Ranking the Mets career of each player and coach with a retired number

6) New York Mets retired numbers: Gil Hodges #14.

Hodges was a member of the original 1962 Mets and even hit the club’s first home run. He is more known as the manager of the Mets from 1968 to 1971. Hodges took the team from being lovable losers to the 1969 World Champions. He brought respect to an organization who had been sorely lacking in that department. Hodges time at the helm of the Mets was short but was significant. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.

5) New York Mets retired numbers: Willie Mays #24.

Mays was traded to the Mets in 1972. He had been a favorite of Mets owner Joan Payson from his days with the New York Giants and she wanted him to finish his career in the town where it began in 1951.  Although somewhat past his prime, Mays brought his leadership to an 82 win team that went on to win the National League pennant in 1973 and take Oakland to a World Series game seven. Mays was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. He was chosen to be part of the MLB All-Century and All-Time Teams. A twenty four time All-Star, Willie Mays might be the greatest five tool player in the history of Major League Baseball.

4) New York Mets retired numbers: Jerry Koosman #36.

Koosman was a member of the Mets from 1967 to 1978. He is often overlooked in the annals of Mets history because he shared in the same spotlight at the same time with Tom Seaver. Koosman finished second to Johnny Bench in the voting for the 1968 Rookie of the Year award. He was a member of both the 1969 World Champion and the 1973 National League pennant winning teams. Koosman won 140 games in his twelve years in New York, eclipsing the 20 win mark twice.