Mets game

[roger_that]

I was idly wondering this morning whether my boyhood memories of Gil Hodges managing the Mets forever, along with Weeb Ewbank being the perennial Coach of the Jets and Ralph Houk permanently managing the Yankees and Allie Sherman coaching the Giants, was simply an illusion, a distortion of time, and tried to figure out what that period of time was, exactly. I think I came pretty close but then I thought of doing with the same with four Mets teammates.



Which four guys do you suppose were on the Mets' active roster together the longest? (IL or DL doesn't count as being off the roster; getting released and then sent to the minors and resigned or reinstated does.) I first thought the answer might be Seaver, Koosman Harrelson and Kranepool, but then I remembered that Kranepool got sent to the minors briefly in 1970, which would start the clock in mid-1970 and end it on June 15 1977, maybe seven seasons. So I'll substitute Grote for Kranepool-- All of 1968 through mid-1977. Anyone got a longer Mets foursome?

[kcmets]

Fonz and Rey-Rey played together a long time. Four on a team over long

period seems to be a thing that's long ended.



Ben could probably push some buttons (if he wanted to) and build a list or two.

[DocTee]

Thats a fun one. I think of Ron Hodges and Ed Kranepool but getting to four is gonna be tough.



Wright--Reyes--?

[kcmets]

Wright--Reyes--? Feliciano?

[Centerfield]

Alfonzo, Bobby Jones, Piazza, Rey.

[Edgy MD]

=kcmets post_id=102431 time=1659715115 user_id=53]
Wright--Reyes--? Feliciano?

[Edgy MD]

We can get six years out of Swan/Hodges/Mazzilli/Stearns.



Franco/Jones/Hundley and ... um ... Smiley Joe?

[Benjamin Grimm]

You can also get six years from Gooden/Strawberry/Hernandez/Carter.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Carter was only a five-year Met (1985-1989).

[Benjamin Grimm]

Duh! Head slap! I knew that!

[Benjamin Grimm]

Okay, substitue Darling for Carter, and add Sid Fernandez as well..



And Mookie will get you part of 1989.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Duh! Head slap! I knew that!

If he was a six-year Met, fans would probably be demanding a statue of Carter in front of Citi Field.

[Fman99]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Duh! Head slap! I knew that! If he was a six-year Met, fans would probably be demanding a statue of Carter in front of Citi Field.

I'm sure if you asked then you'd get a Roy Campanella tribute there. #wilpon4eva

[roger_that]

I get something under 7 years, late 1986 through 1992, for Hojo, Gooden, Fernandez and Magadan.

[ashie62]

Allie Sherman and Homer Jones.

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Duh! Head slap! I knew that! If he was a six-year Met, fans would probably be demanding a statue of Carter in front of Citi Field.

If he were still alive, you'd have Carter demanding a statue of Carter in front of Citi Field.



Later

[kcmets]

I think a statue of Gary Carter popping up to the infield with that just-

missed-it look on his face would be quite the Citi-addition.

[roger_that]

Edgy MD wrote: We can get six years out of Swan/Hodges/Mazzilli/Stearns. Franco/Jones/Hundley and ... um ... Smiley Joe?

We can get over a decade out of Stearns, Hodges, and Swan but that fourth is elusive.

[roger_that]

Cleon Jones, Swoboda, McGraw, and Harrelson from September 1965 (Harrelson's MLB debut) through October 1970 (when Rocky was traded). A bit over five years.

[Gwreck]

deGrom, Lugo, McNeil, Nimmo: 2022 is the 5th consecutive year all have been on the Mets roster. No trips to minors other than rehab starts.

[kcmets]

Matlack, Kranepool, Grote, Koosman, Seaver, and Harrelson is a seven-year

six pack. You can probably add another one or two but I got tired of looking.

[Edgy MD]

Wayne Garrett gets you from 1969 to 1976 as well.

[kcmets]

Right. I was just about to post that if you do from 69 to 75 instead of my

71 to 77 you might be able to do ten or more.

[roger_that]

Matlack, Kranepool, Grote, Koosman, Seaver, and Harrelson is a seven-year six pack. You can probably add another one or two but I got tired of looking.

Not really. Matlack debuted July 11, 1971 and Seaver was dealt off June 15, 1977, so a little under six years. Kranepool was recalled from the minors on August 14, 1970, so that's not quite seven years, either.



Garrett was traded July 21, 1976, and he debuted at the beginning of 1969, so his Met run was seven and a half years, accompanied the whole way by Koosman, Grote, Seaver and Harrelson. Tug McGraw was a teammate from 1969 through 1975, six seasons. Seaver, Grote, Harrelson and McGraw lasted from 1967 through 1975, eight full seasons. Seaver, Koosman, Grote, and Harrelson lasted from late 1967 (Koosman's call-up) through the Seaver deal, nine and a half years, which is the longest Met foursome ever, I think.







Also in the "not really" category is my assertion that Harrelson's debut in 1965 stuck. Nope. He spent much of the next year at AAA.