Strat-O-Matic and the Amazin’s: Crafting the Mets’ Greatest Team Ever

If you're like me a lifelong Mets fan who remembers when Shea Stadium was state-of-the-art, and a hot dog cost less than a mortgage payment—you’ve probably spent an unhealthy amount of time thinking about baseball. And if you’re really like me, you’ve also spent more hours than you’d care to admit huddled over a set of Strat-O-Matic cards, rolling dice like you were in Vegas but instead of money, you’re betting on Cleon Jones to hit a double. Enter Jim Zafian, a Strat-O-Matic maestro who decided that simply playing the game wasn’t enough—no, he went ahead and created 40-man All-Time Great rosters for every franchise. That’s right. Forty players. Per team. The kind of commitment most people reserve for marriage or assembling IKEA furniture. Naturally, I dove straight into the Mets roster he put together, because if you’re going to get lost in baseball nostalgia, it might as well start with our Amazin’s.

Let’s start with the rotation—a veritable pitching Mount Rushmore of Mets greats. Leading the way is Tom Seaver, or as Mets fans know him, The Franchise. Seaver’s 20-11 record, 2.38 ERA, and 268 strikeouts remind us why he’s forever etched into our collective hearts. Pair him with Dwight Gooden, the kid who made 1985 feel like a fever dream—18 wins, 2.46 ERA, and strikeouts for days. Next, you’ve got Jacob deGrom, whose 2.52 ERA and otherworldly stuff cement his place on this list. Rounding out the rotation are Jon Matlack, with his underappreciated brilliance, and Jerry Koosman, the guy who always seemed to pitch like his lunch depended on it. There’s depth, too, with David Cone, Sid Fernandez, and Al Leiter waiting in the wings. Ron Darling almost made the cut, but Jim went with Randy Myers instead, which probably caused Ron to cross his arms and mutter something sarcastic—like any good New Yorker would.

The bullpen, meanwhile, is a time machine of late-inning heroes. Armando Benitez and John Franco take the lead with their 30-plus save seasons, while Jesse Orosco and Tug McGraw bring a blend of guts and clutch we’ll never forget. Edwin Diaz, whose 2022 form redeemed him from his rocky start in Queens, made the cut too. Jim even included Jeurys Familia and Roger McDowell, which tells you how deep the Mets’ bullpen history really is—a surprise to those of us still traumatized by games blown in the ninth.

Now to the lineup, where Jim has assembled the greatest dinner party of Mets hitters you could ask for. Carlos Beltran, our gold-glover in center, leads off. Captain America David Wright follows, carrying the unofficial title of Mr. Met Behind the plate, Mike Piazza steps up, because if you’re not putting the guy with 37 homers and a .965 OPS in your lineup, you’re not playing Strat-O-Matic right. Then there’s Darryl Strawberry, who hit bombs, stole bases, and looked like he could hit a ball into orbit just by glaring at it. Pete Alonso cleans up as the modern-day DH slugger, while Keith Hernandez—part Gold Glover, part Seinfeld legend—plays first base with that iconic mustache. Edgardo Alfonzo and Jose Reyes turn double plays and steal bases like it’s a contest (which, knowing Reyes, it might have been).

The bench reads like a Mets trivia night’s dream team. Tommie Agee—the World Series hero. Wally Backman—the scrappy spark plug. Mookie Wilson—forever linked to Game 6 and groundballs through Buckner’s legs. Guys like Todd Hundley, Howard Johnson, and Jeff McNeil are there too, ready to pinch hit or keep you awake with arguments about who was more clutch. Oh, and let’s not forget Lee Mazzilli, the ultimate late 70s heartthrob—a Strat-O-Matic star and a teen magazine pin-up.

Jim’s reasoning is sound, even if it sparks debates. He left Gary Carter off the roster, placing him with the Expos—his first true home. That’s fair, even if it feels like leaving the Statue of Liberty off a New York tourism ad. As Jim did this in 2023 , Francisco Lindor now should bump out Bud Harrelson . (sorry, Buddy). Don’t even get me started on Mark Vientos or Francisco Alvarez—two guys who could make future versions of this team.

