%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20868.5%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%20868.5%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23002B74%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23FF4A00%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cg%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M126.5%2C145.2c-2.7-6-2.9-15.2-4-24.9c-0.3-2.9-2.4-14.8-8.1-21c-5.6-6.2-12.7-8.7-13.8-9.4%0A%09%09%09c10.2-3.8%2C16.4-8.6%2C20.3-15.9c6.7-13%2C7.3-27.3-5.1-39.7c-3-3-7.6-5.4-13.7-7.5c-23-8.1-62.7%2C2.5-83.7-4.4%0A%09%09%09c-6.7-2.2-7.9-7.1-8.7-10.8c-0.6-3.5-5.2-0.6-7%2C2.1C0.1%2C18-3.1%2C27.3%2C6.3%2C33.9c11.3%2C7.9%2C47.2%2C4.4%2C69.6%2C4.8%0A%09%09%09c24.1%2C0.3%2C27.9%2C18.7%2C18.7%2C35.4c-7.1%2C12.5-23.7%2C11.6-26.4%2C10.8c1.1-3.8%2C9.4-28.9%2C10.3-32.2c1.8-5.6-2.4-9.7-7-8.4%0A%09%09%09c-6.2%2C2.1-5.1%2C4.9-25.2%2C10c-6.8%2C1.7-3.6%2C5.7-1.7%2C9.4c0.6%2C1.1%2C0.5%2C3.3%2C0%2C5.6c-0.3%2C1.3-14.1%2C48.7-18.3%2C61.1%0A%09%09%09c-1.3%2C3.7-3.3%2C4.6-5.9%2C6.5c-5.7%2C4-6.8%2C9.7%2C0.8%2C9.7c12.1-0.2%2C23.2%2C0%2C34.5%2C0c3%2C0%2C5.1-1.4%2C5.2-4.4c0-5.2-6.2-5.2-6.3-8.3%0A%09%09%09c2.4-9.5%2C6.8-27.1%2C9.7-36.4c8.7-0.6%2C15.6%2C1.4%2C20.2%2C4.8c5.7%2C4.1%2C6.3%2C12.7%2C6.7%2C16c0.9%2C11.1%2C1.6%2C26.7%2C4.6%2C35.2%0A%09%09%09c2.1%2C5.7%2C5.2%2C11.3%2C10.3%2C14c13%2C6.8%2C29.4%2C1.3%2C34.9-2.2c4.3-2.4%2C5.6-5.6%2C4-8.4C143%2C153.3%2C132.7%2C158.9%2C126.5%2C145.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M162.4%2C65.8c6.5%2C0%2C12.4-4.9%2C13.2-11.1c0.9-6.3-3.7-11.3-10-11.3c-6.5%2C0-12.4%2C4.9-13.3%2C11.3%0A%09%09%09C151.5%2C60.9%2C155.9%2C65.8%2C162.4%2C65.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M275.2%2C65.8c6.5%2C0%2C12.4-4.9%2C13.2-11.1c0.9-6.3-3.7-11.3-10-11.3c-6.5%2C0-12.4%2C4.9-13.3%2C11.3%0A%09%09%09C264.3%2C60.9%2C268.7%2C65.8%2C275.2%2C65.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M465.2%2C110c0.9-2.1%2C2.2-6.8%2C0.5-8.6c-2.7-2.9-8.1-1.9-10.3%2C1.9c-3.8%2C6.8-8.6%2C22.9-17.5%2C23.5%0A%09%09%09c-1.4%2C0.2-2.5-0.3-3.5-1.3c-0.8-1-1.3-2.5-0.3-7.9c2.1-7.1%2C3-10.6%2C4.3-14c3-8.9%2C5.7-15.7%2C6.7-17.6c3-5.7%2C4.4-6.7%2C4.8-9.2%0A%09%09%09c0.5-1.9-0.8-3.2-2.1-3.5c-3-0.6-4.8%2C1.6-9%2C2.2c-5.2%2C1-14.1-1.1-14.6%2C2.2c-0.8%2C5.4-2.5%2C9.7-5.1%2C16.8c-6.8%2C20.5-9.4%2C26-9.9%2C27.9%0A%09%09%09c-8.6%2C21-18.6%2C13.3-17.3-0.3c0.5-4.8%2C1.3-10.6%2C3.2-16.5c5.1-15.2%2C10.2-20.8%2C16.4-21c2.4%2C4.1%2C8.9%2C2.7%2C9.4-2.4c0-3.8-3-