New York Mets Mount Rushmore
The New York Mets continually appear to have players destined for stardom, but they never quite reach their full potential. Which of those players found enough sustained success to make the franchise’s Mount Rushmore.
The New York Mets were the dynasty that never was. After their humble beginnings, when Casey Stengel once asked if there was anyone who could play the game, they suddenly became a winner. Improbably, the 1969 Mets came from the basement and knocked off the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in five games to win their first World Series.
Each decade appeared to be the start of a Golden Era of Mets baseball. The 1980s had Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, two of the top prospects int he game. The 1990s saw Bill Pulsipher, Jason Isringhausen, and Paul Wilson emerge as the top pitching prospects in the game. Only Isringhausen made an All-Star appearance, and that came as a closer after his time with the Mets ended.
The Mets are in a similar situation these days. Their pitching staff is filled with highly touted arms, minor league phenoms that were expected to make them a force for years. Instead, injuries and inconsistency have kept the team from reaching their full potential, just like in years past.
Nonetheless, the Mets have had some great years. In addition to their 1969 title, they won the World Series in 1986, keeping the Curse of the Bambino alive. All told, they have nine postseason appearances and five National League titles. They may not have had that dynasty, but the Mets have still found success.
Which of those players has meant the most to the New York Mets? Let us take a look at their Mount Rushmore.
Darryl Strawberry (1983-1990)
Darryl Strawberry seemed destined for stardom from the time he was in grade school. During his time with the New York Mets, he was exactly that.
A true five-tool talent, Strawberry hit the ground running in 1983. He was named the NL Rookie of the Year and hit 26 homers while stealing 19 bases. The following year was the first of five consecutive seasons that he hit at least 20 homers and stole 20 bases. In fact, in 1987, Strawberry finished one home run and four steals shy of being the first 40-40 player in MLB history.
Naturally, the awards rolled in. Strawberry was a seven-time All-Star and two time Silver Slugger, finishing in the top three in the MVP vote twice. During his time with the Mets, Strawberry had an excellent .263/.359/.520 batting line, hitting 259 homers and stealing 191 bases. He appeared destined for the Hall of Fame when he departed New York to head to the Dodgers in free agency.
However, aside from one good season in Los Angeles, Strawberry’s career came to a halt. He faced a myriad of issues, including cancer, drug and legal problems, and marital issues. For as great of a start as Strawberry had to his career, it ended in disappointment.
The New York Mets had a star in Darryl Strawberry. Sadly, he was unable to continue that success throughout his career.
Dwight Gooden (1984-1994)
With his blazing fastball, Dwight Gooden took the National League by storm.
Selected with the fifth overall selection in the 1982 MLB Amateur Draft by the New York Mets, Gooden arrived in the majors after one minor league season. Although he was 19 years old, he was more than ready for the challenge, pacing the senior circuit with 276 strikeouts and a 1.073 WHiP. He finished second in the Cy Young vote and won the Rookie of the Year.
As impressive as that season was, 1985 was even greater. He won the Triple Crown, posting 24 wins, an incredible 1.54 ERA, and 268 strikeouts. He won the Cy Young and finished second in the MVP vote. Gooden appeared to have established himself as a superstar, the pitcher that would carry the Mets for the next decade.
Unfortunately, drug problems got in the way. Gooden still had some solid years but was never able to recapture the glory from those first two seasons. A four-time All-Star, he posted a 157-85 record, along with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.175 WHiP. In his 2169.2 innings, Gooden struck out 1875 batters while issuing only 651 walks. It was a solid run in New York, although it was not quite the performance the Mets had hoped for.
Dr. K was a bright young superstar before he turned 21. Unfortunately, he was never able to reclaim that magic from his first two seasons.
David Wright (2004-2016)
It gets lost in his struggles and injury issues over the past few seasons, but David Wright had emerged as a star for the New York Mets.
One of the top prospects in the game in 2003 and 2004, Wright lived up to his potential from the start. He showed solid power and impressive speed for a third baseman, a true five-tool player for the heart of the Mets lineup. In 2007, his fourth season in the majors, Wright posted a 30-30 season, hitting 30 homers and stealing 34 bases. He was set to be the next Mets star.
And for some time, he was exactly that. Wright became a perennial MVP candidate, finishing in the top ten in the vote four times. He has made seven All-Star Games, won two Gold Gloves, and two Silver Slugger awards. Overall, Wright has a .296/.376/.491 batting line, with 242 homers and 196 stolen bases.
Then, injuries took their toll. A shoulder injury ended his season early in 2014, and then spinal and shoulder problems have kept him off the field for most of the past three seasons. He attempted a comeback last year but was shut down due to surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. Nonetheless, Wright is still looking to return to the Mets, refusing to give up on a comeback.
David Wright has been the greatest hitter in New York Mets history. And still, one cannot help but wonder what his totals would look like if he stayed healthy.
Tom Seaver (1967-1977, 1983)
One of the greatest pitchers that the game had ever seen, Tom Seaver was the first superstar for the New York Mets.
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The 1967 NL Rookie of the Year, Seaver was one of the keys to the Mets finding their way to contention. He was an All-Star in each of his first seven seasons, and ten times overall during his time in New York.
Seaver won three Cy Young awards, and in that improbable 1969 campaign, finished second in the MVP vote, just 22 points behind Willie McCovey.
Seaver was an impressive pitcher throughout his time with the Mets. he led the National League in wins twice, was a three-time ERA leader, and led the league in strikeouts five times.
He led in two of the Triple Crown categories four times during his early run of dominance but never had all three in the same season.
Seaver was also the source of some frustration for Mets fans. He threw five one-hitters, including his performance on July 9, 1969, when he came within an out of a perfect game. Naturally, Seaver ended up throwing a no-hitter, but it came in 1978 after he was traded to the Reds. He did return for one more season in New York in 1983 but was no longer the pitcher he once was.
Next: Remembering Herb Washington
Tom Seaver was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. His time with the New York Mets helped carry them from the basement into contention.