Most Beloved Mets of All Time

[Valadius]

The New York Mets have been around for 44 seasons. Since they first took the field as a major league franchise, 771 players have appeared in a game as a Met (As diligently tabulated by the UMDB). Only a select few, however, will remain in the hearts of the Mets fans who rooted for them. Who are your most beloved Mets of all time? Who would you tell stories of, and add to Mets legend? Who is a true Met in your eyes?

[Elster88]

I like Kevin Elster, Lenny Dykstra, and Mike Piazza.

I don't like the expression "true Met."

An interesting thread idea, Val, though I'm guessing the older members here have had something similar in the past. (Older meaning, longer CPF-tenured, not necessarily older in Earth years) I'll probably post more when I have more time.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Edgardo Alfonzo
Ed Kranepool
Ed Glynn

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Tug McGraw, who was the only person in history truly beloved in both New York and Philadelphia.

[Benjamin Grimm]

As soon as I saw the title of this thread, one and only one name popped into my head:

Mookie Wilson.

[Elster88]

ScarletKnight41 wrote: Tug McGraw, who was the only person in history truly beloved in both New York and Philadelphia.

What about Nails?

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Dykstra isn't nearly in the same league.

He's liked, sure. But not truly beloved. Not in the same way.

[Benjamin Grimm]

ScarletKnight41 wrote: Tug McGraw, who was the only person in history truly beloved in both New York and Philadelphia.

Tug was the second name I thought of. He's less "pure" than Mookie though, because so many think of him as a Phillie.

As for the New York/Philadelphia thing, the only other name I can think of is Lenny Dykstra. (And maybe Julius Erving?)

[Guest sharpie]

Todd Pratt --- kind of liked in both New York and Philly.

[metirish]

Piazza,
Turk
Leiter
Bobby V

[Guest Edgy DC]

New York Philly guys

Rich Kotite --- equally despised.
Joe Pisarcik --- equally depressing thought.
Frank Thomas --- equally interesting footnote.
Nino Espinosa --- equally celebrated afro.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

As a younger fan, my first real favorites were Hundley, Johnny O, and Fonzie.

[seawolf17]

A case could be made for Gary Carter, Mike Piazza, and Keith Hernandez.

[Guest sharpie]

Marv Throneberry

[Guest Edgy DC]

I always had a soft spot in my heart as well for Ed Bressoud, Edwin Nuñez, and Ed Bauta.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm seeing a pattern here in Edgy's picks.

They were all Capricorns, I think.

[metirish]

Edgy likes guys named Ed....

[HahnSolo]

Mookie Wilson
Rusty Staub
Wally Backman

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Irish - I love all of your choices

Pratt is someone who is well liked but not quite beloved. It takes an awful lot to be beloved.

Julius Erving? Perhaps. But he was more Long Island than New York, and I think that reduces his New York belovedness factor.

As for Tug, he was a unique case. He was traded away be evil management, but he ultimately remained close with both of his teams. He's the only person I know of who would regularly appear in New York for a Mets-appearance one weekend day and then be in Philly the other day. Both cities credit his "Ya Gotta Believe" mantra, and he has World Series rings from both teams. He was one of a kind, for sure.

[Benjamin Grimm]

1. Mookie
2. Tug
3. A virtual tie among about fifty other guys.

[Vic Sage]

Kooz
Mex
Mookie
Hojo
Kranepool

...with a special mention to Tim Leary, for teaching me a valuable lesson about the cruelty of fate.

[MFS62]

Terry Leach - my all time favorite Met. I've probably told why in other posts.

Later

[Elster88]

Ty Wigginton 101 in the all-time Met rankings? I wouldn'ta thunk it.

[Valadius]

Mike Piazza is probably my favorite Met. Other Mets I have fond memories of:

John Olerud
Edgardo Alfonzo
Robin Ventura
Todd Pratt
Turk Wendell
Al Leiter
John Franco
Bobby Valentine
Joe McEwing
Benny Agbayani
Lenny Harris
Tsuyoshi Shinjo

[nymr83]

Bobby Bonilla, Mel Rojas, Kenny Rogers, Rickey Henders... oh, wrong thread.

[Elster88]

Where's the love for Armando?
_____________________________
This post had the designation 116) Nino Espinosa

[Guest sharpie]

Ken Boyer and Donn Clendenon. The 2 "my favorite players" as a kid that I remember. Both are dead now.

[metirish]

]Where's the love for Armando?

I'm sure a few people remember Armando Reynoso fondly

[nymr83]

didn't he come off the DL in august and have a final 2 months like Seo did this year?

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Young Johnny was into the Jo(h)n's: Milner and Matlack.