7.5-12.9-6.7%0A%09%09%09c-17.2%2C1.2-33.8%2C15-39.4%2C33.4c-3.9%2C8.4-8.3%2C19.8-15.1%2C18.8c-3.2-0.3-3-4.8-2.2-8.6c0.5-2.9%2C4.6-15.4%2C4.8-22.5%0A%09%09%09c0.2-8.9-5.9-19.2-18.4-19.7c-5.1-0.2-9.5%2C2.2-13.5%2C5.4c1.3-1.9%2C1.9-2.9%2C2.2-4.6c0.2-1.8-1.1-3.2-2.1-3.3c-3-0.8-4.9%2C1.6-9%2C2.2%0A%09%09%09c-5.4%2C0.9-14.3-1.1-14.9%2C2.2c-0.8%2C5.2-2.2%2C9.7-4.9%2C16.8c-2.2%2C5.9-4.2%2C11.5-6.2%2C17.1c-3.3%2C6.9-7.4%2C14.4-13.3%2C15%0A%09%09%09c-1.4%2C0-2.5-0.3-3.5-1.4c-1.1-1.3-1.6-4.6%2C1.1-13.3c4.1-13%2C8.3-23.7%2C9.5-26.2c2.9-5.7%2C4.4-6.5%2C4.8-9.2c0.3-1.9-1-3.2-1.9-3.3%0A%09%09%09c-3.2-0.8-4.9%2C1.4-9.2%2C2.2c-5.4%2C1-14.3-1.3-14.8%2C2.1c-0.8%2C5.4-2.2%2C9.7-4.9%2C16.8c-1.1%2C3-3%2C8-4.6%2C12.5c-2.3%2C5.2-6%2C12.4-12.2%2C17.7%0A%09%09%09c-0.8%2C0.6-2.1%2C1.4-3.5%2C2.1c1.6-7.8-2.5-16.5-13-23.2c-2.9-1.9-6-3.7-8.7-5.4c-3.5-2.2-4.6-5.9-3.6-10.2c1.6-7.5%2C13.7-6.7%2C15.7-3.3%0A%09%09%09c-2.7%2C1.7-5.7%2C4.9-5.9%2C8.4c-0.2%2C5.7%2C4.3%2C10.6%2C10%2C10.8c10%2C0%2C14.4-10.2%2C11.3-18.3c-3.5-8.9-13.3-12.1-22.7-12.4%0A%09%09%09c-9-0.3-18.3%2C1.4-26.4%2C6.5c-7.3%2C4.6-10.5%2C10.9-11.1%2C17.5c-0.1%2C1.4%2C0.2%2C2.6%2C0.4%2C3.8c-0.8%2C0.6-1.5%2C1.3-2%2C2.2%0A%09%09%09c-3.8%2C6.8-8.7%2C22.9-17.5%2C23.7c-1.4%2C0-2.5-0.3-3.5-1.4c-1.1-1.3-1.6-4.6%2C1.1-13.3c4.1-13%2C8.3-23.7%2C9.5-26.2%0A%09%09%09c2.9-5.7%2C4.4-6.5%2C4.8-9.2c0.3-1.9-1-3.2-1.9-3.3c-3.2-0.8-4.9%2C1.4-9.2%2C2.2c-5.4%2C1-14.3-1.3-14.8%2C2.1c-0.8%2C5.4-2.2%2C9.7-4.9%2C16.8%0A%09%09%09c-2.1%2C5.7-7.1%2C19-7.6%2C20.8c-1.4%2C4.6-2.4%2C11.3-2.4%2C13.5c0%2C5.2%2C1.3%2C8.6%2C2.4%2C10.2c6.9%2C9.3%2C23.6%2C11.2%2C40.5-7.8%0A%09%09%09c-0.4%2C6.4%2C3.8%2C10.8%2C9.4%2C12.7c7.6%2C2.4%2C17.1%2C2.4%2C18.3%2C2.4c13.2%2C0.2%2C24-1.6%2C36.7-9.5c2.2-1.4%2C4.1-2.9%2C6-4.4c0.4%2C3.1%2C1.1%2C5.5%2C2%2C6.6%0A%09%09%09c5.5%2C7.5%2C17.4%2C10.2%2C30.6%2C1.2c0.1%2C2.8%2C2.3%2C5.3%2C5.3%2C5.3h13.3c2.2%2C0%2C4.3-1.6%2C5.1-3.8c5.1-14.1%2C8.9-26.7%2C14.3-39.5%0A%09%09%09c1.7-4.1%2C4.3-8.6%2C6.2-11.3c4.9-6.8%2C14.1-9.2%2C10%2C3.8c-6.7%2C21.1-13%2C36.2-7.1%2C44.5c7%2C9.6%2C24.5%2C11.1%2C41.8-9.4c1.2%2C3%2C2.7%2C5.7%2C4.9%2C8%0A%09%09%09c9.2%2C9.7%2C22.5%2C8.4%2C31.1%2C3.2c-0.6%2C2.4-1.3%2C5.1-1.7%2C7.5c-9.8%2C42.5-37.5%2C30.6-34.3%2C20.5c5.9%2C1.6%2C12.7-1.1%2C12.5-8.2%0A%09%09%09c0-5.6-6-9.9-12.4-6.5c-3.5%2C1.7-3%2C3.2-5.2%2C3c-9.4-1.1-24-2.2-29.5-2.5c-15.9-1.1-37.5-2.9-50.5-1.6c-4.1%2C0.3-21%2C3.3-21.4%2C16.4%0A%09%09%09c-0.5%2C7%2C4.4%2C13.5%2C12.1%2C14.5c12.4%2C1.9%2C19.7-9.9%2C30