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Best Mets starting position player on every World Series team we don’t talk about enough

By Tim Boyle

NEW YORK - CIRCA 1973: Felix Millan #16 of the New York Mets throws over the top of Johnny Bench #5 of the Cincinnati Reds during an Major League Baseball game circa 1973 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Millan played for the Mets from 1973-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1973: Felix Millan #16 of the New York Mets throws over the top of Johnny Bench #5 of the Cincinnati Reds during an Major League Baseball game circa 1973 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Millan played for the Mets from 1973-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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9 Mar 2000: Derek Bell #16 of the New York Mets runs to a base during the Spring Training Game against the Houston Astros at Olceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport /

Best 2000 Mets position player we don’t talk about enough – Derek Bell

I’m a big Derek Bell fan. The third of the “Three Bees” from the Houston Astros in the 1990s, he spent just one season with the Mets in the year 2000. Just as the Astros seemed to write him off following a bad year in 1999, Bell proved he had a little something left.

Bell slashed .266/.348/.425 for the Mets in the regular season. He finished the year with 31 doubles, 18 home runs, and 69 RBI. Overlooked, he also scored 87 runs.

The team’s primary starting right fielder in 2000 helped the Mets complete a very good outfield trio. I could have easily selected Jay Payton or Benny Agbayani for this list. I think people remember them a lot more because of the time they spent in New York. Bell had only one season to give.

Unfortunately, Bell suffered an injury after one postseason at-bat. He wasn’t able to get back on the field for the run to the World Series—yet another reason as to why I think his performance has been lost.

Bell never did manage to recapture what he did for years in Houston or what he was able to accomplish in his lone season in orange and blue. The 2001 season was his final one where he hit just .173 for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

If there’s one more thing I would have liked to see from Bell, it’s a postseason moment of glory. Sadly, we never got it.

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