Jesse Orosco had a 24 year career on MLB, the most notable of which was spent with the New York Mets.  Orosco was the closer for the 1986 World Series Championship Team.  A two time All Star in New York, Orosco recorded 107 Saves as a Met and would have five scoreless innings in the ’86 World Series.  It was Orosco who was on the mound during both final pitches in both the NLCS and the World Series in ‘86.

Equally beloved by Mets fans and Phillies fans alike, Tug McGraw was part of the 1969 Mets team that won the World Series but it was after that where he became known as one of the top Relief Pitchers in the National League.  Assuming a leadership role in the clubhouse, McGraw would have a pair of 25 plus Save seasons, which was huge in those days, and would receive a few MVP votes in each of those campaigns.  McGraw was named an All-Star in 1972, and 21 years later, he entered the Mets Hall of Fame.

Cleon Jones caught the last out for the Mets in their shocking World Series win in 1969, but he is known for so much more than that in the ’69 campaign.

A very popular Starting Pitcher during his time with the New York Mets, Ron Darling would post a very impressive Won/Loss record with the New York Mets where he went 99 and 70.  The native Hawaiian finished 5th in Cy Young Voting in 1986 and went to his lone All Star Game the year before.  He would help New York win the 1986 World Series, and was chosen for the Mets Hall of Fame in 2020.

In one way you can argue that Bud Harrelson is the most successful New York Met of all time.  Harrelson was a member of the Miracle Mets World Series Championship Team in 1969 and was a Coach on the 1986 World Series Champions too.  This makes him the only Met to have two World Series rings who was once a player.

When you are nicknamed “Bad Dude” it is near impossible to not want to rank you as high as possible!

When you think of the MLB accomplishments of the Venezuelan Pitcher, Johan Santana, you think of the Minnesota Twins.  That train of thought isn’t wrong, but it can’t be forgotten just how much he still did with the New York Mets before his arm broke down.

From replacement player to two time Major League All-Star, Rick Reed had a very good run with the New York Mets, though it is astounding how much he is not regarded much at all in the Mets canon of history.

John Olerud was only with the New York Mets for three seasons, but the already two time World Series Champion subtly racked up a lot of hits, including a 1998 season where he batted .354 and finished 12th in MVP voting.  Overall, Olerud had an excellent Slash Line as a Met of .315/.425/.501, which is an incredible number that propelled him to this rank.

One of the most successful relief pitchers in New York Met history, John Franco had already been named to three All Star Games prior to joining New York.  The left hander would only be a one time All Star with the Mets but he would lead the National League twice in Saves, capturing the Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award in 1990 and finished 7th in Cy Young voting in 1994.  Franco would record 274 Saves as a Met and was inducted into their franchise Hall of Fame in 2012.

How can you not love a guy named Mookie?

You have to love him and he even if Mookie Wilson was actually named “Sour Bastard”, you would still love the guy because he had one of the most positive and infectious attitudes in Baseball and is easily one of the most popular players in Mets history.

R.A. Dickey arrived to the New York Mets in his mid-30’s and for the first time in his career would become a permanent starter.  It was the correct decision as Dickey proved to be a decent Starting Pitcher but his third season with New York was magical and is considered one of the best seasons ever by a knuckleballer.  Dickey won the Cy Young going 20 and 6 and led the National League in Strikeouts.  That season was so good that it propelled him to a higher spot than you would initially have someone who was only with the Mets for three seasons.

Edgardo Alfonzo (or Fonzie, as he is often called) spent a lot of time patrolling varying positions in the infield for the New York Mets.  Alfonzo was known for his above average defense but was also skilled with his bat.  He would have over 150 Hits in a season for New York five times, four of which saw him bat over .300.  Alfonzo would show off some power with 120 Home Runs as a New York Met.  Three times, he would receive MVP votes, and he gained entry into the Mets Hall of Fame in 2020.

Carlos Beltrán was the crown jewel of the 2005 free agent market, and the switch-hitting center fielder with a rare combination of power, speed, and defensive grace chose the Mets as his landing spot. After a historic postseason run with the Astros, he brought his elite skill set to New York, where he evolved from a high-priced acquisition into one of the most statistically dominant players in the history of the franchise.

Although 2005 was a period of adjustment, Beltrán achieved a significant milestone in 2006, recording a season that continues to serve as a benchmark for Mets hitters. He tied a franchise record with 41 home runs, scored 127 runs, and drove in 116, thereby leading the club to the best record in the National League. His exceptional performance that year earned him a Silver Slugger Award and marked the beginning of three consecutive Gold Gloves in centerfield.

Beltrán achieved a period of consistent excellence from 2007 to 2009, with three consecutive seasons yielding 100 or more RBIs. He demonstrated reliable power to hit the ball into Shea Stadium and Citi Field's gaps, surpassing a .500 slugging average four times and earning five All-Star selections as a Met. Despite facing knee injuries that affected his speed, he continued to be a strategic threat on the bases, successfully stealing 100 bases during his time with the team.

With Beltrán’s contract set to expire after the 2011 season, he was traded before the deadline to the San Francisco Giants.  Beltrán had 878 hits, 149 home runs, and 559 RBIs for New York, and in 2026, he received the triple honor of entering the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Mets Hall of Fame, and seeing his number 15 retired by the club.

David Cone has the distinction of being an incredible post season Pitcher, though he only had one chance to show that for the Mets.  He did however have plenty of opportunity to have regular season success for the New York Mets. 

By the time Howard Johnson became a full time player for the New York Mets he had already won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1984 and was in a platoon role for the Mets World Series win in 1986.  Johnson would not win a third World Series Championship, but he would become an excellent player for the Mets, becoming a 30-30 player in 1987.

