Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we maintain and update our existing Top 50 lists annually.  We are pleased to present our pre-2026 revision of our top 50 New York Mets.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball, we look at the following: 

1.  Duration and Impact.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the Major League Baseball.

3.  Advanced Statistics.

4.  Playoff performance.

5. Their respective legacy on the team.

6. How successful the team was when he was there.

7. Respecting the era in which they played.

Criteria 1-4 will make up the lion’s share of the algorithm.  Please note that we have implemented this for the first time.  This has changed the rankings all throughout the board.

Last year, the Mets were a disappointment, winning 83 Games and failing to make the playoffs despite a loaded roster.  There were no new additions among active players, though the algorithm change allowed a former Met to enter the Top 50.  There were three elevations of active players based on last season.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes.

1. Tom Seaver
2. Dwight Gooden
3. Jacob deGrom
4. David Wright
5. Darryl Strawberry

You can find the entire list here.

Pete Alonso, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles in the off-season, did enough to move from #17 to #10.

Shortstop Francisco Lindor climbed to #18 from #24.

Outfielder Brandon Nimmo edged up one spot to #19.  He is now a Texas Ranger.

Jeff McNeil, who is now with the Athletics, went up two spots to #20.

The new algorithm brought Lee Mazzilli (at #49) and pushed Juan Lagares off the Top 50.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

The New York Mets selecting Lee Mazzilli in the first round of the 1973 draft was about more than just picking a promising prospect from Brooklyn; it was about welcoming a local legend. With his movie-star looks, flamboyant switch-hitting, and a signature "basket catch" at his waist while catching fly balls, the charismatic outfielder made his major league debut in 1976. He quickly became the team's main star and the literal heartbeat during one of its most challenging and low-leverage periods.

By the late 1970s, “Maz" had become the face of a rebuilding franchise, carrying the heavy burden with ease. He adapted flawlessly to the pressures of Shea Stadium, blending patience at the plate with surprising power and exceptional speed. His breakout year was 1979, a summer in which he alone kept New York baseball in the spotlight. Mazzilli earned his first All-Star nod, hitting 15 home runs, stealing 34 bases, and drawing 93 walks, which led to a remarkable .395 on-base percentage. He finished that summer by tying the game with a solo home run and then securing the win for the National League with a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning.

His peak productivity carried over into the 1980 campaign. Adjusting between center field and first base to suit the roster needs, Mazzilli achieved a career-high 162 hits, scored 82 runs, and drove in 61, while also stealing 31 bases. Even in a lineup that was largely stagnant, where opposing pitchers often walked him out of respect, he stayed a picture of durability and consistency, leading off at the top of the order for two consecutive seasons.

However, the team's urgent need to rebuild quickly led to his early departure. In April 1982, the front office orchestrated a major trade, sending the highly popular star to Texas for promising pitchers Ron Darling and Walt Terrell. Although this decision disappointed local fans, it eventually helped establish the pitching strength that formed the team's future championship core.

Fate had a poetic second act in store for the Brooklyn native. After brief stints with the Rangers, Yankees, and Pirates, the Mets reclaimed Mazzilli off waivers in August 1986. Recast as a potent bench asset, he embraced a quiet, high-stakes reserve role on the legendary 1986 team. He batted .302 in the season's final two months and scored a crucial run in Game 6 of the World Series, finally earning the championship ring that had previously eluded him during his earlier years in Queens.

Mazzilli remained with the team until mid-1989, concluding his nine-year tenure as a Met with 745 hits, 58 home runs, and a lasting place in local history.