Two fan-favorites traded away, two NY Mets reunions on the same day two years apart

The “Power of Three” was a big part of the show Charmed but on December 16 in New York Mets history, it was the power of two. On this date in Mets history, a pair of popular players reunited with the ball club two years apart.

Two of the most beloved Mets players came back to the team on the same day, two years apart

In 1980, the Mets signed Rusty Staub

Rusty Staub was traded in 1975 from the Mets to the Detroit Tigers in a deal that was primarily focused on him and Mickey Lolich. Lolich wanted nothing to do with the trade, opting to retire after one year with the Mets only to later come back. Staub, one of the team’s best hitters in the early and mid-1970s, went on to have some huge years in Detroit. A few seasons later, the Mets circled back for a reunion.

Staub wasn’t the same guy. In his age 37 campaign in 1981, he hit only 5 home runs in 186 plate appearances. This was a strike-shortened season so he didn’t miss quite as much time as it appears. The Mets used him exclusively at first base defensively and got a productive .317 batting average from him.

Remaining with the club for several more seasons through 1985, Staub evolved into a pinch hitting weapon rather than an every day player. It was in 1983 when he excelled in the part-time role off the bench. Slashing .296/.372/.481 in 94 trips to the plate as a pinch-hitter, he became a unique weapon.

Sadly, Staub wasn’t around for the 1986 season to actually get a ring. During Staub’s second tour with the Mets, they happened to reunite with an even more popular player.

In 1982, the Mets traded for Tom Seaver

Tom Seaver came back to the Mets for the 1983 season and would have likely stayed if not for the team foolishly leaving him unprotected in the following year’s free agent compensation draft; something that no longer exists today. Seaver was coming off of a down year with the Cincinnati Reds, posting an unorthodox 5.05 ERA.

In exchange for three players, Lloyd McClendon being perhaps the most well-known possibly for his time as a big league manager, The Franchise returned to Queens. While he was 9-14, the 3.55 ERA suggested there was gas left in the tank after all.

Believing he wouldn’t get taken in the offseason, Seaver was open to get selected by the rest of the league. The Chicago White Sox stole him and he spent the next two and a half years there before joining the Boston Red Sox for the conclusion of the 1986 season. Seaver was once again present for a Mets World Series with the difference this time being that he was in the opposing dugout.

Seaver retired at the end of the season. When elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving the highest percentage in the sport’s history at the time. Like many reunions go, this one wasn’t as glorious as we could’ve imagined. But in the typical Mets-Seaver relationship, it concluded with some sour grapes which fit an all-too-constant theme.