3) Dean Chance
You need to really know your Mets history to recall Dean Chance playing for the team. Only 3 games in 1970, he was purchased away from the Cleveland Indians in September of 1970 only to be traded away to the Detroit Tigers before the start of the 1971 season. Chance gave up 3 runs in 2 innings of work while working out of the Mets bullpen. He managed to earn a loss and leave a forgettable impression on the franchise.
Years earlier in 1964 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels (they switched to California the following season), Chance put together one of the most remarkable seasons for a pitcher of any era. His 9.4 WAR, 20 wins, 1.65 ERA, and 11 shutouts all led the league. While it was Sandy Koufax we associate most with dominating on the mound in Southern California, this year was Chance’s to be victorious. The league still had only one Cy Young winner at the time and Chance took the honor with 17 of 20 first-place votes.
Somewhat coincidentally, the National League MVP in 1964 was another guy who’d eventually join the Mets and have a mostly forgotten stint. Ken Boyer of the St. Louis Cardinals was the one to beat everyone else with fellow future Mets like Joe Torre and Willie Mays in the top 10 as well.
Even the most storied Mets fans can overlook Chance’s time with the club. Unless we’re forgetting anyone else even more obscure, he’s the last ex-Cy Young winner you’d think of to play for the Mets.