The 10 Most Interesting People in Mets History (Pt. II)
Part II: Outrageous and interesting characters who played or managed the Mets.
The New York Mets have a unique and rich history.
It started on Day One with Joan Payson, then Casey Stengel, the infamous 1962 Mets, Tom Seaver, the 1969 Miracle Mets, Tug McGraw, 1986, Bobby Valentine … well, you get the idea.
Mets history is filled with outrageous games, Amazin’ moments, and a long list of interesting characters. In today’s Substack newsletter we rewind for Part II of our 10 Most Interesting People in Mets history.
Note: The list is not exhaustive or in any particular order of listing, but it makes for a fun debate and brings back some memorable names.
Keith Hernandez
Keith Hernandez played his last game in 1991. Since then he’s become more famous for his role on Seinfeld and his color commentary for the Mets flagship station, SNY. In fact, there are entire generations of fans who never saw Hernandez play the game — except, maybe, on YouTube.
But this is a guy who does the Times crossword puzzle (at least he did), had an interesting relationship with his father and loves reading history books. No wonder his interest in the game sometimes wanes.
Derek Bell
Derek Bell only played one season in New York, but it goes without saying, he is one of the most interesting characters to ever wear the orange and blue.
Bell lived on his 63-foot yacht called “Bell 14.” He dressed like a pimp and made up hip hop lyrics on the fly. He was light-hearted and gregarious.
Where is he!?
Matt Harvey
If I could pick one Mets player to interview it would be Matt Harvey.
His life and career are littered with amazing stories of success and failure. The all-consuming lifestyle of New York, from standing ovations to raining down boos, Harvey has experienced the good, the bad and the ugly of pitching in the greatest city in the world.
We can only hope that he will one day tell his story about his baseball life.
Casey Stengel
Come on, it’s Casey Stengel. He was more entertainer than manager. Stengel was a built-in distraction to losing. I always wished Stengel would have dropped the “act” after he retired and explained how and why he managed the Mets.
Anyone who played for Stengel that I spoke with claimed Stengel was all-business behind closed doors.
He was fully aware and the Stengelese was a strategy. Regardless, Stengel was a bonified character and part of Mets lore.
R.A. Dickey
Dickey is thoughtful and kind. He is adventurous (climbed Kilamanjaro). He is a survivor of sexual abuse. In his book, Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball, Dickey wrote that he was sexually abused — twice. He also revealed his struggles with suicidal thoughts.
His baseball career also came with its fair share of challenges including overcoming the fact that he had no ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, learning how to rebuild his career as a knuckleball pitcher and eventually winning 20 games and winning the Cy Young Award.
Honorable mention: Turk Wendell, Jose Lima, Len Randle, Dave Kingman, Len Dykstra, Roger McDowell, Vince Coleman, Joan Payson and Pedro Martinez.