The Mets in the Postseason: Fun Facts, Quizzes, and more

[Benjamin Grimm]

While the Division Title is very much up in the air, a postseason appearance for the Mets is almost inevitable, as the Mets have a substantial lead over the Brewers. (A 14-game lead with 21 games to play, and a Magic Number of 8.)



So I'm kicking off this multi-purpose thread.



We'll start with some Fun Facts, and then later I'll post the first quiz here.







158 Mets have appeared in at least one postseason game for the Mets.



None of them have ever appeared in more than two postseasons as a Met. There are 43 Mets of the 158 who have appeared in two. This year, the only Met who has a chance to be added to this list is Jacob deGrom, the remaining holdover from 2015. And it's possible that he'll miss out. For example, if the Mets postseason only lasts two games and the Mets don't have enough advance time to set his position in the postseason rotation. Or if he gets hurt. (There's some precedence for that.)



From 1969 and 1973 (9 players)

Ken Boswell, Wayne Garrett, Jerry Grote, Bud Harrelson, Cleon Jones, Jerry Koosman, Ed Kranepool, Tug McGraw, Tom Seaver.



From 1986 and 1988 (15 players)

Rick Aguilera, Wally Backman, Gary Carter, Ron Darling, Len Dykstra, Kevin Elster, Sid Fernandez, Dwight Gooden, Keith Hernandez, Howard Johnson, Lee Mazzilli, Roger McDowell, Darryl Strawberry, Tim Teufel, Mookie Wilson.



From 1999 and 2000 (12 players)

Benny Agbayani, Edgardo Alfonzo, Armando Benitez, Dennis Cook, John Franco, Darryl Hamilton, Al Leiter, Mike Piazza, Todd Pratt, Rick Reed, Robin Ventura, Turk Wendell.



From 2006 and 2015 (1 player)

David Wright.



From 2006 and 2016 (1 player)

Jose Reyes.



From 2015 and 2016 (5 players)

Yoenis Cespedes, Jeurys Familia, Curtis Granderson, Addison Reed, Noah Syndergaard.

[MFS62]

Yeah, but which coaches have been there for multiple post seasons? (I have no idea)



Later

Edited September 12, 2022 by Guest

[Edgy MD]

I guess the best player in team history not to drink of the sweet mead of post-season action is ... John Stearns?

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Edgy MD wrote: I guess the best player in team history not to drink of the sweet mead of post-season action is ... John Stearns?

Good one!

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, "best" is subjective, but I can list those who are most prominent, by games played. First the position players, then the pitchers. Three position players and two pitchers are currently active as Mets, and one more position player has a very outside chance (I think) of being on a postseason roster.



Todd Hundley 829

John Stearns 809

Dave Kingman 664

George Foster 655

Hubie Brooks 654

Doug Flynn 636

Jim Hickman 624

Joel Youngblood 610

Brandon Nimmo 589

Pete Alonso 510

Jeff Kent 498

Steve Henderson 497

Jeff McNeil 495

Mike Jorgensen 492

Joe Christopher 485

Ron Hunt 459

Ike Davis 454

Dominic Smith 447

Butch Huskey 414

Bruce Boisclair 410





Bobby Parnell 329

Jeff Innis 288

Seth Lugo 267

Craig Swan 229

Skip Lockwood 227

Neil Allen 223

Jerry Blevins 219

Edwin Diaz 209

Al Jackson 184

Bob Apodaca 184

David Weathers 180

Josh Edgin 177

Robert Gsellman 176

Larry Bearnarth 171

Ed Lynch 167

Francisco Rodriguez 165

Carlos Torres 165

Jack Fisher 160

Danny Frisella 158

Mike Pelfrey 153

[Edgy MD]

Edgy MD wrote: I guess the best player in team history not to drink of the sweet mead of post-season action is ... John Stearns? Good one!