-12.5c11.4-2.9%2C33-5.4%2C53.8-3.2c-1.1%2C6.5%2C0.2%2C13.8%2C3%2C18.3c3.8%2C6.2%2C10%2C9.7%2C18.9%2C11%0A%09%09%09c21.3%2C2.9%2C33.3-14%2C37.5-22.9c4.8-10.3%2C7.5-20.5%2C7.5-20.5l2.2-9c8.4-0.5%2C18.9-5.9%2C29.2-19.8C462.1%2C118.1%2C463.4%2C114.3%2C465.2%2C110z%0A%09%09%09%20M204.7%2C137.8c-3.5%2C0.9-6-0.3-7-4c-0.6-2.2-1.7-6.7-5.9-9.2c-1.8-1-5.2-1.7-8.4-0.7c3.1-4.6%2C4.6-7.8%2C5.8-10.7%0A%09%09%09c7.9%2C7.2%2C19.5%2C12.3%2C19.7%2C17.6C209.1%2C134.6%2C207.5%2C137%2C204.7%2C137.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M589.9%2C158.3c-2.4-2.8-12.1%2C1.8-18.1-11.3c-0.3-0.7-0.6-1.4-0.9-2.1C558.7%2C115.5%2C550.8%2C47%2C549.7%2C30%0A%09%09%09c1-1.6%2C2.1-3.5%2C2.5-4.8c2.5-5.9-2.2-10.6-6.2-8.7c-6.5%2C2.4-3.2%2C4-24.1%2C9.8c-7.1%2C2.1-3.8%2C6.5-1.7%2C10.6c0%2C0.3%2C0.3%2C1.4%2C0.6%2C3%0A%09%09%09c-2.4%2C4-53.7%2C87.7-57.3%2C92.3c-2.1%2C2.9-4.1%2C3.5-6.5%2C5.7c-3.8%2C3.5-3.8%2C8.7%2C2.5%2C8.6c1.7%2C0%2C17.3%2C0%2C25.6%2C0c2.9%2C0%2C4.6-2.9%2C4-5.6%0A%09%09%09c-0.6-2.5-3.8-5.4-3.8-6.2c0-6.3%2C5.7-16.7%2C7.6-20c1.4-2.4%2C4.6-2.7%2C7.6-2.7c6.2%2C0.2%2C21.7%2C0.3%2C30.3%2C0.3c1.6%2C8.6%2C5.9%2C30.9%2C10.2%2C42.9%0A%09%09%09c2.1%2C5.7%2C5.2%2C11.3%2C10.3%2C14c3.4%2C1.8%2C6.9%2C2.7%2C10.5%2C3c10.2%2C1%2C20.3-2.7%2C24.5-5.3c0.5-0.3%2C0.8-0.6%2C1.2-0.9c3.2-2.3%2C4.1-5%2C2.7-7.5%0A%09%09%09C590.1%2C158.4%2C590%2C158.4%2C589.9%2C158.3z%20M523.7%2C58.5c2.7%2C22.2%2C3.5%2C28.7%2C4.8%2C39.9l-28.1%2C0.2C504.6%2C91.1%2C516.5%2C70.6%2C523.7%2C58.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M559.7%2C178.4c-2.6%2C7.8-4.5%2C13.4-4.8%2C14.4c-1.3%2C3.5%2C1.4%2C7.1%2C5.1%2C7.1h13c2.2%2C0%2C4.3-1.4%2C5.1-3.7%0A%09%09%09c2.3-7.2%2C4.4-14.2%2C6.6-21.2c-5.2%2C2.2-12%2C3.9-19.2%2C3.9C563.6%2C179.1%2C561.6%2C178.7%2C559.7%2C178.4z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M864.3%2C47.9c-3.8-10.3-10.8-21.4-28.1-32.1c-9.2-5.7-20.8-8.4-31.3-9.5C763.5%2C2%2C721.1%2C24.1%2C684.1%2C31.2%0A%09%09%09c-9.7%2C1.9-30.2%2C0.6-31.8-12.2c-0.6-5.4-1.4-11.1-4.8-14.8c-5.1-5.2-15.9-5.9-23.2-0.5c-16%2C11.9-5.6%2C34.9%2C11%2C44.6%0A%09%09%09c14.1%2C8.1%2C31.1%2C7%2C43.2%2C4.8c47.2-8.7%2C84-35.6%2C127.3-31.9c42.1%2C3.7%2C55.4%2C42.4%2C43.8%2C73.7c-4.4%2C10.8-10.9%2C20.2-20.2%2C26.7%0A%09%09%09c-5.2%2C3.5-11.6%2C6.2-19.1%2C5.6c-3.3-0.3-7.3-2.4-8.7-5.2c8.7-3.3%2C27.9-11.3%2C34.9-22.5c7.6-11.9%2C1.6-24.3-16-23.5%0A%09%09%09c-21.6%2C1-39%2C17.2-44.2%2C33.9c-3.7%2C8.2-8%2C18.3-14.6%2C17.6c-5.4-0.6-0.8-13.8-0.8-13.8c2.7-8.4%2C17.6-52.