A native of Honolulu who wore #50 in honor of his home state, Sid Fernandez operated with a deceptive, slingshot delivery and a rising fastball that made him one of the most difficult pitchers to hit in the history of the National League.

Debuting in 1984, Fernandez's second season truly marked a peak in his ability to be tough to hit, as he led the Major Leagues with only 5.71 hits allowed per nine innings. He showed excellent control of his rising fastball, striking out 180 batters in 170 innings, and served as a perfect left-handed complement to Dwight Gooden. In 1986, he reached a historic milestone by becoming the first Hawaiian-born player to be selected for the All-Star game. That summer, he achieved a career-high 16-6 record, finished seventh in the Cy Young Award voting, and played a key role in a strong rotation that led the senior circuit.

Fernandez truly shined during the 1986 World Series, reaching his peak with some incredible plays. Though he was mainly a starter during the regular season, he was called upon as a reliever for the Fall Classic. His unforgettable moment in Mets history came in Game 7: after the Red Sox took an early 3-0 lead, Fernandez stepped in during the fourth inning and pitched brilliantly, retiring seven batters in a row, including four strikeouts. It was a remarkable display of specialized relief that quieted the Boston bats and helped ignite the Mets’ exciting comeback to win the championship.

Over a decade at Shea Stadium, Fernandez achieved a new level of franchise prominence, leading the league in H/9 on three separate occasions and surpassing 175 strikeouts in a season five times. Although he concluded his tenure with the Mets just two wins short of the century mark, his statistical contributions remain outstanding: he departed as the franchise leader in H/9 and continues to rank among the top five for career strikeouts. In December 1993, he reached a pivotal moment and signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent, effectively concluding a highly underrated chapter in New York baseball history.

With the Mets, Fernandez compiled a 98-78 record, a 3.14 ERA, and 1,449 strikeouts.

Mike Piazza arrived in Queens in 1998 following a whirlwind week that saw him traded twice in eight days, first from the Dodgers to the Marlins, and then finally to the Mets. While he had already established himself as a superstar in Los Angeles, his arrival in New York fundamentally shifted the trajectory of the franchise, giving them a Hall of Fame centerpiece and a powerhouse offensive engine they hadn't seen since the 1980s

In 1999, during his first full season with the club, Piazza delivered an incredible performance, smashing 40 home runs and driving in 124 runs while maintaining a .303 batting average. His stellar play helped lead the Mets to their first postseason appearance in eleven years, providing clutch moments that allowed the "Amazin's" to secure the National League Wild Card. This season truly showed that he was a top-tier run producer capable of carrying an entire lineup on his back, demonstrating that he could excel even under the intense pressure of the New York media spotlight.

His next season (2000) was even better.  He finished the year with a 1.012 OPS, 38 home runs, and 113 RBIs, finishing third in the National League MVP voting. He spearheaded the Mets' charge to the National League Pennant, famously helping the team navigate the "Subway Series" against the Yankees. During this peak, he was a giant at the plate whose presence alone forced opposing managers to alter their entire pitching strategy, eventually leading to his third Silver Slugger Award in a Mets uniform.

Beyond the box score, his residency reached a historic emotional plateau on September 21, 2001. In the first sporting event held in New York City after the 9/11 attacks, Piazza hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning that lifted the spirits of an entire city and country. 

After eight years as the face of the franchise, his tenure ended at the end of the 2005 season, when his seven-year contract expired, and the organization opted to move in a younger direction under new leadership. His final game at Shea Stadium was an emotional farewell, capped by an eight-minute standing ovation from the Flushing faithful.  Piazza departed with 1,028 hits, 220 home runs, and a .542 slugging percentage for the Mets.

After his playing career ended, he proved his heart belonged in Flushing by entering the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016 as a Met rather than as a Dodger. The organization retired his No. 31 that same year.

A first-round draft pick in 1967, Jon Matlack was a left-hander whose arrival signaled the birth of the "Big Three" alongside Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman. While he wasn't on the active roster for the 1969 miracle, he served as the crucial final piece of the rotation that would define the franchise's excellence over the next decade.

Matlack appeared in 1971 for a few games, but in 1972, Matlack delivered a brilliant debut campaign, winning 15 games with a 2.32 ERA to secure the National League Rookie of the Year award. He reached a historic summit during the 1973 "Ya Gotta Believe" season, authoring a legendary postseason performance. After helping the club capture the NL East, he dominated the Reds in the NLCS and famously outpitched the Oakland A’s in the World Series, throwing a complete-game three-hitter in Game 4.  The Mets lost the Fall Classic, but Matlack had arrived.

Between 1974 and 1976, Matlack was statistically one of the top pitchers despite receiving little run support. In 1974, he demonstrated a relentless ability to shut down opponents, leading the National League with seven shutouts and posting a 2.36 FIP. He continued this trend by leading the league in shutouts again in 1975 and earning three straight All-Star selections. His dominance was particularly evident in the 1975 All-Star Game, where he shared MVP honors after striking out the side in his appearance.

His run in Queens ended in the winter of 1977 following a difficult season for a struggling Mets squad. In a complex, four-team blockbuster trade, the organization sent him to the Texas Rangers.  Matlack overall went 82- 81 with a 3.03 ERA with the Mets. The team inducted Matlack into their Hall of Fame in 2021.

Al Leiter would have a very long career in Major League Baseball, nineteen seasons in total.  Seven of those were with the New York Mets, which were the most consistent of his career.  Arriving to New York after winning a World Series in Florida, Leiter would be a top or near top-of-the-rotation player for all of his seven years in New York.  Leiter would win 10 Games or more in all of his Mets seasons, accumulating 95 in total.  He would also represent the Mets in the All-Star Game in 2000, and 23 laters, he entered the Mets Hall of Fame.