G-Fafif

41Forever wrote: Dave "Cobra" Parker in 1978! Cobr-ecct! 1969: Tom Seaver 1970: 1971: Joe Torre (NL MVP) 1972: 1973: Willie Stargell 1974: 1975: 1976: Mike Schmidt 1977: 1978: Dave Parker (NL MVP) 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1980: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1981: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1982: 1983: Andre Dawson 1984: Ryne Sandberg (NL MVP) 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 1986: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1987: Andre Dawson (NL MVP) 1988: Darryl Strawberry 1989: 1990: 1991: 1992: 1993: 1994: 1995: 1996: Larry Jones 1997: Larry Jones 1998: 1999: Larry Jones (NL MVP) 2000: Mike Piazza 2001: Larry Jones 2002: 2003: 2004: 2005: 2006: Ryan Howard (NL MVP) 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP) 2008: Ryan Howard 2009: 2010: 2011: 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015: Bryce Harper (NL MVP) 2016: Daniel Murphy 2017:

Bearded, base rounding, knee fusticating, cry baby Bryce Harper, year before last. Correct from Fman99 -- in every way! Here we are thus far: 1969: Tom Seaver 1970: 1971: Joe Torre (NL MVP) 1972: 1973: Willie Stargell 1974: 1975: 1976: Mike Schmidt 1977: 1978: 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1980: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1981: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1982: 1983: Andre Dawson 1984: Ryne Sandberg (NL MVP) 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 1986: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1987: Andre Dawson (NL MVP) 1988: Darryl Strawberry 1989: 1990: 1991: 1992: 1993: 1994: 1995: 1996: Larry Jones 1997: Larry Jones 1998: 1999: Larry Jones (NL MVP) 2000: Mike Piazza 2001: Larry Jones 2002: 2003: 2004: 2005: 2006: Ryan Howard (NL MVP) 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP) 2008: Ryan Howard 2009: 2010: 2011: 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015: Bryce Harper (NL MVP) 2016: Daniel Murphy 2017:

2016: Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals Sadly, correct! 1969: Tom Seaver 1971: Joe Torre (NL MVP) 1973: Willie Stargell 1976: Mike Schmidt 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1980: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1981: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1983: Andre Dawson 1984: Ryne Sandberg (NL MVP) 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 1986: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1987: Andre Dawson (NL MVP) 1988: Darryl Strawberry 1996: Larry Jones 1997: Larry Jones 1999: Larry Jones (NL MVP) 2000: Mike Piazza 2001: Larry Jones 2006: Ryan Howard (NL MVP) 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP) 2008: Ryan Howard 2016: Daniel Murphy

Benjamin Grimm wrote: 2006: Ryan Howard Correct! Take a 2008, while you're at it. 1969: Tom Seaver 1971: Joe Torre (NL MVP) 1973: Willie Stargell 1976: Mike Schmidt 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1980: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1981: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1983: Andre Dawson 1984: Ryne Sandberg (NL MVP) 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 1986: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1987: Andre Dawson (NL MVP) 1988: Darryl Strawberry 1996: Larry Jones 1997: Larry Jones 1999: Larry Jones (NL MVP) 2000: Mike Piazza 2001: Larry Jones 2006: Ryan Howard (NL MVP) 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP) 2008: Ryan Howard

1987: Andre Dawson, Chicago Cubs This is correct, and, in an Expos uniform, correct for 1983! 1969: Tom Seaver 1971: Joe Torre (NL MVP) 1973: Willie Stargell 1976: Mike Schmidt 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1980: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1981: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1983: Andre Dawson 1984: Ryne Sandberg (NL MVP) 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 1986: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1987: Andre Dawson (NL MVP) 1988: Darryl Strawberry 1996: Larry Jones 1997: Larry Jones 1999: Larry Jones (NL MVP) 2001: Larry Jones 2000: Mike Piazza 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP)

metsmarathon wrote: larry jones! A whole lot of correct! 1969: Tom Seaver 1971: Joe Torre (NL MVP) 1973: Willie Stargell 1976: Mike Schmidt 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1980: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1981: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1984: Ryne Sandberg (NL MVP) 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 1986: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1988: Darryl Strawberry 1996: Larry Jones 1997: Larry Jones 1999: Larry Jones (NL MVP) 2001: Larry Jones 2000: Mike Piazza 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP)

dinosaur jesus wrote: 1971: Joe Torre Correct! 1969: Tom Seaver 1971: Joe Torre (NL MVP) 1973: Willie Stargell 1976: Mike Schmidt 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1980: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1981: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1984: Ryne Sandberg (NL MVP) 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 1986: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1988: Darryl Strawberry 2000: Mike Piazza 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP)

Benjamin Grimm wrote: 1984: Ryne Sandberg Correct! 1969: Tom Seaver 1973: Willie Stargell 1976: Mike Schmidt 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1980: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1981: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1984: Ryne Sandberg (NL MVP) 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 1986: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1988: Darryl Strawberry 2000: Mike Piazza 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP)

Benjamin Grimm wrote: 1988: Darryl Strawberry? Correct! 1969: Tom Seaver 1973: Willie Stargell 1976: Mike Schmidt 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1980: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1981: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 1986: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1988: Darryl Strawberry 2000: Mike Piazza 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP)

metsmarathon wrote: Mike Piazza Correct! From 2000. 1969: Tom Seaver 1973: Willie Stargell 1976: Mike Schmidt 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1980: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1981: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 1986: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 2000: Mike Piazza 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP)

sharpie wrote: 1980, 81 and 86: Mike Schmidt All three correct! Plus a bonus, 1976, as highest-ranking NL East-er. 1969: Tom Seaver 1973: Willie Stargell 1976: Mike Schmidt 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1980: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 1981: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 1986: Mike Schmidt (NL MVP) 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP)