9%2C23.3-70.8%0A%09%09%09c1.4-4.6-2.1-8.1-5.9-7c-5.2%2C1.7-4.3%2C4.1-21.1%2C8.4c-5.7%2C1.4-3%2C4.8-1.4%2C7.8c0.8%2C1.6%2C0%2C5.4-0.8%2C8.1c-2.5%2C7.2-11%2C31.1-16%2C45.2%0A%09%09%09c-1.7%2C3.9-5.6%2C14.2-14.5%2C21.5c-1.6%2C1.3-5.4%2C3.6-8.3%2C3c3.5-4.1%2C5.7-7.1%2C8.7-13.8c3.3-7.3%2C4.9-14%2C3.5-22.1%0A%09%09%09c-1.3-7.9-8.4-15.4-17.6-15.9c-5.2-0.3-11.4%2C0.2-15.9%2C0.9c0-0.3%2C0.2-0.5%2C0.2-0.8c0.3-1.7-1-3-2.1-3.3c-3-0.6-4.9%2C1.6-9%2C2.2%0A%09%09%09c-5.4%2C1-14.3-1.1-14.8%2C2.2c-0.5%2C3-1.3%2C5.7-2.2%2C8.9c-0.2%2C0.7-2.9%2C8.6-6.6%2C19.7c-2.1%2C4.9-6%2C12.9-13.3%2C18.9c-1.6%2C1.3-5.4%2C3.6-8.3%2C3%0A%09%09%09c3.5-4.1%2C5.7-7.1%2C8.7-13.8c3.3-7.3%2C4.9-14%2C3.5-22.1c-1.3-7.9-8.4-15.4-17.6-15.9c-5.2-0.3-11.4%2C0.2-15.9%2C0.9%0A%09%09%09c0-0.3%2C0.2-0.5%2C0.2-0.8c0.3-1.7-1-3-2.1-3.3c-3-0.6-4.9%2C1.6-9%2C2.2c-5.4%2C1-14.3-1.1-14.8%2C2.2c-0.5%2C3-1.3%2C5.7-2.2%2C8.9%0A%09%09%09c-0.4%2C1.1-7.7%2C23.1-15.6%2C46.7c1.2%2C3.5%2C2.3%2C6.8%2C3.5%2C9.5c2.5%2C5.6%2C5.1%2C5.8%2C8.8%2C6.2c1.5%2C0.1%2C3.5%2C0.4%2C5.4%2C1.3c0.8-2.7%2C1.7-5.4%2C2.5-8.1%0A%09%09%09c3.8%2C1.6%2C7.8%2C2.9%2C12.1%2C3c5.1%2C0.3%2C10.2-0.6%2C14.1-2.4c10.4%2C4.8%2C20.9%2C1.3%2C29.5-4.9c-8.5%2C25.4-17%2C51.1-17.8%2C53.5%0A%09%09%09c-1.3%2C3.5%2C1.4%2C7.1%2C5.1%2C7.1h13c2.2%2C0%2C4.3-1.4%2C5.1-3.7c5.7-18.3%2C11-35.6%2C16.4-52.7c3.8%2C1.6%2C7.8%2C2.9%2C12.1%2C3%0A%09%09%09c5.1%2C0.3%2C10.2-0.6%2C14.1-2.4c13%2C6.1%2C26.1-0.9%2C35.6-10.1c0.5%2C2.3%2C1.1%2C4.3%2C1.9%2C5.3c6.7%2C9.2%2C23.5%2C11%2C40.4-7.9c2.9%2C9%2C10.2%2C14.8%2C22.7%2C15%0A%09%09%09c30%2C2.2%2C54.8-21%2C63.8-44.3C868.9%2C85.8%2C871.3%2C65.7%2C864.3%2C47.9z%20M623.2%2C115.5c-9.8-0.6-16%2C9-12.4%2C17.9c-3.6%2C2.2-8.1%2C3.6-10.9%2C1.1%0A%09%09%09c-1.7-1.4-0.6-4.4-0.3-6.8c2.7-8.6%2C5.6-16.5%2C7.6-23.3c6.7-15.6%2C13.2-18.3%2C15.6-18.4c3.5%2C0%2C7.1%2C1.7%2C6.8%2C8.2%0A%09%09%09C628.7%2C101.9%2C626.2%2C108.2%2C623.2%2C115.5z%20M700.5%2C115.5c-9.8-0.6-16%2C9-12.4%2C17.9c-3.6%2C2.2-8.1%2C3.6-10.9%2C1.1c-1.7-1.4-0.6-4.4-0.3-6.8%0A%09%09%09c2.7-8.6%2C5.6-16.5%2C7.6-23.3c6.7-15.6%2C13.2-18.3%2C15.6-18.4c3.5%2C0%2C7.1%2C1.7%2C6.8%2C8.2C706.1%2C101.9%2C703.5%2C108.2%2C700.5%2C115.5z%0A%09%09%09%20M810.8%2C88.1c5.4-4%2C12.4-4.1%2C12.6%2C1.3c0.3%2C10.8-15.6%2C19.5-24%2C23.5C799%2C104.9%2C801.7%2C94.4%2C810.8%2C88.1z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Greatest is something every player who wears a New York Mets uniform strives for. Many come and go and are either forgotten about