Stearns, though, got to drink his mead as a post-season coach. I think that takes us to Brandon Nimmo who, God willing, should be able to cross post-season baseball off his list this year.



Among those who'd have to unretire or join a coaching staff to swim in the Mets post-season fountain, I'm going to take Johan Santana as the best.

[MFS62]

I had hoped the Mets would keep Al Jackson on the 1969 post-season roster. He pitched for them briefly that year.

After being on that 1962 team, he deserved it. (like a purple heart)

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy MD wrote: I think that takes us to Brandon Nimmo who, God willing, should be able to cross post-season baseball off his list this year.

Pete Alonso too.

[Edgy MD]

=MFS62 post_id=106981 time=1663005636 user_id=60]I had hoped the Mets would keep Al Jackson on the 1969 post-season roster. He pitched for them briefly that year.

[MFS62]

I know. And it still makes me sad.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

First quiz!



Usual rules apply: Only make one guess in a post and don't make any follow-up guesses until your guess has been acknowledged as correct or incorrect.



There are eleven players who have appeared in postseason games for the Mets and also in postseason games against the Mets.



They're six pitchers and five position players.



Name them!



No further clues for now.

[Edgy MD]

Danielo Heep.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Danny Heep (1986 Mets, 1988 Dodgers)

[Edgy MD]

I'll stick with the 1988 Dodgers, Alex.



"Who is Orel Hershiser?"

[kcmets]

Harder than it should be, even with 'peeking.'

[Benjamin Grimm]

There are a few who are pretty easy, and a few that are pretty obscure.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Danny Heep (1986 Mets, 1988 Dodgers)

Orel Hershiser (1988 Dodgers, 1999 Mets)

[Gwreck]

David Cone. 1988 Mets and 2000, that other team.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yes.



Danny Heep (1986 Mets, 1988 Dodgers)

David Cone (1988 Mets, 2000 Yankees)

Orel Hershiser (1988 Dodgers, 1999 Mets)



Eight more to go. Four pitchers and four position players.

[Gwreck]

I think the degree of difficulty on position players must be much higher. I am struggling to even think of possibilities.



Tom Glavine, 1999 Braves/2006 Mets

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yes, the most prominent players are pitchers.



Danny Heep (1986 Mets, 1988 Dodgers)

David Cone (1988 Mets, 2000 Yankees)

Orel Hershiser (1988 Dodgers, 1999 Mets)

Tom Glavine (1999 Braves, 2006 Mets)

[MFS62]

George Stone 1973 Mets and 1969 Braves

Later

[Willets Point]

Nolan Ryan.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Nolan Ryan (1969 Mets, 1986 Astros)

George Stone (1969 Braves, 1973 Mets)

Danny Heep (1986 Mets, 1988 Dodgers)

David Cone (1988 Mets, 2000 Yankees)

Orel Hershiser (1988 Dodgers, 1999 Mets)

Tom Glavine (1999 Braves, 2006 Mets)



Five more: One pitcher and four position players.

[Gwreck]

Michael Tucker…1999 Braves?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Nope. Not Michael Tucker.



Two of our remaining people were at Old-Timers Day this year.

[stevejrogers]

Going back to the 1969 Braves, Felix Millan

[MFS62]

OOPS, Steve beat me to Millan.





Later

Edited September 12, 2022 by Guest

[Benjamin Grimm]

Nolan Ryan (1969 Mets, 1986 Astros)

George Stone (1969 Braves, 1973 Mets)

Felix Millan (1969 Braves, 1973 Mets)

Danny Heep (1986 Mets, 1988 Dodgers)

David Cone (1988 Mets, 2000 Yankees)

Orel Hershiser (1988 Dodgers, 1999 Mets)

Tom Glavine (1999 Braves, 2006 Mets)

[Benjamin Grimm]

We still have one very prominent pitcher (who was at Old Timers Day) and three easier-to-forget position players. All three of them appeared in 1999 or later.