The Mets at the center of the baseball universe? Imagine that.
Yes, here we are, as Citi Field prepares to host its first All-Star Game, presenting Mets fans with a rare opportunity to celebrate their identity and their history on a national stage.
You’ve been voting for your all-time Mets All-Star team on The Post’s website. Here are my selections:
(Fan vote percentages in parentheses with top choice bolded)
Catcher: Gary Carter (36.2%), Jerry Grote (6.3%), Todd Hundley (.4%), Mike Piazza (56%), John Stearns (1%)
You can narrow it down to two pretty quickly, can’t you? While Carter has a World Series ring thanks to 1986, Piazza put together the longer and better run in a Mets uniform. Stearns, a four-time All-Star, is probably underappreciated.
My pick: Piazza
First base: Carlos Delgado (1.5%), Keith Hernandez (90%), Ed Kranepool (5.6%), John Milner (.7%), John Olerud (2.3%)
Olerud brought a quiet stability to the position, and Delgado intimidated opponents like no other Mets first baseman has. Still, c’mon now. When you combine Hernandez’s elite skills with his decision to stick with the Mets beyond 1983, his impact is unmatched.
My pick: Hernandez
Second base: Edgardo Alfonzo (50.4%), Wally Backman (24.1%), Ken Boswell (1.9%), Ron Hunt (12.5%), Felix Millan (11%)
This has become arguably the weakest position in Mets history. Remember when it used to be third base? Backman and Hunt are beloved by their respective generations for their fire, but Hunt left the team too soon and Backman didn’t play enough.
My pick: Alfonzo
THEN AND NOW: ALL-STARS FROM TODAY AND FROM 1964
Shortstop: Kevin Elster (1.3%), Bud Harrelson (37.6%), Rey Ordonez (3.1%), Jose Reyes (56.8%), Rafael Santana (1.3%)
Harrelson has his 1969 ring and his 1973 fight with Pete Rose. Elster and Santana both have 1986. And no one produced more defensive highlights than Ordonez. Nevertheless, this is a pretty easy call.
My pick: Reyes
Third base: Hubie Brooks (1.1%), Wayne Garrett (1.4%), Howard Johnson (9.5%), Robin Ventura (2.4%), David Wright (85.7%)
Amazing how the quality of this position has picked up after a rough first 22 years. HoJo is one the best Mets ever. Ventura, now the White Sox manager who will serve as a coach for the American League team, enjoyed a great, brief run. Like shortstop, though, this is a slam dunk.
My pick: Wright
Left field: Cliff Floyd (3.4%), George Foster (6.6%), Cleon Jones (73.3%), Kevin McReynolds (14.4%), Frank Thomas (2.3%)
Interesting how personalities overshadow performance among this group: Floyd had a great sense of humor, Foster refused to join his teammates in a 1986 bench-clearing brawl and native Arkansan McReynolds had no use for New York. Jones simply put up the best numbers.
My pick: Jones
Center field: Tommie Agee (23.6%), Carlos Beltran (35.6%), Lenny Dykstra (10.1%), Lee Mazzilli (3.1%), Mookie Wilson (27.6%)
Count ’em, three members of the ’86 Mets (Mazzilli was in his second go-round) and Agee played in ’69. None provided as much, however, as the guy who looked at a third strike to end the team’s quest for the 2006 pennant.
My pick: Beltran
Right field: Bobby Bonilla (.5%), Dave Kingman (2.2%), Rusty Staub (11.2%), Darryl Strawberry (83.1%), Ron Swoboda (3%)
For the money the Mets still pay him, you’d think Bobby Bo could pinch-hit every now and then. Staub enjoyed two successful stints in Flushing. Kingman hit them long and far, but that’s about all he did. Strawberry may not have fully reached his potential, but he did plenty.
My pick: Strawberry
Starting pitcher: Sid Fernandez (.3%), Dwight Gooden (10%), Jerry Koosman (1.2%), Jon Matlack (.4%), Tom Seaver (88.1%)
The Mets’ greatest strength historically. Shoot, we didn’t even have room for worthy entries such as David Cone, Ron Darling, R.A. Dickey, Tom Glavine, Al Leiter, Pedro Martinez, Rick Reed, Nolan Ryan and Johan Santana. Of course, the top selection should be unanimous.
My pick: Seaver
Relief pitcher: Armando Benitez .7%, John Franco (36.9%), Tug McGraw (43.2%), Jesse Orosco (17.1%), Billy Wagner (2.2%)
Perhaps the most fun choice. Do you go with Franco, the team’s all-time leader with 276 saves? Or reward Wagner for his dominance? Or choose one of the postseason heroes, McGraw or Orosco? Just not Benitez. I’m going old school, back to when closers entered before the ninth.
My pick: McGraw