entirely or stick somewhere in the franchise’s lore for having one amazing moment. Fans know Mike Baxter for saving Johan Santana’s no-hitter. They’ll recall the name Mackey Sasser for the inability to throw the ball back to the pitcher safely. Kirk Nieuwenhuis had his random 3-home run game. Luis Castillo lives on in infamy for dropping a routine pop up at Yankee Stadium to end the night.
A mix of greatness and defeat have followed the Mets since they were officially born for the 1962 MLB season. Several Hall of Famers have come through to call the Polo Grounds, Shea Stadium, and Citi Field home. Everything from a mix of the homegrown talent of Tom Seaver to the ill-fated signing of Justin Verlander have a part in Mets history.
While some players live on forever with statues or their numbers retired, so do individual seasons. Random, expected, and in other seasons a longtime coming, these 25 individual seasons by Mets players are the greatest in the franchise’s history. You can’t think of these players without recalling how impressive of a year they had.
The 25 best seasons by Mets players in franchise history
25) Gary Carter, 1985
Gary Carter’s entrance into Mets lore began with a bang. Literally. He homered on Opening Day 1985 and would continue to pummel baseballs throughout the season for his new ball club. Carter finished with a 6.9 bWAR (what does that mean in 1985?) plus 32 home runs and 100 RBI. Exactly matching the .853 OPS he had in his final year with the Montreal Expos the year prior, it was the early telltale sign the Mets made the right decision to make him a part of their core. Partly because the Mets made the playoffs the next year, Carter was able to jump from sixth to third in the MVP vote. Despite this, his 1985 season was the better one.
24) Cleon Jones, 1969
Offense isn’t what won the Mets the 1969 World Series. The hitting was okay, but for the longest time, Cleon Jones’ .340 batting average sat well above anyone else in franchise history. Worth 7 bWAR in part because of an atypical season where he actually rated positively as a defender, Jones had an often-overlooked year where he finished 7th in the NL MVP vote. In an era when pitching dominated, Jones’ season deserves more credit. The year might not compare as well as some Mets years with 30+ home runs or 100+. However, for the timing of when it took place and the well-aged batting average, Jones deserves the accolades.
