Oft-injured with the Toronto Blue Jays, Al Leiter bolted from the Jays as a Free Agent in 1996 for the sunnier skies of Florida.  It was there that he was finally healthy and showed what he was capable of all along.

In 1996, he had his most successful year in professional baseball, posting 16 wins and a career-low ERA of 2.93. On May 11, he demonstrated exceptional command of the mound by pitching a no-hitter against the Rockies, a significant milestone for the young franchise. That summer, he achieved a historic milestone by earning his first All-Star selection, demonstrating that when in optimal health, his specialized "cutter" and high-velocity pitches were among the most effective in the senior circuit.

Leiter reached his peak in team success during the 1997 championship. His regular-season stats dipped, 11 wins and an ERA over 4.30, but he was a key part of Jim Leyland’s rotation. He became a postseason hero in the 1997 World Series, notably pitching six innings of two-run ball in Game 7 against Cleveland, helping the Marlins stay competitive for a late-inning rally.

Like so many 1997 Championship Marlins players, Leiter was part of the biggest baseball fire sale until the team did it again after their 2003 Title.  He was traded to the Mets, though he returned as a Free Agent for an ineffective year in 2005.  

With the Marlins, Leiter won 30 Games against 28 Losses with a 4.07 ERA.

Al Leiter first entered the home clubhouse at Shea Stadium in 1998 as a local from Toms River, New Jersey, who had grown up supporting the Amazins. Coming over in a trade from the Florida Marlins shortly after their 1997 World Series win, the seasoned left-hander took on a leading role at the top of the rotation.

Leiter demonstrated remarkable consistency, winning at least 10 games in each of his seven seasons with the Mets and accumulating 95 wins overall. His strong pitching and resilient mindset drove a successful period, making his staff a formidable challenge for NL East competitors. In the 1999 and 2000 seasons, he established himself as one of the team’s top big-game pitchers. In 1999, Leiter delivered a historic performance by pitching a two-hit complete game shutout against the Reds in the high-pressure one-game Wild Card tiebreaker, securing a spot in October for New York. The following year, he earned an All-Star nod, posting a 16-8 record and maintaining a 2.93 ERA over four postseason starts, helping the Mets reach the Subway Series.

In 2002, he added a unique piece of baseball history to his resume by becoming the first pitcher in the Major Leagues to record a victory against all 30 franchises, but it came to an end in Flushing after the 2004 season, when the Mets declined his option. 

With the Mets, Leiter owned a 95-67 record, a 3.42 ERA, and 1,106 strikeouts, and was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 2023.