A Third Met Cap in the Hall

[G-Fafif]

Carlos Beltran's plaque will portray him with a Mets cap.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I know it's cool not to care about this, but I'm pleased.

[metirish]

I really don't feel it at all , sorry

[Centerfield]

I know it's cool not to care about this, but I'm pleased.

 

Me too.

I get that the new philosophy of short term deals may lead to more winning. But for sentimental things like like-long Mets, or a Hall of Famer going in with a Mets hat, these are certain to become less and less frequent.

[Frayed Knot]

I know it's cool not to care about this, but I'm pleased.

 

Sure. My only objection is the idea that the insignia on the plaque's cap indicates an all or nothing thing, that either he's a NYM in the HoF or he's not.

He is a Met in the HoF whether the cap says NYM, HOU, KC, or Chico's Bail Bonds.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

I think it's fantastic! Good for Carlos, and good for the Mets! I do care about this stuff.

[Edgy MD]

My only objection is that he played in an era of some uggo Mets hats ...

[fimg=300]https://images.pristineauction.com/60/606554/main_1-Carlos-Beltran-New-York-Mets-Collage-8x10-MLB-Auth-PristineAuction.com.jpg[/fimg]

... and I hope they have a good sense to instead plaque him up in a Kasey Klassic.

[fimg=300]https://carlosbeltranbaseballacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/carlosb2.jpg[/fimg]

[The Hot Corner]

Carlos played for so many teams during the course of his long and accomplished career. I wondered how they could determine the team that best represented his career. However, after looking at his career stats there were really only 2 reasonable options. Carlos spent 7 seasons* with both the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets. During his time with the Mets, he appeared in more games and amassed more at bats, walks, doubles, HRs, RBIs & WAR. Many of his stats were similar during his time as a Royal where he accumulated more hits, triples, and SBs.

A reasonable case could be made for his entering Cooperstown representing either organization. I'm pleased that he will go in representing the Mets.

*Parts of seven seasons.

[Centerfield]

I know it's cool not to care about this, but I'm pleased.

 

Sure. My only objection is the idea that the insignia on the plaque's cap indicates an all or nothing thing, that either he's a NYM in the HoF or he's not.

He is a Met in the HoF whether the cap says NYM, HOU, KC, or Chico's Bail Bonds.

 

I think the idea of wearing one team's hat is somewhat antiquated. Given how much players move around, it inevitably leads to one team feeling slighted, or forcing the player to make a tough decision.

I think the rule should be everyone goes in with a blank hat unless you play over 70% of your games with one team.

[Edgy MD]

Strange that he had two tenures with Houston, and in one he had the most magnificent post-season that can be imagined, and then in the second, he sort of had the most disgraceful.

[Edgy MD]

For what it's worth, any Hall-of-Famer rendered with a New York Giants insignia on his cap is effectively wearing a Mets hat as well.

[FIMG=350]https://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/styles/fullscreen_image_popup/public/Irvin%20Monte%20Plaque_NBL.jpg.jpeg?itok=OKhxiSYe[/FIMG] [FIMG=350]https://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/Terry%20Bill%20Plaque%20280_NBL.png[/FIMG] [FIMG=350]https://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/Jackson%20Travis%20Plaque%20258__0.png[/FIMG] [FIMG=350]https://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/Youngs%20Ross%20Plaque_NBL.png[/FIMG] [FIMG=350]https://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/Mathewson%20Christy%20Plaque_N_0.png[/FIMG]

OK, maybe not Ross Youngs.

[Fman99]

I definitely think it's a good thing. He came up and had his first success in KC but his peak years were in Queens.

[Benjamin Grimm]

“I didn’t do this alone. Every team I played for shaped my journey, and I’m grateful to all of them. With the Mets, I experienced my greatest individual growth and success. I’m honored that my Hall of Fame plaque will feature the Mets logo, and I’m proud that every team I played for will be listed on the plaque.”

 

The Mets were one of four franchises to join MLB in the early 1960s; the others are now known as the Los Angeles Angels, the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. The Angels have one player wearing their cap in Cooperstown (Vladimir Guerrero), while the Astros and Rangers have three apiece — Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Billy Wagner for Houston; Adrián Beltré, Iván Rodríguez and Nolan Ryan for Texas.

 

I think of Vlad Sr. as an Expo. I don't think I would have thought of him as an Angel if I was playing Immaculate Grid.

[The Hot Corner]

I think of Vlad Sr. as an Expo. I don't think I would have thought of him as an Angel if I was playing Immaculate Grid.

 

I will always associate Vlad Guerrero with the Expos. He spent the majority of his career with them and accumulated more hits, doubles, triples, HRs, RBIs, higher BA, SBs, WAR than during his time with the Angels. He did win his one MVP award during his first season with the Angels, however. To me, he was and always will be a Montreal Expo in my mind.

[Fman99]

The Mets were one of four franchises to join MLB in the early 1960s; the others are now known as the Los Angeles Angels, the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. The Angels have one player wearing their cap in Cooperstown (Vladimir Guerrero), while the Astros and Rangers have three apiece — Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Billy Wagner for Houston; Adrián Beltré, Iván Rodríguez and Nolan Ryan for Texas.

 

Funny coincidence that every single MLB appearance made by Nolan Ryan was for these four teams.

[Frayed Knot]

Regarding the title of this thread, if asked prior to this Beltran 'decision' how many NYM caps were in the HoF I would have had no idea.

I assume the two are Seaver & Piazza. Or is it Seaver & Carter? I'd definitely guess against it being Nolan & Robbie Alomar.

I guess this is a long way of saying that the plaque logo isn't a very important issue to me.

[Centerfield]

Seaver and Piazza. Carter is an Expo. And the numbers are not really close.

After Beltran, Lindor is probably next. Assuming he continues on this track, he'll have far more games under his belt than Cleveland. Hopefully he'll have a championship or at least a WS appearance to go with it.

Soto, is a possibility. He'll log at least 5 years in a Met uniform before his opt out kicks in. And given he'll be going into his age 32 season, it's not clear that the Mets would pick up that option to keep him should he elect to opt out.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think deGrom is a possibility too, although an unlikely one at this point.

[Centerfield]

It's kind of crazy if you think about it.

1962-1998 (36 years).

HOF Mets (playing career)

1. Tom Seaver

1998-2034. (next 36 years)

HOF Mets (playing career)

1. Mike Piazza

2. Carlos Beltran

3. Francisco Lindor (likely)

4. Juan Soto (maybe)

5. Jacob deGrom (long shot, depending on how he finishes his career)

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

If Pete ages better than expected and gets in the 450 homer range, I think he has a shot.