB Career #6
Doubles season #5
Doubles career #4
HR Career #9
RBI Career #6
BB Career #6
Singles season #6
Singles Career #6
Runs Created Season #5
Runs Created Career #4
Guy is in the top 10 of almost every Mets all-time record. How could he at least not be ranked this high?
ajgmets
2/22/2011-1:21pm at 1:21 pm (UTC -4)
As a baseball purist and what I consider to be a true fan of the game and not a “Sabermatrician” I don’t deny your statistical listing but of the categories you listed, (ie WAR, Runs created) while creditable statistical factors they are more mathematical equations created as “Fantasy” evaluation tools and not key factors upon which I base my judgments.. Based on listing some of the stats you noted, many are those of one who is referred to as a compiler. That being said, I realize that as a franchise there haven’t been many guys who can lay claims to being 8 year “players” with the Mets. So I guess that based on some of Fonzie’s compilation numbers, while he is one of my favorite Mets and people I’ve ever met, Eddie Kranepool should be the Greatest Met of all time. I again do not dispute the fact that Alfonzo was a very good Met player during a primarily down era in Mets history, but I still don’t see him as a Top 20 player.
Did Ya hear that Ed, Krane baby! He’d bester be a Top Fiver ..LOl
TRS86
2/23/2011-9:00am at 9:00 am (UTC -4)
Still just can’t see it. While I appreciate the “purist” even at that his numbers in the more traditional sense are also up there. While you may see him as a compiler the fact that so few Mets have compiled anything makes him at least a top 20 guy in my opinion. I would have a hard time naming 20 better players.
TRS86
2/22/2011-8:26am at 8:26 am (UTC -4)
Was a huge Fonzie fan.
stickguy
2/22/2011-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
so was I. Exactly the type of guy they need a cople more of right now.
darknova306
2/22/2011-8:43am at 8:43 am (UTC -4)
Fonzie! One of my favorite Mets that I was ever able to watch. He was an integral part of my favorite Mets team I’ve seen during my fanhood, the ’99 Mets. I’m gonna have all sorts of great baseball memories coming back to me today, thanks Rusty!
Mr North Jersey
2/22/2011-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
I can’t off the top of my head tell you a single play or at bat that Fonzie had that stood out as memorable to me but what impressed me so much and the reason why he is one of my favorite Mets was I just loved the passion he had to play the game. It was so addictive to watch.
Prismo
2/22/2011-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
The fonz!
Totally fun to watch, always seemed to get on base and get big hits, produce runs. His 2000 season was probably one of the best offensive Met seasons of all time.
kingman 26
2/22/2011-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
Great player, a true gamer, worked hard to learn different positions, a great Met all around.
saltygary
2/22/2011-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
One of the best 2 stike hitters I’ve ever seen. His ab’s actually got better when he had 2 strikes against him. A true grinder. Grinded out every AB, never lethargic in the field, and did whatever the team asked him without one negative issue. Someone above made the statement that he doesn’t stand out due to being at different positions, I feel he should stand out more because of this. How many starters would move positions for the better of the team without a complaint or newspaper headline? Just look at the Beltran siuation right now. There was no situation with Fonzie, just a class act.
He’s my personal top 3 favorites and definetily my favoriate of that era.