Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.  Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives. Eventually, we are going to get to that of the Division I schools, and conferences.  As such, it is news that New York Mets have announced the date of three former players’ (Edgardo Alfonso, Ron Darling and Jon Matlack) induction into their franchise Hall of Fame.

The original plan was to induct these three, last year, but COVID-19 put a damper on those plans.  It will now take place on July 31, when the Mets host Cincinnati.

Edgardo Alfonso, Third Base (1995-02) 1,136 Hits, 120 Home Runs, 538 RBI, .292/.367/.445, 29.6 bWAR:  Alfonso was a Silver Slugger in 1999 and an All-Star in 2000, and in both of those seasons he belted at least 25 Home Runs and batted over .300.

Ron Darling, Pitcher (1983-91) 99-70, 3.50 ERA, 1,148 Strikeouts, 1.288 WHIP, 16.7 bWAR:  Darling was a member of the Mets 1986 World Series Championship Team, and was an All-Star in 1985.  The native of Hawaii won at least 15 Games three times.

Jon Matlack, Pitcher (1971-77) 82-81, 3.03 ERA, 1,023 Strikeouts, 1.195 WHIP, 15.2 bWAR:  Jon Matlack was the 1972 National League Rookie of the Year, and was an All-Star three years in a row from 1974 to 1976.  Matlack helped the Mets win the Pennant in 1973 and twice led the NL in Shutouts.  

Notably, the Mets also will be retiring Jerry Koosman’s number 36 on August 28 in a game against Washington.  He joins Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Casey Stengel and Jackie Robinson in earning this honor.

We will be watching both of these events.

Beginning his career with the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks, Defenseman Jerry Korab was traded to the Buffalo Sabres during the 1973-74 Season.

Jim Schoenfeld was a physical defenseman who was unafraid to take on the role of enforcer when needed.

Spring is in the air, and for many sports fans across the world, which signals a start to a new and exciting season with their favorite sports teams facing off against each other!

Whether you are into soccer, American football, basketball, or golf, there is something for everyone in 2021, and it promises to be an exciting and memorable year.

Getting Involved

In 2021, there promises to be plenty of opportunities for fans to get involved with sports. Whether it is returning to the stadiums, watching together at home, or even getting involved with the sports world's betting side to encourage your favorite teams and players.

There has never been a better time to be a sports fan, and here are four reasons why 2021 will be the year of sports for you.

Watching from Home

With the struggles of the last year in the sport, making sure that fans can get involved and watch their teams playing has been a big priority for networks, stadiums, and the sporting world at large.

Thanks to new innovations, now more than ever, fans can get involved by watching their favorite teams play from the comfort and the safety of their own homes.

Watch your team compete and join the discussion, and while you are at it, why not get involved on another level by taking a bet on your favorite team to win in the gold.

There are all kinds of betting options you can get involved with, from finding the best odds for cricket football and even NBA basketball odds to putting a bet on. Give it a go – you never know.

An Unprecedented Year

It is no secret that 2020 was a challenging year globally, especially in sport, with any fixtures being canceled or rescheduled.

Many fans and many athletes are looking forward to getting back in the stadiums, on the rink, on the ice, on the field, on the pitch, and back to doing the sport that they love and enjoying the sports that they love.

This renewed sense of vigor means that 2021 will be an unmissable year in sporting history.

The Rise of The Underdogs

While most teams have not enjoyed a nearly year-long pause on their tournaments, the break has given them a good opportunity to regroup and try out new techniques for some teams. This means that 2021 could see the rise of the underdog.

Teams that have not traditionally done well in the past could prove to be the top teams in the tournaments coming up this year.

Fan Connections

2020 and 2021 have seen a rise in teams and clubs connecting better with their fans and their audiences.

This has done a huge amount to boost the profile of sports throughout the world, and this is one of the positives of sports in 2020. More fans are looking forward to the chance to connect with the players and the athletes on their favorite teams.