23) Jesse Orosco, 1983
Spoiler alert! There won’t be another relief pitcher on this list. They’re sometimes hard to judge because of how many fewer innings they throw. Plus, with the ever-evolving usage of arms, they don’t stack up well against each other in different eras. Nevertheless, what Jesse Orosco accomplished in 1983 was outlandish. At 13-7 all out of the bullpen, he tossed 110 innings and had a 1.47 ERA. The effort earned him third place in the NL Cy Young. It was a one-of-a-kind type of season from a Mets reliever. Somewhat unspoken, it was only his second full season as a major league pitcher and already he was at the top of his game while helping to further define the closer role.
22) Jose Reyes, 2006
Several different Jose Reyes seasons deserve to be on this list. How does one differentiate between them? He won a batting title in 2011 but lacked in other areas. In 2006, he hit .300, had a career-best 5.9 bWAR, and stole 64 bases. Most memorable was scoring 122 runs and driving in another 81. Homering 19 times helped make this maybe his most prolific offensive season for New York. The 2006 Mets are remembered for their incredible lineup. Reyes at the very top was one of the biggest factors.
21) Edgardo Alfonzo, 2000
Edgardo Alfonzo is a beloved Mets player. He crosses off a lot of the boxes fans desire. He was homegrown, versatile, and put together some really good years for winning ball clubs. In 2000, he wasn’t the main attraction and yet the season’s totals hold up nicely all of these years later. His lone All-Star season included a career-best 6.4 bWAR with 25 home runs and 94 RBI. Both of those numbers were a little short of what he did the year previous. However, his .967 OPS overpowered any of his past seasons and remains one of the best in Mets history. Alfonzo could be trusted to hit anywhere from first to fifth in the lineup if needed.
20) Lance Johnson, 1996
The 1996 Mets weren’t very good, but they did have three players who hit really well. One of the trio put together a season that landed him on the record books and doesn’t look like it’ll be surpassed. Lance Johnson’s 227 hits and 21 triples both set single-season Mets records while leading the league. In addition to the bat, he stole 50 bases and earned himself a 1.9 dWAR. If we were ranking only seasons by Mets leadoff hitters, this would be right near the top. It’s a shame this couldn’t have occurred on a better season for the team.
19) Jerry Koosman, 1968
Jerry Koosman did something amazing. By many measurements, his best year was his first. Koosman had a small sampling in the majors during the 1967 season. The following year qualified as his rookie campaign. Koosman went 19-12 with a 2.08 ERA. He’d end up 13th in the Cy Young race and the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year, just barely, when Johnny Bench beat him for the honor. A coin toss might have been the decider for some voters as both NL rookies had a case. Koosman was later the Cy Young runner-up in 1976. Compared to 1968, his freshman year was the better of the two.
18) David Cone, 1988
Who says wins don’t matter? In 1988, David Cone went a remarkable 20-3. He wasn’t vulturing wins thanks to the help of a strong offense. Cone pitched to a 2.22 ERA while finishing third in the Cy Young race and 10th in the MVP vote. A somewhat underrated pitcher whose career spanned the lighter hitting 1980s through the Steroid Era of the 1990s, this first full season in a Mets uniform was a preview of the strikeout machine he’d later become. Fanning 212, he’d later manage to lead the league in 1990 and 1991. The ERA in 1988 was about a full run better making this the more worthy campaign.
17) Pete Alonso, 2019
Pete Alonso posted some of the most unique statistics in Mets history. The power is unmatched in a single season and career. His rookie season in 2019 featuring 53 home runs and 120 RBI also included a 5.4 bWAR and a career-high .941 OPS. The record-setting debut season out of Alonso was more than enough to make a lasting impression on Mets fans who will never stop loving him. Alonso, like some others on this list, gets bonus points for doing it as a rookie. Those 53 home runs will be tough for a veteran, let alone a player with no MLB experience, to ever match. He became the Mets home run king for a reason. His power is unmatched from just the eye test.
16) Juan Soto, 2025
Statistically impressive, the only thing missing from Juan Soto’s first year with the Mets was purpose. The team collapsed late despite Soto putting together yet another one of his token MVP-caliber seasons. Along with hitting 43 home runs and posting a league-high .396 OBP, Soto stole 38 bases. His previous single-season high was 12. Truly a one-of-a-kind type of year, the only reason this isn’t higher is because the defense slowed him down. It was the type of year to build off of while making his record-setting contract worth it to Steve Cohen.
