Mets' 70s Third-Basemen: Resilient, Resourceful, but not really Productive

The 1969 Miracle Mets hangover seemed to come in and out through the next decade for the franchise, trying to hold onto relevance, identity, and winning baseball in the 1970s. It was indeed a decade marked by transition, grit, and improvisation. No position reflected that reality more clearly than third base — the hot corner — where a rotating cast of players mirrored the Mets’ shifting fortunes throughout the decade.

At the center of it all was Wayne Garrett, the most enduring third baseman of the era and, in many ways, the quiet backbone of the Mets’ infield in the early 1970s. Garrett had already cemented his place in team lore by homering in the 1969 National League Championship, but his real value came in the years that followed. From 1970 through 1975, Garrett was the Mets’ steady presence at third — not flashy, not loud, but dependable. He played strong, fundamentally sound defense, handled Shea’s tricky infield surface, and provided timely power in a lineup that often struggled to score. In an era dominated by pitching, Garrett’s consistency mattered, even when it rarely made headlines.

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As the decade progressed, however, the Mets’ roster — and philosophy — began to change. Injuries, aging stars, and front-office experimentation led to turnover, and third base became less a permanent home and more a shared responsibility. One of the most notable figures to pass through was Joe Torre, who arrived in a blockbuster trade from St. Louis in 1975. Already an accomplished hitter and former MVP, Torre was nearing the end of his playing career. Stationed at third base despite declining mobility, Torre brought leadership, professionalism, and offense to a club searching for direction. The 9-time all-star never hit or fielded as well as he did in his previous 13 seasons, and his defense at the hot corner was uneven. His presence symbolized the Mets’ attempt to stay competitive by leaning on veteran talent.

Alongside Torre — and later replacing him in stretches — was Lenny Randle, a player whose versatility embodied the Mets’ patchwork approach in the mid-to-late 1970s. Randle was never meant to be the third baseman, but he often became a third baseman out of necessity. Athletic, energetic, and occasionally unpredictable, Randle split time between multiple positions, bringing speed and enthusiasm to a team that lacked a clear identity. His tenure reflected the Mets’ broader reality: flexibility over stability.

By the end of the decade, the torch passed once more with the arrival of Richie Hebner in 1979. A seasoned National League veteran, Hebner brought power and experience to third base, offering a glimpse of what the Mets hoped would be a more formidable offense heading into the 1980s. He only played for a single season in New York, hitting 25 doubles and driving in 79 runs. Hebner represented the bridge between eras — the last third baseman of a turbulent decade and a precursor to the franchise’s eventual resurgence.

Taken together, the Mets’ third basemen of the 1970s tell a story far larger than the position itself. From Garrett’s reliability to Torre’s gravitas, from Randle’s adaptability to Hebner’s late-decade punch, the hot corner at Shea Stadium became a reflection of a franchise navigating post-glory uncertainty. The Mets of the 1970s didn’t always win, didn’t always dazzle — but at third base, they showed resilience, resourcefulness, and a quiet determination to endure.