Jim even grappled with Mets icons like Dave Kingman, Rusty Staub, and Curtis Granderson. Ultimately, there just wasn’t enough room on the bench. Even fan favorite Ed Kranepool couldn’t squeeze in—though I’d bet Ed’s still fine with his legacy as Mr. Met in the flesh. Jim’s got plans for extra player cards, so Kingman and Ron Darling fans, don’t riot just yet.

As Mets fans, we love lists like this because they fuel what we do best: argue passionately about our team—past, present, and future. Jim Zafian’s Mets All-Time Greats roster isn’t just a team. It’s a time capsule, a history lesson, and a love letter to every Mets fan who’s ever rolled dice, cheered from Shea’s upper deck, or yelled at their TV in October. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to set my lineup and roll for Tom Seaver—because unlike real life, in Strat-O-Matic, I get to be the manager.

Being a Mets fan isn’t just about wins and losses—it’s about the debates, the memories, and the endless “what-ifs” that connect generations of Amazin’s faithful. Jim Zafian’s All-Time Mets roster gives us a time capsule of Mets greatness, sparking arguments over every decision and every name. But now, it’s your turn to manage: Who makes your dream all-time Mets starting lineup? Drop your picks in the comments below, whether you’re keeping Tom Seaver on the mound, sliding Keith Hernandez into first, or bumping Bud Harrelson for Lindor. Let’s see how your roster stacks up to this masterpiece:

Jim Zafian’s All-Time Mets Roster ( the players are based off their FOUR best consecutive years. It’s kind of why Kingman, Staub and Olerud were omitted. A partial fourth or partial 1st and 4th seasons would still qualify somebody.)

Starting Rotation:

Tom Seaver — (20-11, 282 IP, 2.38 ERA, 268 K)

Dwight Gooden — (18-7, 231 IP, 2.46 ERA, 223 K)

Jacob deGrom — (10-7, 173 IP, 2.52 ERA, 217 K)

Jon Matlack — (15-13, 245 IP, 2.83 ERA, 181 K)

Jerry Koosman — (16-12, 254 IP, 3.08 ERA, 179 K)

Depth: David Cone, Sid Fernandez, Al Leiter

Bullpen:

Armando Benitez — (4-3, 35 saves, 2.63 ERA)

John Franco — (4-3, 31 saves, 2.38 ERA)

Jesse Orosco — (10-6, 22 saves, 2.22 ERA)

Tug McGraw — (8-5, 14 saves, 2.18 ERA)

Edwin Diaz — (3-4, 24 saves, 3.20 ERA)

Depth: Jeurys Familia, Roger McDowell, Randy Myers

Starting Lineup:

CF — Carlos Beltran (.286, 28 HR, 97 RBI, 19 SB, .910 OPS)

3B — David Wright (.311, 29 HR, 112 RBI, 22 SB, .928 OPS)

C — Mike Piazza (.314, 37 HR, 111 RBI, .965 OPS)

RF — Darryl Strawberry (.272, 34 HR, 94 RBI, 30 SB, .927 OPS)

DH — Pete Alonso (.261, 37 HR, 95 RBI, .884 OPS)

2B — Edgardo Alfonzo (.305, 20 HR, 88 RBI, .866 OPS)

1B — Keith Hernandez (.305, 14 HR, 89 RBI, .836 OPS)

LF — Cleon Jones (.308, 13 HR, 66 RBI, 14 SB, .830 OPS)

SS — Jose Reyes (.291, 12 HR, 55 RBI, 52 SB, .811 OPS)

Bench:

C: Todd Hundley, John Stearns

IF: Wally Backman, Bud Harrelson, Howard Johnson, Dave Magadan, Jeff McNeil, Daniel Murphy

OF: Tommie Agee, Michael Conforto, Steve Henderson, Lee Mazzilli, Kevin McReynolds, Brandon Nimmo, Mookie Wilson

Jim’s roster is a love letter to the Amazin’s, past and present—but no list is ever final. So, who makes your ultimate Mets team? Are you moving Mookie to center, adding Lindor over Harrelson, or saving a spot for Rusty Staub? Sound off and post your statrting lineup in the comments below, and let’s keep the Mets debate alive!