New York Mets best five offensive teams in franchise history

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NEW YORK – APRIL 09: Carlos Delgado #21 and David Wright #5 of the New York Mets celebrate after scoring on a hit by Moises Alou #18 in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies during the home opener at Shea Stadium on April 9, 2007 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

The New York Mets weren’t always known for their offense. In fact, during their early years, the complete opposite was true.

It took the club until 1986 to have 700+ runs scored season. That championship squad blew past the number, scoring a total of 783 runs—nearly 100 more than the 1970 and 1985 Mets who held the previous record.

In terms of runs scored, though, the 1986 Mets aren’t even close to number one. Several other squads outscored them. And that is what I’d like to talk about here, the greatest Mets offenses of all-time.

This can be a subjective list but it can also be a simple one based on the top reason that makes an offense successful, scoring runs. Even though the era played a factor, there’s no denying these five Mets teams had some of the best run-producers to ever step foot in Flushing.

5) 2007 Mets, 804 runs scored

The 2007 Mets are the most recent team to score 800+ runs in a season. They did so with an awesome core of players left over from their run to the NLCS in 2006.

The RBI leader on this squad was center fielder Carlos Beltran with 112. He managed to do so thanks to his team-leading 33 home runs.

David Wright, with 30 home runs and 107 RBI, finished second in both categories. The one thing he did that Beltran didn’t was cross the plate 100+ times. His 113 runs scored is the third of his second-place finishes in the big run-producing categories. In first place, we can find Jose Reyes with 119 runs scored.

This Mets team wasn’t incredibly deep with power. Aside from Beltran and Wright, only Carlos Delgado hit a significant number of dingers. He had 24 to go with his 87 RBI.

The Mets received significant contributions from other players as well. Even if their RBI or run totals weren’t so grand, it’s worth mentioning.

All eight of the primary Mets starters hit .258 or higher. Wright and Moises Alou were both above .300.

Even on the bench, the Mets received some solid play. Damion Easley, Ruban Gotay, Lastings Milledge, Endy Chavez, and Ramon Castro were all .272+ hitters. Easley and Castro even managed to go double-digits with their home run totals.

16 Oct 2000: Catcher Mike Piazza #31 of the New York Mets celebrate with win as he walks off the field after the National Leage Division Series Game Five against the St. Louis Cardinals at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. The Mets defeated the Cardinals 7-0.Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport /

4) 2000 Mets, 807 runs scored

A team near and dear to the hearts of many, the 2000 Mets are most remembered for their appearance in the World Series versus the New York Yankees. Sadly, the ending wasn’t the one fans in Flushing dreamed of. The fourth-best offensive team in club history only managed to come away with a single victory in the best of seven series.

The regular season for this Mets team included plenty of run-scoring. In total, they managed to put across 807 runs. The main culprits were some very familiar names.

Mike Piazza was the go-to run-producer on the team. His 38 home runs and 113 RBI each led the team. In first-place with 109 runs scored we find second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo.

Fonzy had an awesome season of his own. Not usually recognized as a star offensive player, he hit 25 home runs and finished the year with 94 RBI. What’s more, he walked 95 times to help award him with a .425 OBP.

The run-scoring did go beyond those two. This Mets team was heavy with home run hitters.

Right behind Alfonzo on the home run list, we find Robin Ventura with 24 and then Todd Zeile with 22. They had 84 and 79 RBI respectively.

In the outfield, the Mets got 15 home runs from Benny Agbayani, 17 from Jay Payton, and another 18 from Derek Bell. The only starting position without 15 or more home runs was at shortstop. Between Rey Ordonez and Mike Bordick, there wasn’t much power.

The bench wasn’t built incredibly well but it did have some notable performances. Backup catcher Todd Pratt hit .275 with 8 home runs and 25 RBI. Lenny Harris was a .304 hitter in his 157 trips to the plate.

The 2000 Mets season included a good mix of offense and pitching. When it counted most, though, it wasn’t enough.

PITTSBURGH, PA – 1987: Darryl Strawberry of the New York Mets bats during a Major League Baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium in 1987 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

3) 1987 Mets, 823 runs scored

Now we’re going back a little further before some of you were born. Much to my surprise, the 1987 Mets have the third-most runs scored in any season.

Sandwiched between the 1986 team and the success of the 1988 squad, we have a season a little lighter on pitching but plenty heavy on hitting.

You could probably guess who led the team in RBI. If you said Darryl Strawberry, pat yourself on the back. His 104 RBI, 39 home runs, and 108 runs scored all led the way for the Mets. All he was missing was the batting average for a team Triple Crown. However, at .284, it was an impressive performance out of one of the greatest sluggers in team history.