15) Francisco Lindor, 2024
Francisco Lindor’s MVP runner-up season in 2024 needs to be experienced to fully understand. He started off as poorly as the team and managed to quite literally lead the club to the NLCS. His first 30/30 season which includes his time in Cleveland was far more complicated than just looking at the .844 OPS. Lindor was a leader and with another Gold Glove-caliber season at shortstop, managed to put together a 6.8 bWAR season. Nothing about the season was statistically insane yet Lindor seemed to do a little bit of everything well.
14) Darryl Strawberry, 1987
Strangely, the best season of Darryl Strawberry’s career with the Mets took place in a non-playoff campaign. The 1987 Mets were good, but not good enough. Strawberry set new career highs with 39 home runs and 104 RBI. Slashing .284/.398/.583 with 36 stolen bases, it was maybe the most complete year Strawberry had as an offensive player. Although he’d lead the league in multiple offensive categories in 1988, many of his 1987 totals were superior. Crossing 30 home runs and 100 RBI for the first time in his career, it was a bit of a transition from Strawberry being one of the star players to be the signature member of the Mets.
13) Bernard Gilkey, 1996
Mets fans who weren’t familiar with Bernard Gilkey’s work might assume he was always one of the better middle of the order hitters. Arriving via trade with the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 1996 season, Gilkey cranked it up to a whole new level. It feels appropriate that he’d later make a cameo in Men in Black because Gilkey’s numbers were unworldly. He slashed .317/.393/.562 with 44 doubles, 30 home runs, and 117 RBI. The doubles are still the most of any Mets player in a single-season. The 8.1 bWAR became the best in Mets history by a position player. Created by both his bat and glove, Gilkey led the league with 18 assists, 4 double plays, 309 putouts, and ranked as the best at his position in range factor.
12) Tom Seaver, 1975
You knew Tom Seaver was coming eventually. His 1975 season earned him his third and final Cy Young Award. He probably could have had more. This season was a 7.8 bWAR campaign that had him going 22-9 with a 2.38 ERA and a league-leading 243 strikeouts. Compared to most players, it’s incredible. On the list of Seaver performances, this one is easy to overlook because even one of his non-Cy Young winning years was better. Don’t worry. Tom Terrific is all over this list with several seasons that were even better.
11) Tom Seaver, 1969
When it comes to Mets greatness, Tom Seaver is the “you haven’t seen the last of me!” in franchise history. The 1969 season ended with a championship for the Mets. In the regular season, Seaver won a franchise-record 25 games while on his way to his first Cy Young and an MVP runner-up. Neither the 2.21 ERA nor 208 strikeouts would set personal bests. This might have been the most rewarding individual season of Seaver’s career yet it falls short of his best by quite a couple. At least he got winning the big one out of the way relatively early.
10) Jacob deGrom, 2019
Speaking of Cy Young Mets seasons, Jacob deGrom got his second in 2019. His 7.2 bWAR led the league as did the 255 strikeouts. By this point, greatness was something Mets fans weren’t demanding from deGrom, it was expected. A good length away from some of those other memorable Mets seasons by pitchers like Tom Seaver, his 2.43 ERA doesn’t even do him justice for how dominant he was for his second straight season as the best pitcher in the sport. Sadly, this would end up as his final full season in a Mets uniform due to a pandemic as well as injuries in 2021 and 2022.
9) Mike Piazza, 2000
Mike Piazza had big years, moments, and numbers with the Mets. Because his defense behind the plate was never good, stats like WAR don’t rank quite as high as some others. The 2000 season was big regardless as Piazza hit .324/.398/.614 with a 1.012 OPS. The OPS was the largest in any full season for a Mets player. The year included 38 home runs and 113 RBI with the real kicker being that he had only 482 at-bats. One of those more underrated qualities about his offensive abilities, he walked 58 times while only going down on strikes 69 times.
8) Howard Johnson, 1989
Howard Johnson led the league in home runs and RBI in 1991, but it was his 1989 season which deserves a spot on this list. Armed with 36 home runs and 101 RBI, Johnson’s speed went on display with 41 stolen bases. It was his second 30/30 season with the Mets. He hit .287 as well, atypical for the .251 he hit while in orange and blue. Never the biggest star on the Mets roster during his best years in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Johnson’s powerful and speedy 1989 campaign was a special one and the best representation of what he had to offer the ball club during his peak seasons.
