Stats in His Mets Career
95-67, 3.42 ERA, 213 Games, 213 Games Started, 10 Complete Games, 7 Shutouts, 1106 Strikeouts, 1360.0 Innings Pitched.
His Mets Moment
The Mets going into the final weekend were looking at another collapse at the end of the season to keep the 2nd longest playoff drought going for another season.
When the Mets swept the Pirates at Shea Stadium on the final weekend of the 1999 season and the Milwaukee Brewers were able to take 2 out of 3 from the Reds, the final playoff spot in the NL Playoffs needed one more game to decide who went and who went home.
The Reds earlier in the month had won a coin toss to get home field advantage if they were Tied with the Mets for the NL Wild Cars and so the game would be played at Cinergy Field.
For the Mets, the man on the mound was Al Leiter, a veteran of three world championship teams already and the ace of the Mets staff that season would take the mound trying to re-write history and end 11 playoff-less years in just one game.
The game got off to a great start before Leiter even took the mound as Edgardo Alfonso hit a two run home run in the top of the 1st to give the Mets an early 2-0 lead that they never gave up.
A Walk in the first and a hit in the 2nd kept the game from taking on an even greater feel for a dominant pitching performance, but the Reds, who were still in shock from the early 2 runs, didn’t get another hit until the 9th inning.
Leiter dominated the Reds that night that until Pokey Reese doubled in the 9th inning, no Red had even reached 2nd base.
With the Reds down to their final out, Leiter needed to get Dimitri Young and The Mets were off to Arizona the next night.
On the 0-1 Pitch to young, he hit a line drive right to Edgardo Alfonso, the offensive hero of the night and the Mets and Leiter were going to the playoffs and the near collapse was averted.
The Final Line of Leiter’s Mets Moment?
CG, 2 Hits, 4 Walks, 0 Runs 0 Earned, 7 Strikeouts with 135 pitches.
A Pitching Performance to Remember in a season to remember for the Mets were finally back in the Playoffs again.
Fast Facts
Most Starts in Mets History without at least one appearance out of the Bullpen for the Mets.
2× All-Star selection with the Marlins and Mets (1996, 2000)
3× World Series champion with the Blue Jays and Marlins (1992, 1993, 1997)
Won The 2000 Roberto Clemente Award and 1999 Branch Rickey Award for his Charity Work
Threw the first no-hitter in Florida Marlins History on May 11, 1996 against the Colorado Rockies.
Started Game 7 of the 1997 World Series,
Traded to the New York Mets for the 1998 Season for prospects that included AJ Burnett.
6th All Time in Mets History For Wins, 3rd All Time for Lefties, 6th All Time in Starts, 7th In Hits Allowed, 6th in Walks and 7th All Time in Strikeouts
Other Players of Note to Wear Number 22 as a Met
Bob Moorhead (1962), Jack Fisher (1964-1967), Donn Clendenon (1969-1971), Mike Jorgensen (1980-1983), Bobby Valentine (1984), Ray Knight (1984-1986), Kevin McReynolds (1987-1991), Alex Ochoa (1995-1997), Royce Ring (2005), Michael Tucker (2006), Xavier Nady (2006), Jose Valentin (2007), Ramon Martinez (2008), JJ Putz (2009), Raul Valdes (2010), Willie Harris (2011)
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, #13 Edgardo Alfonzo, #14 Gil Hodges, #15 Jerry Grote. #16 Dwight “Doc” Gooden, #17 Keith Hernandez, #18 Darryl Strawberry, #19 Bobby Ojeda, #20 Tommy Agee, #21 Cleon Jones
Coming Up, The Best Met Player Ever to wear Number Twenty Three.
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