Today is the May 5th, the 5th day of the 5th month of the year. While some will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo, we here at The 5 wanted to use the day to appreciate the best Mets to ever wear the number 5.
In the list below, you will see a key member to two important trades in Mets history, a World Series winning third baseman, a first baseman who put together some of the best seasons in Mets history, the Mets winningest manager of all time, and a true Mets icon.
So, without further ado, here is The 5 for this week...
Best Mets to Wear the Number 5
5. Steve Henderson
When Mets fans see Steve Henderson's name, they often immediately think of the trade that brought Henderson to the Mets, or more memorably, the trade that took Tom Seaver away from the Mets, a deal known as the "Midnight Massacre." And while nobody will ever content that it was a wise move by the Mets, Henderson did his part to provide value over his 4-year career with the Mets. Steve Henderson made his major league debut, as a pinch runner, the day after the Mets acquired him. He played 99 games in his 1977 rookie season, batting .297 with 12 home runs, 65 RBIs, and an .852 OPS. He set a Mets rookie record by reaching base in 29 straight games, and finished second (to eventual Hall of Fame outfielder, Andrew Dawson) in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. After a disastrous Mets start to the 1980 season, the Mets found themselves inching towards the .500 mark in mid-June. On June 14, 1980, with the Mets 2 games below .500, they were trailing 6-0 to the San Francisco Giants heading into the bottom of the 6th inning. They scored a run in the 6th and another in the 8th, but were still down by 4 going into the 9th. Fellow Midnight Massacre participant, Doug Flynn, hit a one-out single that started a rally. After another out, the Mets continued hitting until a Steve Henderson 3-run home run sent the fans home happy. It was a high point in the Mets season, and in Henderson's Mets career. Following the season, the Mets traded Henderson to the Chicago Cubs for Dave Kingman, who in 1982 became the first Mets player to lead the NL in home runs.
4. Ed Charles
Known by many as "The Glider" for his smooth playing style, Ed Charles was originally signed by the Boston Braves as an amateur free agent in 1952. Throughout his 9 years in the minor leagues, mostly spent in the segregated deep south, Charles wrote poetry regarding his experiences with baseball and racism. After 5-plus seasons with the Kansas City Athletics, the Mets acquired him for outfielder Larry Elliot and $50,000. In 1968, his first full season with the Mets, The Glider led the team in home runs with 15. One year later, as the oldest member of the Mets (36 years old), Charles platooned at third base with Wayne Garrett. He only had 3 home runs that season, however his third home run, the final home run of his career, was especially memorable. On September 24, 1969, Charles first inning 2-run home run off St. Louis Cardinals starter, Steve Carlton, increased the Mets early lead to 5-0, and they would go on to clinch first place for the first time in franchise history.
In Game 2 of the 1969 World Series, Charles scored what was likely the biggest run of his career. In the top of the 9th inning of a 1-1 game, Charles hit a 2-out single that was followed by another one from Jerry Grote. A third straight single, this one by infielder Al Weiss, brought Charles home to give the Mets the lead, and ultimately a 2-1 victory, and put them up 3-1 in the series. They would win their first ever World Championship the following day.
3. John Olerud
When the Mets traded Robert Person for John Olerud before the 1997 season, it did not stir up a whole lot of hoopla. In his first 7 full seasons, all with the Toronto Blue Jays, Olerud had established himself as a very good, if unspectacular, first baseman, save for his near-MVP season of 1993. Since the end of Keith Hernandez's Mets tenure in 1989, they had tried to find a solid "replacement" (truthfully, there is no replacing Keith Hernandez) and had consistently come up short. Dave Magadan, Mike Marshall, Eddie Murray, David Segui, Rico Brogna, Roberto Petagine, and Butch Huskey each had their moments (some more than others) but never could establish themselves as the dependable guards of the "other hot corner." Up until then, Olerud was probably best known as the player who wore a helmet in the field (which he did after suffering a brain aneurysm in college). By the time he left the Mets, following the 1999 season, Olerud was regarded as a key member of the Mets lineup and an excellent first baseman. In 3 full seasons with the Mets, Olerud batted .315, with 63 home runs, 291 RBIs, 306 walks, only 206 strikeouts, and a Mets-career OPS of .926. On September 11, 1997, Olerud became the 7th Mets player to hit for the cycle, in a 9-5 victory over the Montreal Expos.
2. Davey Johnson
Despite never playing for the Mets during his 13-year playing career, Davey Johnson still had a memorable Mets moment. His fly out to left fielder Cleon Jones to end the 1969 World Series will live on as a treasured Mets memory forever. It's also not at all why he's #2 on this list. In 1981, just a few years after his final major league game, the Mets hired Johnson the Jackson Mets, their Double-A team at the time. Two years later, he was named the manager of the Triple-A Tidewater Tides, and after winning the first ever Triple-A World Series, the Mets hired Johnson to manage the big league ball club. By the time his tenure ended in 1990, Johnson had become the most successful manager in franchise history with 595 career victories and a .588 winning percentage. In 6 full seasons at the helm, the Mets never finished with fewer than 87 wins, and also never finished worse than 2nd place in the NL East. Of course, he will always be remembered as the man in charge of the 108-win magical 1986 World Championship team. In 2010, he was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame.
1. David Wright
On July 21, 2004, the Mets called up highly-touted rookie David Wright to be their starting third baseman. While the team certainly had high hopes for him, they probably didn't know that he would eventually establish himself as a perennial All-Star, a two-time Gold Glove winner, "The Captain," and probably the last Mets player to ever wear the #5. By the time Wright retired in 2018, he was the Mets all-time leader in numerous categories including at-bats, walks, hits, doubles, extra-base hits, RBIs, runs scored, WAR, and more. Despite his many accomplishments during his 14-year career, all with the Mets, appreciative fans were left wondering what could have been had injuries not robbed him of so many games. While his number hasn't been retired yet, it's likely only a matter of time.
Only 23 players, and 1 manager, have worn the number 5 for the New York Mets. On this day full of fives, KinersKorner.com is delighted to celebrate the best of them.
If you think we missed any, or if you have any fun memories to share of the ones we've honored, please leave them in the comments below.