Top 3 corner infield duos in Mets history

From both sides of the diamond, the corner infielders on any team have an important role to protect the lines and save a potential out from becoming a big hit. First base and third base are also two spots where you want a nice bat. The New York Mets been fortunate to have a few guys who excelled in one of these areas and lesser who played well on both sides of the ball.

Although expectations for a first baseman and a third baseman are quite different, they are linked. Corner infielders can’t get away with the same things some other positions can. You need offense from them. You also hope there’s some solid defense from their glove, too.

Not everyone can do this singlehandedly. Together, these two corner infielders can combine to make an elite force on the infield. For the Mets, these are the three best duos they’ve had at a single time at those two positions in no particular.

NY Mets corner infield duo of Keith Hernandez and Howard Johnson

In 1987, Keith Hernandez maintained his reputation as one of the best fielding first basemen in the game. Across the field at third base, Howard Johnson made a name for himself as one of the game’s best sluggers.

Hernandez won another Gold Glove for the Mets in 1987 while continuing to produce at the plate. He slashed .290/.377/.436 for the Mets that year while hitting 18 home runs and driving in 89.

Johnson had the far more dazzling offensive year. His first season as a starter featured 36 home runs from HoJo to go along with 99 RBI.

The fun would be short-lived as Hernandez was limited to only 95 games the following year. Johnson was entering his prime while Hernandez was reaching the twilight of his career. At the time, each was the best player to ever suit up for the Mets at their position. I don’t think there was a corner infield duo that came close to them together either until the end of the following decade.

NY Mets corner infield duo of John Olerud and Robin Ventura

It’s hard to believe that the Mets only employed John Olerud and Robin Ventura together for a single season. The 1999 campaign was a brilliant one for each of them. Ventura won a Gold Glove over at third base. Olerud probably could have done the same over at first base but alas he was overlooked.

Olerud continued to put up numbers similar to Hernandez. He relied on doubles and hitting for average. In this particular season, Olerud outdid himself in the walks department. The Mets first baseman drew 125 free passes. He’d end the year with a slash line of .298/.427/.463 in what was one of the best offensive campaigns any Mets player has had.

Across the field, Ventura did more than play slick defense. He hit .301/.379/.529 for the Mets while rocketing 32 home runs and driving in 120. He was the piece they were missing in the lineup and apparently on the field, too.

I’m not sure any corner infield duo did as many things well on both sides of the ball as these two. The only unfortunate part of it all is how short-lived it would be. Olerud left in free agency the following offseason. Had it lasted a little longer, maybe this would have been the best in club history. Instead, I think the best corner infield duo is either the Hernandez-Johnson duo or our last one to look at.