New York Mets: The all-time top five closers in franchise history

It takes a bold pitcher to step on the mound with only three outs to work with. These five New York Mets closers did it better than anyone else.

Throughout the storied pitching history of the New York Mets, it has mostly been the starting pitchers who have made headlines. From Tom Seaver to Jerry Koosman to Dwight Gooden and now to Jacob deGrom, many starters have pitched their way into legendary status.

But despite the continued strength of Mets starting rotations over the years, let’s not forget that some of the most iconic moments in Mets history have featured their closers.

Who can forget the image of Jesse Orosco gleefully throwing his glove in air after striking out Marty Barrett to end the 1986 World Series? Or when Tug McGraw single-handedly injected hope into the Mets’ 1973 season with “Ya Gotta Believe”?

It goes without saying that for the past few seasons, the Mets bullpen has been, for lack of a better word, a weakness. Today though, I’d like to focus on some of the better relievers that the Mets have had, and rank the five best closers in franchise history.

5) Roger McDowell

When Mets fans today think about Roger McDowell, they might fondly recall his appearances on Seinfeld, his rain delay antics, and his reputation as the clubhouse prankster on the mid-to-late ’80s teams.

Underneath his fun-loving exterior, McDowell was also an integral part of the Mets’ bullpen during some of the team’s best years. He made his debut in 1985 when he appeared in 62 games and notched 17 saves, pitching to a 2.83 ERA and finishing 6th in the Rookie of the Year voting.

In 1986, McDowell paired with Jesse Orosco (more on him later) to create a rock-solid back of the Mets bullpen. That year, he appeared in 75 games and locked down 22 saves, while also pitching to a 14-9 record with a 3.02 ERA. McDowell’s efforts that year were rewarded with a top-20 finish in MVP voting.

McDowell was ultimately traded, along with Lenny Dykstra, to the Phillies in 1989, but after just a few years in Queens, he left an indelible mark on Mets history. He ranks seventh on the franchise all-time saves list with 84. Several of the pitchers ahead of him are also coming up on this list, starting with number four.

3) Jesse Orosco

Even disregarding his Mets career, Jesse Orosco has a well-deserved place in baseball lore. He has appeared in more games than anyone else in baseball history, pitching in 1252 games in a career that began in 1979 and did not finish until 2003.

The Mets acquired Orosco from the Minnesota Twins in 1978 in the somewhat infamous Koosman trade, and he proved to be a mainstay in their bullpen for the next eight seasons.

His first full year of excellence with New York was in 1982, when he hurled 109.1 innings in 54 appearances, ending the year with a 2.72 ERA. Orosco’s next two seasons were even better; he made the All-Star team in 1983 and 1984, posting a microscopic 1.47 ERA in 1983 and finishing 3rd in that year’s Cy Young voting.

Orosco reached his Mets peak in 1986, splitting closing duties with Roger McDowell and saving 21 games with a 2.33 ERA. He further proved his worth in the postseason and was a major factor in the Mets’ World Series win, appearing in four World Series games without allowing a single run. Orosco had the final moment of on-field glory that October, striking out Marty Barrett of the Red Sox to seal the championship for the Mets.

His joyous celebration on the mound immediately following that strikeout is one of the most famous images in Mets history, and has helped cement his legacy as one of the greatest closers they’ve ever had.

2) Tug McGraw

Tug McGraw’s lasting legacy as a Met is coining the famous rallying cry, “Ya Gotta Believe!” en route to the team’s improbable 1973 playoff run. Without his incredible on-field performance, however, this trip to the World Series would not have been possible.

McGraw was arguably the first elite reliever that came through the Mets’ system, making his debut in 1965 at the age of 20. He had a solid year for the Mets in his rookie season, tossing 97.2 innings with a 3.32 ERA.

After a murky next couple of years, followed by pitching the entire 1968 season in Triple-A, McGraw came back better than ever in 1969. He was an integral part of their championship run, posting a 2.24 ERA in over 100 innings pitched. He only saved 12 games, but this statistic does not fully reflect McGraw’s importance to the team’s success. He was the definition of a workhorse in the bullpen that year, and also started four games over the course of the season.

McGraw continued his dominance as a full-time reliever over the next few seasons, pitching particularly well in 1971 and 1972. He threw over 100 innings while finishing with a minuscule 1.70 ERA each year, leading to an All-Star selection and MVP votes in 1972.

The next year, in 1973, McGraw appeared in a whopping 60 games and tossed over 118 innings. Though the Mets did not emerge triumphant against the Oakland Athletics in the World Series, McGraw did his part to help, throwing 13.2 innings in five World Series games and posting a 2.63 ERA in those games.

He ended up leaving the Mets via a trade to the Phillies after the 1974 season, but McGraw did plenty over his nine years in the orange and blue to establish himself as one of the most beloved figures in the Mets’ colorful history.

1) John Franco

From 1990 until 2004, John Franco was a fixture at the back of the Mets’ bullpen. It is very rare for relievers to spend 10+ years with one team, which makes Franco’s Mets career even more special. His first year in Queens was one to remember, featuring an All-Star appearance and a new team record (since broken) of 33 saves, which also led the National League.

The Mets were not a great team for much of the 1990s, but Franco’s performance as Mets closer was mostly excellent (except for one blip in 1993 when he had a 5.20 ERA). Throughout the 1990s, Franco averaged 27 saves and a 2.81 ERA per year. He also finished top ten in Cy Young voting and top 20 in MVP voting in 1994.

Franco only appeared in two postseasons during his time in Flushing, but in three of those five postseason series, he did not allow a run. Franco also did his best to give the Mets a chance to win the 2000 World Series, appearing in four games with no runs allowed, but it was not quite enough to give the Amazins the championship.

Despite Franco’s consistency as a premier MLB reliever, he has the unfortunate distinction of pitching in the same era as Hall of Fame closers Mariano Rivera, Lee Smith, and Trevor Hoffman, all of whom took more of the spotlight. However, Franco’s career accomplishments should not be overlooked just because he was underrated when he was playing.

Franco is in the top 10 in several Mets franchise pitching categories; he holds the franchise save record with 276, and is tied for 7th in Mets history with a 3.10 ERA. Franco’s 424 career saves also places him at 5th on the all-time list.

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Though other closers have had single seasons that exceeded Franco’s brilliance, his longevity as an elite reliever is unmatched in franchise history. This longstanding excellence in a Mets uniform is why he is number one on my list, the greatest Mets closer of all time.