New York Mets “all-power” lineup of the franchise’s top sluggers

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23 Apr 1999: Mike Piazza #31 of the New York Mets signs autographs before the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Mets defeated the Cubs 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

An “all-power” lineup for the New York Mets includes some of the franchise’s greatest players.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. In the world of the New York Mets, absolute power lands you in the heart of fans.

Hitting home runs goes a long way toward success in Major League Baseball. A single dinger can shift momentum. It can secure a lead or put your team ahead.

You already know all of this. You’ve seen plenty of members from the orange and blue round the bases after hitting baseballs a long way. But which of them did it the best? We’ve put together an “all-power” lineup for the Mets.

Pitcher – Dwight Gooden

Pitchers and home runs usually go together in a bad way. Every nine times through the lineup, however, they have a chance to spin positively.

Dwight Gooden was more than a dazzling young arm on the Mets in the 1980s. He was also a pitcher who could rake. He managed to hit 7 home runs for the Mets during his time with the Amazins. Together with a .197 batting average, he’s certainly worthy of a spot on this list.

Unlike Tom Seaver who managed to smack 3 home runs in a single-season, Doc spread his out. He only hit more than a single dinger once in his career, when in 1993 he knocked a pair over the wall.

Catcher – Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza never held any Mets home run records. Even for catchers, he never reached the 41 Todd Hundley hit in 1996. Nevertheless, he’s the clear choice to be on this club’s all-power lineup.

During parts of 8 seasons with the Mets, Piazza smashed 220 home runs. His highest came in 1999 when he reached 40—just one shy of the franchise record.

It’s the consistency that made Piazza such a threat for home runs. From 1999-2002, he averaged 37 all while playing the catcher position. This meant more wear and tear on his body and fewer at-bats because of more regular off-days. It never stopped Piazza in his career on his path to 427 home runs before retirement.

DENVER, COLORADO – SEPTEMBER 18: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 18, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

First Baseman – Pete Alonso

Is it too early to put Pete Alonso this list? With just one season under his belt thus far, I don’t think so.

Alonso hit a Mets and rookie record 53 home runs in the year 2019. It’s only the beginning of what could be a masterful career full of power and busted light-towers.

One only needs to watch Alonso at the plate to realize just how special of a hitter he is. The kid is a throwback slugger. Best of all, he’s young and should remain in Flushing for at least the better part of the 2020s.

Second Baseman – Edgardo Alfonzo

Second base isn’t a position you will typically find a power hitter. Despite this, Edgardo Alfonzo’s two best home run seasons came when this was his primary position. He makes it an easy choice to land on this list.

The 1999 campaign included 27 home runs from Alfonzo’s bat. It set a positional record for the franchise. He nearly matched it the following year when Alfonzo added another 25 home runs to his career total.

Fonzie’s greatest contributions to the organization went beyond the ability to pop home runs. However, this part of his game was better than anyone else at the position.

Third Baseman – Howard Johnson

Howard Johnson was a special Mets player. He had a lot of speed and plenty of power to match it. Since this is the all-power team, let’s stick with the latter.

Johnson hit 36 home runs for the Mets twice before setting a personal best of 38 in 19991. This was better than everyone else in the National League, too. At a time when only a handful of players were reaching 30, HoJo was challenging for 40.

In his nine seasons with the club, Johnson hit 192 home runs. Considering several of those seasons held him back due to injury or a part-time player status, it’s quite an incredible number.

Shortstop – Asdrubal Cabrera

Like second base, shortstop is a position we don’t usually find a power hitter at. In 2016, Asdrubal Cabrera attempted to redefine traditional thinking.

Cabrera became the Mets’ starting shortstop this season. He showed the team they made the right decision when he knocked a franchise record 23 home runs at the position.

While not overpowering, Cabrera definitely appeared to be more of a home run threat than any other shortstop in Mets history.

Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets hitting during MLB regular season game against the Baltimore Orioles, played at Shea Stadium in Queens, N.Y. on June 17, 2006. Orioles defeated Mets 4 – 2 during interleague play. (Photo by Bryan Yablonsky/Getty Images) /

Left Field – Dave Kingman

Dave Kingman didn’t play all that much left field for the Mets, but it was a spot he did occasionally find himself at during his New York tenure. It’s also essential we get him into the all-power lineup. This is Dave Kingman, after all.

Kingman is the definition of a power hitter. Hitting home runs was his primary goal even at the cost of striking out and a low batting average.

Through his two stops with the team, Kingman managed to hit 154 home runs. He even led the league with 37 in 1982—the second time he topped the rest of the league in his career and the first as a member of the Metropolitans.

Center Field – Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran’s Mets story has had more twists and turns than anyone would have ever expected when he first signed with the team before the 2005 season. It looked like he would manage the team in 2020, but his involvement in the 2017 Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal nixed that opportunity.

Regardless of this, Beltran is still worthy of a spot on the team’s all-power lineup. His 41 dingers in 2006 tied Hundley’s record set a decade prior. He put together other powerful seasons as well, finishing his time with the Mets hitting 149.

Center fielders don’t always have the same level of power Beltran did during his career. It’s a nice addition any team would want from a position typically yearning more for speed and defense above anything else.

Right Field – Darryl Strawberry

If I was putting together a list of the sweetest swings in Mets history, it would be a one-man list of Darryl Strawberry. Nobody compares to him in this category.

Strawberry is the best home run hitter in Mets history thanks to his franchise-record 252. He accomplished this by hitting anywhere from 26-39 every year from his debut season in 1983 through his final year with the Mets in 1990.

Not only is Strawberry the all-time Mets home run king, he’s also the franchise’s undeniable best right fielder. I don’t foresee him getting replaced on this list anytime soon.

Next. Mets home run leaders at every position

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