Quiz: Top 10 players who played for both the Mets and the lesser team in the city

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

From Newsday this morning:

 

Through the 2025 season, 172 players have played for both the Mets and the Yankees.

The conversation surrounding those players has amplified since December 2024, when Juan Soto left the Bronx after one season to sign a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets. This offseason, former Yankee relievers Luke Weaver and Devin Williams signed with the Mets.

Based on their contributions for both teams, here are the top 10 players who have played for the Mets and Yankees. (Position players must have appeared in at least 150 games for each team and pitchers at least 150 innings for each team to be considered.)

 

 

The 150 games for position players rules out Yogi. Guess the rest, and I'll put them in the slot selected by Newsday.

Usual rules about one guess per turn:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

[Gwreck]

Curtis Granderson.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Curtis Granderson.

 

Curtis is No. 2!

1.

2. Curtis Granderson

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

[Gwreck]

Curtis also sits comfortably on a top 10 list of my favorite Mets players of all time. A true credit to him, and especially so given where he played before reaching the Mets.

[Cowtipper]

First thought is pitcher Mike Stanton, but I think that's probably wrong.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Curtis also sits comfortably on a top 10 list of my favorite Mets players of all time. A true credit to him, and especially so given where he played before reaching the Mets.

 

He's a quality person! I think I told the story about how when he was with the Tigers and was sent to the Grand Rapids on a rehab assignment. Granderson told the Whitecaps to fill the morning with a visit to a local middle school so he could talk to students about the importance of doing well in school. I was still a reporter covering the city schools and got to sit in on the assembly and got to talk to Curtis for a bit.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

First thought is pitcher Mike Stanton, but I think that's probably wrong.

 

Mike Stanton is not on the list. Good guess, though.

[metirish]

David Cone

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

David Cone

 

Boom! That's No. 1!

1. David Cone

2. Curtis Granderson

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Al Leiter?

[DocTee]

Soto's gotta be in there.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Al Leiter?

 

Al comes in at No. 10. I thought he'd be higher.

1. David Cone

2. Curtis Granderson

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10. Al Leiter

Not in the top 10: Mike Stanton.

[Gwreck]

Doc Gooden (sigh)

[Fman99]

Another sigh for Straw

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Both Doc and Straw make the list.

1. David Cone

2. Curtis Granderson

3. Dwight Gooden

4. Darryl Strawberry

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10. Al Leiter

[Benjamin Grimm]

Robin Ventura?

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Robin Ventura?

 

Good one!

1. David Cone

2. Curtis Granderson

3. Dwight Gooden

4. Darryl Strawberry

5.

6.

7.

8. Robin Ventura

9.

10. Al Leiter

[Gwreck]

I did not remember Ventura or Leiter being very good for the Yankees and am a bit surprised to see them here.

How about El Duque?

[Benjamin Grimm]

John Olerud?

[whippoorwill]

Mazzilli

[metsmarathon]

Beltran

[stevejrogers]

I did not remember Ventura or Leiter being very good for the Yankees and am a bit surprised to see them here.

 

Yeah, I’m curious as to the criteria being used beyond the 150 games played for regulars and innings for pitchers, I guess MMS missed the Soto guess post. Al has 38 games pitched with the Yankees, mostly on the front end, and his final handful of MLB appearances.

My guess, Rickey Henderson

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Good guesses! No. 6 is too obvious. You're overthinking!

1. David Cone

2. Curtis Granderson

3. Dwight Gooden

4. Darryl Strawberry

5. Carlos Beltran

6.

7. Rickey Henderson

8. Robin Ventura

9. Orlando Hernandez

10. Al Leiter

[whippoorwill]

I knew Steve would know one 🙂

[stevejrogers]

How is it not Juan Soto?

Practically identical seasons?

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

How is it not Juan Soto?

Practically identical seasons?

 

That's the one! Thank you all for participating!

1. David Cone

2. Curtis Granderson

3. Dwight Gooden

4. Darryl Strawberry

5. Carlos Beltran

6. Juan Soto

7. Rickey Henderson

8. Robin Ventura

9. Orlando Hernandez

10. Al Leiter

[whippoorwill]

Soto's gotta be in there.

 

Ahem

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Soto's gotta be in there.

 

Ahem

 

Oh no! I missed this. Apologies, Doc!