Stats in His Mets Career
1086 Games, .292 BA, 120 HR, 538 RBI, 212 Doubles, 614 Runs, 1136 Hits
His Mets Moment
The word that is thrown alot when it comes to a baseball player, whether or not it is fair to them, is Clutch. The biggest complaint about David Wright from some fans is that he is not clutch, for a guy like Derek Jeter, he is always Clutch. It can help to define a baseball career in both a good and bad way.
For Edgardo Alfonzo his play as a Met may have the most clutch the franchise has ever seen, and with a playoff spot on the line in Game 163 in The Queen City, better known as Cincinnati, Edgardo was The King.
The Mets franchise hadnt been to the playoffs since the 1988 season and after they collapsed in 1998, they almost did the same in 1999. With the Mets sweep of the Pirates and the Reds somehow losing 2 of 3 to the Brewers, the Mets and Reds would play a play-in game for the right to play in the 1999 National League Division Series.
The Reds decided to send Steve Parris to the hill while the Mets countered with Al Leiter with both teams looking for that 97th win that would send them to either Atlanta in Cincy’s case or Arizona in the Mets Case.
In the first inning, the Mets got off and running and it only took two batters and two swings of the bat to put the hammer down on the Reds in the 1999 season.
Ricky Henderson led off with a single into left field and up came Edgardo Alfonzo who during the regular season had his career high in home runs and RBI with 27 and 108.
On the third pitch he saw from Parris, Alfonzo his a lazer beam out to LF and it was gone for a Home Run and the Mets silenced the crowd at Cinergy Field and took a 2-0 lead.
Leiter cruised from there and the Met would win the NL Wild Card with a 5-0 win and went to the NL Division Series in Arizona.
On The very next day, In Game 1 of the NLDS against the Diamondbacks, Alfonzo had 2 Homers and 5 RBI including a go-ahead Grand Slam in the 8th inning.
He was most certainly clutch and was certainly not unlucky when he wore #13 and was the Greatest Met to do so.
Fast Facts
Alfonzo was Signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1991.
Alfonzo made his Major League debut on April 26, 1995.
Lead all 2nd basemen in Fielding Percentage in the 1999 season, as part of “The Greatest Defensive Infield Ever” team with Olerud, Ventura and Ordonez.
Won the Silver Slugger award for National League 2nd Basemen in 1999
Was a National League All-Star in 2000
Has the 5th highest batting average in team history, 6th all time in on base percentage, 7th all time in Walks, 6th all time in total bases, 6th all time in RBI, 9th all time in Home Runs, 4th all time in doubles and 4th all time in Hits.
He left the Mets on December 15, 2002 when he Signed as a Free Agent with the San Francisco Giants.
Other Players of Note to Wear Number 13 as a Met
Roger Craig (1963), Neil Allen (1981-1983), Clint Hurdle (1985), Lee Mazzilli (1986-1989), Rick Cerrone (1991), Matt Ginter (2004), Billy Wagner (2006-2009), Alex Cora (2010)
At the end of the day, there is no question in my mind that Edgardo Alfonzo is the Greatest Met of All Time to wear Number 13.
Previous Best: #1 Mookie Wilson, #2 Bobby Valentine, #3 Bud Harrelson, #4 Lenny Dykstra, #5 David Wright, #6 Wally Backman, #7 Jose Reyes, #8 Gary Carter, #9 Todd Hundley, #10 Rusty Staub, #11 Wayne Garrett, #12 Ron Darling
Coming Up Tomorrow, The Best Met Player Ever to wear Number Fourteen.
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