Forget Number Retirements, Catch Up on the Mets Hall

So Now What?

After another successful number retirement ceremony, the Mets seem to be out of gimmes for the left field rafters. No. 5 was the obvious end of the no-brainers, leaving some controversial decisions for the remaining circled numbers—and a lot of work for the long-neglected Mets Hall of Fame.

Yes, the Mets have brought some new members into the Hall over the past five years, but there are still many former Mets deserving of that light blue jacket.

Fortunately, I’ve done the work for us here: a look at the future of number retirements and who should go into the Mets Hall over the next few years.

Number Retirements

Gary Carter’s No. 8 – I’ve written about this a number of times. No. 8 has been out of circulation since 2003. To me, it’s already retired. The decision has effectively been made—otherwise, it would have been given out again. The problem is having a Gary Carter Day without Gary Carter. My guess is they’ll do it next year in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the 1986 World Series.

Carlos Beltrán’s No. 15 – It looks like Beltrán may enter Cooperstown next year, with a good chance he’ll wear a Mets cap on his plaque. Before the Steve Cohen era, he might not have passed the "beloved by fans" test, but times have changed. Still, of the six Mets whose numbers have gone up in left field, all were adored by the fan base. Beltrán, for all his great numbers, never was. Whether it was his Iceman demeanor or that pesky yellowhammer from Adam Wainwright, he was never fully embraced by Mets fans. So for now: No.

John Franco’s No. 45 – His numbers are borderline for Cooperstown, but with more closers getting in lately, Franco might one day make it through the Veterans Committee. If he does, retire his number.

Nos. 9, 12, 20, 22, and 48– These are future considerations for current players, the “Fab Four,” and Jacob deGrom. We’ll revisit these after they retire.

Mets Hall of Fame

Now here, we have work to do. Under the Wilpons, the Mets opened the Hall sparingly, leading to a backlog of worthy candidates. Some are obvious, some require thought. Let’s start with the obvious:

Sid Fernandez– The left-handed complement to Gooden and Darling, Sid won 98 games over 10 seasons at Shea, with a 3.29 ERA and a 27.6 bWAR. El Sid is a shoo-in.

David Cone – Often thought of as a Yankee because of his YES Network ties, Cone actually began his full-time MLB career in Queens after a trade from Kansas City. He won 81 games with a 3.13 ERA over seven seasons in New York—better than his six years in the Bronx (64 wins, 3.91 ERA).

Carlos Beltrán– Even if his number isn’t retired, Beltrán belongs in the Mets Hall.

José Reyes– A stolen base king and batting champion. If he hadn’t spent four and a half years elsewhere, his No. 7 might be next to Wright’s. But facts are facts: 1,534 hits and 408 stolen bases in Queens make him a clear Hall selection.

Lee Mazzilli – The Mets’ star in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Mazzilli wasn’t the biggest name in team history—but he *was* the star during a very dark time in Queens.

Daniel Murphy – If only they had held onto him after the 2015 World Series. Still, Murph hit .288 over seven seasons in New York, mostly as a second baseman. And then there was that 2015 postseason. Wow.

Dave Kingman – "Kong" played six of his 16 seasons at Shea and hit 154 home runs for the Mets. He was an all-or-nothing slugger at a time when all-or-nothing was celebrated.

Bobby Valentine– As manager, Bobby V turned the Mets around in the late ’90s and early 2000s. In seven years, he posted a 536–467 record—and he was fun. Who could forget the nose-and-glasses disguise after getting ejected?

Terry Collins– Love him or hate him, TC led the Mets to a pennant and notched 551 wins over seven seasons. He also had to navigate the broke Wilpons post-Madoff.

Omar Minaya – The first Latino GM in MLB history came to the Mets and immediately made them contenders. Though the team fell off later, Minaya’s drafts laid the foundation for the 2015 World Series run.

Sandy Alderson- Had to deal with the meddlesome Jeff Wilpon, guided the team to the 2015 World Series, and ushered in the Steve Cohen era. Bonus points for drafting Brandon Nimmo with his first pick.

Nelson Doubleday – He saved the Mets in the early 1980s and oversaw the 1986 team. Just wish he’d read the fine print a little more closely: the sale of Doubleday Publishing allowed Fred Wilpon to buy an additional 45% of the team—forcing Doubleday into partnership.

Fred Wilpon – Some will say no. But Fred turned his five percent into full ownership. He still owns a piece of the team today, meaning he’s been involved with the Mets for 45 years. That counts for something.

That’s my list—but now it’s your turn. Who do you think deserves to have their number retired or take their rightful place in the Mets Hall of Fame? Did I leave out your favorite Met? Should someone I included be left off the list? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below—I’d love to hear your takes, your arguments, and your memories. Let’s talk Mets!