Strawberry got help from a new source. Howard Johnson had a breakout season as the club’s starting third baseman. He rocketed 36 home runs and drove in 99 all while stealing 32 bases. Together with Strawberry, the pair each managed to have a 30/30 campaign.

The Mets had one other guy reach the 90+ RBI plateau. Newcomer Kevin McReynolds showed up as the team’s left fielder ready to play. He logged 95 RBI while blasting 29 home runs of his own.

Along with those three, the Mets got 20 home runs and 83 RBI from Gary Carter, 19 home runs and 89 RBI from Keith Hernandez, and a good combination of offense out of Lenny Dykstra and Mookie Wilson platooning in center field.

Maybe the most surprising number of all came from Tim Teufel. In 351 plate appearances, Teufel hit .308 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI. He easily outplayed Wally Backman and Rafael Santana this season, the two primary middle infielders on the roster.

Finally, I would like to note that the Mets had .300+ seasons out of Dave Magadan and Lee Mazzilli off the bench. Put it all together and we get another great offense from the Amazins.

ST LOUIS – OCTOBER 15: Carlos Beltran #15 with Jose Reyes of the New York Mets celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during game four of the NLCS at Busch Stadium on October 15, 2006 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2) 2006 Mets, 834 runs scored

One of the more beloved teams of the last 20 years, the 2006 Mets were all about their offense. The team scored 834 runs and were a win away from making it to the World Series. As any fan knows, it was their greatest offensive weapon that came up short.

The 2006 Mets team swatted a lot of home runs. It was the year Carlos Beltran tied Todd Hundley with a franchise-record 41. Beltran did more than just knock home runs. He finished the year with 116 RBI and scored a team-best 127 runs.

Beltran had a lot of help. David Wright had 26 home runs of his own and tied the Mets center field star with 116 ribbies. Yet a third player reached triple-digits in RBI. Carlos Delgado, with 114 of them, got there thanks in large part to the 38 home runs.

One of the team’s most prolific run-scorers was shortstop Jose Reyes. In possibly his best season on offense, Reyes scored 122 runs. His year was complete with a .300 batting average, 19 home runs, 81 RBI, and 64 stolen bases.

What separates this Mets team from others on this list is their lack of excellent depth as far as offense goes. The bench players didn’t have a particularly memorable year. However, the main starting eight did.

Maybe one of the more surprising performances came from second baseman Jose Valentin. The veteran infielder hit .271 for the club while belting 18 home runs and driving in 62. It was an unexpectedly great year from the 36-year-old MLB veteran.

New York Mets’ right fielder Benny Agbayani (L) congratulates Edgardo Alfonso (R) after he scored on a base hit by John Olerud in the third inning 08 October against the Arizona Diamondbacks in game three of the National League Division Series at Shea Stadium in Flushing, NY. The best-of-five series is tied 1-1. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Timothy A. CLARY (Photo by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) /

1) 1999 Mets, 853 runs scored

Right in the heart of the Steroid Era, we find the greatest Mets offensive team of all-time. They are the 1999 Mets. With 853 runs scored, they set a new mark for the franchise. It’s one we might never see broken again.

A lot went right for the 97-win team in 1999. Even though they had to go to a 163rd game to make it to the postseason as the Wild Card squad, the season was incredibly fun. We have the offense to thank.

This roster wasn’t filled with power. Instead, they found other ways to score runs other than just home runs. That said, there were three guys on the roster with 25+ home runs and 100+ RBI.

Those three men include Mike Piazza with 40 home runs and 124 RBI, Robin Ventura with 32 home runs and 120 RBI, and Edgardo Alfonso with 27 home runs and 108 RBI. Not far behind we find John Olerud with 19 home runs and 96 RBI.

Three players—Piazza, Olerud, and Alfonzo—scored 100 runs or more. Ventura, Rickey Henderson, and Roger Cedeno were in the 80+ club in this category.

This Mets team had multiple players with some impressive batting averages. Piazza, Alfonzo, Ventura, Henderson, and Cedeno all hit over .300. Olerud, meanwhile, with a franchise-record 125 walks led the team with a .427 OBP.

The Mets stole bases—Henderson had 37 and Cedeno had 66—and knocked the cover off the ball both in the starting lineup and off the bench. In part-time roles, Benny Agbayani, Darryl Hamilton, and Todd Pratt all turned in fine performances. Even Shawon Dunston, in 97 plate appearances, contributed with a .344 batting average.

Next. Five times the Mets were catfished by a free agent

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Everything you could possibly want from an offense happened with this club. Amazingly, despite such a prolific lineup of bats, they might still be remembered most for their infield defense.

Home / New York Mets All-Time Lists

5) 2007 Mets, 804 runs scored

4) 2000 Mets, 807 runs scored

3) 1987 Mets, 823 runs scored

2) 2006 Mets, 834 runs scored

1) 1999 Mets, 853 runs scored

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