1985: Willie McGee Correct! 1969: Tom Seaver 1973: Willie Stargell 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (Co-NL MVPs) 1985: Willie McGee (NL MVP) 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP)

1979: Keith Hernandez and Willie Stargell Correct! Plus, since you mentioned him, Stargell shows up in an otherwise Metsian year. 1969: Tom Seaver 1973: Willie Stargell 1979: Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez (co-NL MVPs) 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP)

1969: Tom Seaver Correct! 1969: Tom Seaver 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP)

41Forever wrote: The famous Jimmy Rollins theft of David Wright's rightful award! Correct! 2007: Jimmy Rollins (NL MVP)

The Mets have had no National League MVPs, but the mythical National League East MVP is a different story. It is mythical, in that no such award is bestowed, but it does exist if you want it to. And for the purposes of this quiz, I want it to. What I'd like you to do is identify the highest-ranking MVP candidate from the National League East in each of the 49 seasons that there has been a National League East. In some cases, it's the same as a given year's National League MVP. In other cases, it's a close runner-up, or even a distant also-ran. There have been years when the West and Central have run roughshod over the voting. We're talking about the NL East player to collect the most BBWAA MVP points in each of these seasons: 1969-1992: Among Mets, Phillies, Expos, Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs 1993: Among Mets, Phillies, Expos, Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs, Marlins 1994-2004: Among Mets, Phillies, Expos, Marlins, Braves 2005-2017: Among Mets, Phillies, Nationals, Marlins, Braves To be clear, Cardinals, Cubs and Pirates from AFTER 1993 are not eligible; ditto Braves from BEFORE 1994. We're only interested in players whose teams played under the auspices of the same division as the Mets in their most valuable years. In all, 36 players have taken this honor, some more than once, a couple of times in a tie. Some even won it as Mets! Please offer the first and last name of a player you know/think was the NL East MVP. You don't have to give the year if you're not sure; I'll fill those in as we go along. Once answer per post. Good and valuable luck! 1969: 1970: 1971: 1972: 1973: 1974: 1975: 1976: 1977: 1978: 1979: 1980: 1981: 1982: 1983: 1984: 1985: 1986: 1987: 1988: 1989: 1990: 1991: 1992: 1993: 1994: 1995: 1996: 1997: 1998: 1999: 2000: 2001: 2002: 2003: 2004: 2005: 2006: 2007: 2008: 2009: 2010: 2011: 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015: 2016: 2017:

I was practically giddy early this morning when I asked Mrs. Fafif the temperature and she told me it was 41.

Stanton becomes the fifth NL East MVP since the NL went to three divisions; none, of course, was a Met. I actually felt a perverse twinge of neighborhood pride when I learned Giancarlo won, like, hey, we know that kid, he lives up the block from us, he grew up around here. We play our divisional opponents so much, I figure we have more than a little something to do with it when one of our direct rivals is awarded. Since Stanton's Marlins (unlike their immediate predecessors) have never caused us irreparable playoff-chase harm, by mid-November I can be sort of generous that way. The Mets were definitely complicitous when Chipper Jones won in 1999 and Jimmy Rollins did the same in 2007, years when the Valuable aspect of the prize carried the voting. Their highlight reels were full of late-season anti-heroics accomplished at our expense. Less the case with Ryan Howard in 2006 and Bryce Harper in 2015. Both times, to certain extents, I thought, "Have your silly little awards, we have the division title, you suck, we rule, ha ha ha..." While no titles were at stake in any dealings between the Marlins and Mets this year, it's generally understood Stanton has a standing takeout order of damage waiting any time he faces us.

I enjoyed the article, and rationally accept he was a quintessential good guy/battler, but Lynch mostly makes me think of getting hurt in that tussle with Duncan, sucking the rest of September 1985 and the Mets failing to a) hold off the Cardinals and attain the Wild Card that was non-existent at the time.

Preaching to the choir here but numbers needn't be retired to remembered, if you're the kind of fan that remembers those kind of things. And I agree they aren't in and of themselves important which speaks to the whole conceit of knowing them and celebrating them: It's how the mind of a fan works. If Callaway is somewhat successful (winning records, limited embarrassment on his watch), he automatically becomes the second-most significant 36 in franchise history. The gap from Koosman to whichever 36 you'd currently rank behind him -- Tracy Stallard, Ed Lynch, Greg McMichael -- has to be the largest within the realm of widely circulated Met numbers. I've enjoyed every time a 36 has been issued to an inevitable journeyman that the tendency among announcers and fans (who care about such things) is to instinctively remember and mention/tweet Jerry Koosman's name. In its own way, it's as valuable to his legacy as 36 being up in the rafters.

Ceetar wrote: G-Fafif wrote: It's fine to not care about who wore 36 if numbers don't count for you. Those who don't know the one outstanding Met to wear 36, however, probably shouldn't bring up who previously wore 36 on a podcast in the first place. well yeah, agreed on that. also maybe look it up first? Preparation rocks!

It's fine to not care about who wore 36 if numbers don't count for you. Those who don't know the one outstanding Met to wear 36, however, probably shouldn't bring up who previously wore 36 on a podcast in the first place. Callaway is such a blank slate to date that I guess there's only so much to bring up. BTW, it was Don Florence, not Dean. He went 3-0 and was let go, which still perplexes me.

DeGrom finishes eighth for NY Cy Young, garnering two fifth-place votes.

A month after Jim Landis headed to that big Comiskey in the sky, fellow White Sox outfielder Jim Rivera, 96, makes the same journey. Jungle Jim was another of the Go-Go Sox American League champs of '59.

Sadly, I'm thinking as I look at these, "At least the Mets were big news for a week."