Tug McGraw debuted for the New York Mets in 1965, but it was not until 1969 that he put himself on the baseball map.  Of course, many of the Mets in 1969 did the same thing!

During the 1969 season, McGraw delivered a remarkable performance, finishing with a 9-3 record, 12 saves, and a 2.24 ERA. He was exceptional in the final stretch, allowing only two earned runs in his last 34 innings to help the New York Mets catch the Chicago Cubs. While pitchers like Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman took the spotlight in October, McGraw’s dependable left arm provided the Mets with a vital safety net from the bullpen throughout the postseason. This steadiness contributed to their surprising five-game victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles, clinching the 1969 World Series title.

After winning the initial world title, McGraw established himself as one of the top late-inning pitchers in the National League. His peak years were 1971 and 1972, during which he pitched 111 innings with a remarkable 1.70 ERA in 1971. In 1972, he earned his first All-Star spot, posting a stellar 1.69 ERA and leading his team with 27 saves.

Beyond his impressive statistics, McGraw secured his place as a legendary figure by taking on the emotional leadership role in the clubhouse. During the historic late-season push in 1973, he climbed onto a locker room chair and passionately shouted the phrase that would become a lasting franchise motto: "Ya Gotta Believe!" This rallying cry was supported by his relentless work ethic and durability, as he saved 25 games to help the underdog Mets reach another World Series. His outstanding performances in 1972 and 1973 earned him widespread respect among peers, earning him votes for the National League MVP in both years.

The Mets traded McGraw to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1974, where he would play a huge part in their first World Series win in 1980.  With the Mets, McGraw had a 47-55 record with 94 saves.  He would later enter the Mets Hall of Fame in 1993.

In December 1984, Gary Carter joined the Mets through a major trade with the Montreal Expos, which sent Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham, and Floyd Youmans to Canada. The Mets, an ascending team, lacked an experienced veteran behind the plate, and "The Kid”, considered the best catcher in baseball, came to New York to bring immediate championship experience.

Carter wasted no time, delivering an impressive debut in 1985 by matching his career high with 32 home runs and 100 RBIs, earning a sixth-place spot in the NL MVP voting. He built on this momentum in 1986 with a remarkable season, hitting 24 home runs and accumulating 105 RBIs, while also providing exceptional defensive intelligence that stabilized the pitching staff. His consistent ability to bat in the middle of the order earned him a well-deserved third-place finish in the MVP race, solidifying his status as one of the league's top catchers.

Beyond his basic stats, Carter became a legendary figure in New York through his pivotal moments in the 1986 postseason. He hit a walk-off single in Game 5 of the NLCS against Houston, hit two home runs in Game 4 of the World Series, and famously sparked the crucial two-out rally in the 10th inning of Game 6 with a clutch single to left field. Although he was selected as an All-Star four years in a row from 1985 to 1988 as a Met, his physical performance declined sharply during his last two years, as the demanding nature of catching heavily impacted his knees. He was released after the 1989 season.

While the rank of Carter might seem low, realistically, he was only good for the first half of his half-decade run

The Mets honored Carter with a franchise Hall of Fame induction in 2001, and he was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Jerry Grote secured the starting catcher position in Flushing in 1966 after an off-season trade from Houston for pitcher Tom Parsons. A tough, short-tempered Texan, Grote quickly brought a fierce, competitive spirit to an organization used to struggling at the bottom of the National League. Although his batting rarely attracted attention, he was the unchallenged defensive leader during the franchise's initial era of success. With a strong arm and a sharp baseball intellect, he dictated the game’s pace from behind the plate.

In 1969, Grote served as the defensive anchor and pitch caller for the “Miracle Mets”. That summer, he achieved a remarkable .991 fielding percentage and successfully threw out 56.3% of potential base-stealers, showcasing exceptional run prevention that ranked second in the National League. He played every inning of the 1969 postseason, skillfully guiding rising stars like Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and a young Nolan Ryan through the intense pressure of October with veteran composure.

He was named a National League All-Star twice with the New York Mets, notably earning the starting spot in the 1968 midsummer classic after batting over .300 in the first half of the season, and he returned to the team in 1974. A consistent professional, he often delivered in clutch moments, accumulating 994 hits with the Mets and helping lead the team back to the World Series during the 1973 "Ya Gotta Believe" pennant race. His skill was recognized even by the game's top players; Hall of Famer Johnny Bench famously complimented his catching ability, saying that if he and Grote were on the same team, Bench would be forced to play third base.

With John Stearns waiting in the wings, Grote was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1977 season.

The Mets inducted Grote into their Hall of Fame in 1992.

In April 1982, Ron Darling joined the majors as a minor league prospect through a valuable trade with the Texas Rangers, where he was exchanged along with pitcher Walt Terrell for infielder Lee Mazzilli. An Ivy League graduate from Yale with an outstanding athletic background, the right-hander rapidly established himself as a key member of the starting rotation. Although Dwight Gooden dominated the national headlines with his spectacular performances, Darling proved to be a reliable and steady frontline pitcher for the team.

Darling consistently delivered at least 12 wins over six consecutive seasons, leveraging a wide array of pitches and an outstanding pickoff move to weaken opposing offenses. His first major personal achievement came in 1985, when he won 16 games with a remarkable 2.90 ERA, earning his only All-Star nod and cementing his status as a leading pitcher.

He followed that surge with a masterful 1986 season, reaching a 15-6 record and lowering his ERA to 2.81, third best in the league. His performance earned him fifth place in NL Cy Young voting and helped his team win 108 games. In the Fall Classic, he pitched 17.2 innings with just three earned runs, and won Game 4 at Fenway, tying the series.

Darling still contributed significantly to the franchise's identity; he amassed a large number of wins, finishing with a career-high 17 in 1988, and earned a Gold Glove Award in 1989, recognizing him as one of the best fielding pitchers of his era.  The story in New York ended when he was traded to the Montreal Expos during the 1991 season.

Darling compiled a 99-70 record, a 3.50 ERA, and 1,148 strikeouts as a Met, and in 2020, he was selected for the franchise’s Hall of Fame.