7) John Olerud, 1998
Each of the three seasons John Olerud spent with the Mets was special in its own way. A franchise-leading .354 batting average helps break the tie. That’s what he hit in 1998, his middle season with the club. Posting a 7.6 bWAR as well, Olerud was the 12th place finisher in the MVP race during a season where you didn’t get much attention if you weren’t hitting home runs. He had 22 with 93 RBI. More like Keith Hernandez leveled up on offense, newer statistics that emphasis on base have helped this season age better. Olerud was never the best first baseman in the league. In Mets history, he’s right there as one of the stronger overall performers.
6) Carlos Beltran, 2006
Carlos Beltran overcame a rough first year with the Mets in 2005 to put together one of the all-time great ones in 2006. The 41 home runs hit by Todd Hundley in 1996 were matched by Beltran. Posting an 8.2 bWAR, he set a new single-season high in franchise history that would only get to enjoy one season at the top. Beltran slashed .275/.388/.594. He had 95 walks and only 99 strikeouts to practically cancel each other out. The only negative about his season was how it ended. The visual of striking out looking to end Game 7 of the NLCS remains one of the first fans often think about when his name or heartbreaking Mets moments are mentioned.
5) David Wright, 2007
No Mets player has ever matched the popularity of David Wright. His 2007 season, an 8.3 bWAR campaign, set a new mark of excellence. This was Captain America at his absolute best. He hit 30 home runs, stole 34 bases, and cruised past 100 runs scored and RBI. He even hit .325 with a .416 OBP. To make sure no check boxes were left unfilled, he won a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove. The team’s collapse in 2007 likely had to do a lot with why he only finished fourth in the MVP.
4) Jacob deGrom, 2018
As much as Jacob deGrom’s ridiculously good 15-start season in 2021 was historic, it wasn’t a complete year. The 2018 season, on the other hand, included 32 starts and a magnificent 1.70 ERA. This was deGrom’s true coming out party. The debate all year was whether or not a pitcher with a losing record could win the Cy Young. He finished at 10-9 to void the conversation and was one vote shy of a unanimous decision for his first time winning the award. The season included multiple highs for deGrom including 269 strikeouts. It was the ultimate one-man army type of season in Mets history where the team was, oftentimes, only worth watching every fifth day.
3) Tom Seaver, 1971
Here’s the most ridiculous detail about the 1971 season for Tom Seaver: he didn’t win the Cy Young. A league-leading 10.2 bWAR wouldn’t have been known at the time, but a 20-10 record and league-best 1.76 ERA as well as 289 strikeouts to overtake every other pitcher in the National League should have been enough. Seaver settled as the runner-up to Ferguson Jenkins who had a 2.77 ERA and a 24-13 record. The race wasn’t even all that close with Jenkins getting 17 first-place votes and Seaver receiving 6. Both the Mets and Chicago Cubs won 83 games so it’s not as if team record mattered at all. In practically any other year, Seaver would have added more hardware to his collection.
2) Tom Seaver, 1973
If you crave Tom Seaver content, you’re in the right place. His 1973 season earned him his second Cy Young. He had a career-best 10.6 bWAR featuring a league-high 2.08 ERA, 18 complete games, and 251 strikeouts. The Mets would sneak into the postseason and then overtake the Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds on their way to the World Series. The Mets fell short, of course, but the regular season showing by Seaver was valuable at cementing his Hall of Fame legacy. We can even include the playoffs if there was any doubt. Although he was 1-2 overall, he pitched to a 1.62 ERA in the NLCS and had a 2.40 ERA in the World Series. All the Mets were missing was league-average offense to win another championship.
1) Dwight Gooden, 1985
There shouldn’t have been any question as to what the best season by a Mets player was going to be because what Dwight Gooden did in 1985 was one of the greatest in MLB history. The 12.2 bWAR ranks as the 26th best in MLB history. It’s the best after 1913. Gooden went 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA. He led the league in complete games, innings, and struck out 268 batters. Those numbers matter a lot, as does one other one. Gooden was only 20-years-old for the entire season. This is the kind of year that’ll go unmatched by a Mets player until some sort of cosmic shift in the way the game is played or with the rule book. You can safely etch this into stone as the best.
Hall of Famers, players with retired numbers, some completely random yet memorable performances, and even a few active members cracked the list of the best individual Mets player seasons. Records were broken. Memories were made. In a couple of cases, championships were won.
Add us as a preferred source on Google