The most fun aspect of the Mets’ 40th Anniversary All-Amazin’ Team is the inevitable debate. After looking at who did make it, the question arises: Who should’ve made it?
Before answering that question, let us present the 15 Amazin’s who were announced yesterday and determined by more than 27,000 fan votes.
First baseman Keith Hernandez, second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo, third baseman Howard Johnson, shortstop Buddy Harrelson, catcher Mike Piazza; outfielders Darryl Strawberry, Mookie Wilson and Lenny Dykstra, right-handed starter Tom Seaver, left-handed starter Jerry Koosman, right-handed reliever Roger McDowell, left-handed reliever John Franco; pinch-hitters Ed Kranepool and Rusty Staub and manager Gil Hodges.
So who should’ve made it, but didn’t?
“Obviously, I’m biased because of the people that I played with,” Seaver said. “I know how good a defensive catcher that Jerry Grote was and I know how good a center fielder Tommy Agee was. Agee’s tenure with the Mets wasn’t very long. I look at Cleon [Jones.] He hit [.340] the year we won. Obviously, you are biased with the guys you won with.”
Hernandez, Seaver’s fellow Met TV analyst, concurred on Jones.
“I thought Cleon Jones should’ve been on the team,” Hernandez said. “They have two center fielders. A platoon in center field, that’s fine. They [Dykstra and Wilson] both are deserving. I thought Cleon Jones should’ve been on the team.”
Hernandez mentioned Gary Carter before saying Mike Piazza was more deserving.
Among the relievers, arguments could be made over Tug McGraw matched up with Franco. But when limiting a list to 15 names, standouts are going to be left off.
“Carter or Gooden [could’ve been on it,]” HoJo said. “Those guys aren’t on the list. It is unfortunate.”
But you’ve got Piazza and Seaver?
“It’s not like you’ve got chopped liver,” Johnson said. “You’ve got two Hall of Famers there. Mike is a terrific player. He deserves it without a doubt. I guess we all look at our own era and our own group and think it’s special.”
That is the fun of the whole thing. Player vs. player. Era vs. Era. Who is better?
Let the arguments continue.
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ALL-AMAZIN’S
First baseman
Keith Hernandez
Second baseman
Edgardo Alfonzo
Third baseman
Howard Johnson
Shortstop
Buddy Harrelson
Catcher
Mike Piazza
Outfielders
Darryl Strawberry
Mookie Wilson
Lenny Dykstra
Right-handed starter
Tom Seaver
Left-handed starter
Jerry Koosman
Right-handed reliever
Roger McDowell
Left-handed reliever
John Franco
Pinch-hitters
Ed Kranepool
Rusty Staub
Manager
Gil Hodges


