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NY Mets Mount Rushmore of Puerto Rican position players

By Adrian Cervantes

MIAMI - MARCH 14: Carlos Delgado #21 of Puerto Rico congratulates Carlos Beltran #15 after Beltran's solo home run in the seventh inning against the United States during round 2 of the World Baseball Classic at Dolphin Stadium on March 14, 2009 in Miami, Florida. Puerto Rico defeated the United States 11-1 in seven innings. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
MIAMI - MARCH 14: Carlos Delgado #21 of Puerto Rico congratulates Carlos Beltran #15 after Beltran's solo home run in the seventh inning against the United States during round 2 of the World Baseball Classic at Dolphin Stadium on March 14, 2009 in Miami, Florida. Puerto Rico defeated the United States 11-1 in seven innings. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – MAY 09: Carlos Delgado #21 of the New York Mets runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 9, 2009 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Pirates 10-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

2) First Baseman Carlos Delgado

When Carlos Delgado was traded to the Mets from the division rival Florida Marlins before the 2006 season, it seemed that the organization had acquired the legitimate middle of the order power threat to put them over the top. Hailing from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Delgado burst on to the scene in a big way for the Mets in 2006 as he put up 38 home runs and 114 RBI’s in the middle of the Mets robust lineup which helped propel the organization to a division title and the best record in the National League.

Delgado spent four seasons with the Mets between 2006-2009 and put up monster numbers before injuries took their toll on the slugger in 2009. During his four-year career with the Mets, Delgado had a .267/.351/.506 batting line to pair with a .857 OPS. His all-time greatest moment in a Mets uniform I believe was the day he set the Mets record with nine RBI’s in a game against the New York Yankees back in 2008 as part of that quirky two-park day-night doubleheader.

Overall, Delgado slugged 104 home runs and 339 RBI’s during his time in Queens, and you almost could assuredly bet that he’d be included among the Mets’ top ten all-time leaderboards if it weren’t for his injury-shortened 2009 campaign. Impressively enough, however, Delgado holds the third-highest slugging percentage in franchise history at .506 only behind Darryl Strawberry and Mike Piazza.

Delgado was also well known for his charitable efforts while with the organization, as he was the 2006 Roberto Clemente Award recipient in Major League Baseball. Delgado was involved in numerous humanitarianism ventures that included improving Puerto Rico’s education system, Three Kings Day gift donations, as well economic and medicinal donations in Puerto Rico. He certainly made sure to leave his mark off the field and he is still heavily involved in many social activism efforts after he retired from the game of baseball.

Carlos Delgado was one of the best overall humans to put on a Mets uniform, and both his play on the field as well as his social activism off the field are certainly worthy of the second spot on our Mount Rushmore.

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