Keith Is Finally Right. Now, Retire the Best Mets Ever

 

Thank you, Steve Cohen! You have finally done something your predecessors failed to do. Recognize the greatest non-pitcher who played for this great franchise.

 I know that Mike Piazza was finally recognized in 2016 by having his number retired by the Wilpons, but only AFTER he was elected to Cooperstown. And I guess they felt they had to recognize the greatest left-handed pitcher by scheduling to retire Jerry Koosman, which ironically, they couldn’t because of the pandemic.

 So, that honor fell to you, which was fun to witness with fans in the stands.

 But retiring Keith Hernandez #17, who was a leader in every sense of the word, proved to me and I am sure, many others, that you are not only a fan, but a man out to right a lot of wrongs done over the last sixty years.

 Now, I am not saying you should be like George Steinbrenner, who seemed to retire everybody who played for the Yankees. That was insane! But as a fan who has watched, enjoyed, rooted for the Mets since their first Opening Day, back when I was eleven years old, I can assure you that there are several others who equally deserve recognition for their play and later, for their support of a franchise which ignored them.

 First and foremost, Ed Kranepool #7. He played his entire career only with this team, starting in September 1962 until the end of 1979. He has also been a great Ambassador for the team for all the years since.

 Then, we have Tug McGraw #45, who had the guts to stand up to a man with the cheer which still inspires old and new fans of a day gone by. “Ya gotta believe!” inspired the team to rush from last place on August 16, 1973 to win the Pennant by beating the Reds in the playoffs. And almost beat the A’s in the World Series.

 Or, how about Gary Carter #8, who took control of a talented pitching staff and made them into the best pitching staff since the 1969 to 1973 Miracle Mets? And who brought his own unique leadership skills to win the 1986 World Series and retired with dignity at the end of 1989?

 And finally, there is John Franco #45, the best reliever the Mets ever had. He was with the team from 1990 until 2004 and as every fan knows, he was counted on to save the win each time he appeared. Oh, and he was one of the four Captains the team had, too.

 In the years to come, there will be others who may deserve to have their numbers retired and flown on the peaks of this beautiful ballpark, like David Wright, and maybe Mookie and Darryl and Doc.  Davey Johnson also deserves consideration, as well as Bobby Valentine.

 But Kranepool, McGraw, Carter and Franco should come before any others. And while you are the owner and can do what you want, as a fan you know these are very valid and excellent choices.

So Steve. It is time to fix the past and recognize those who made this franchise into the best team with the most truly loyal fans of any sports team which played in New York. As a long-suffering, dedicated and loyal fan, Orange and Blue since ’62, do the right thing and recognize the greatest players who ever played baseball as a New York Met.