Countdown to Mets Fantasy Camp 23 Days to Go.
Every year for the last 3 years as Spring gives way to Fall, Mets season merges into NY Rangers season, I have been able to keep the baseball side of my brain occupied with thoughts of Mets Fantasy Camp. This year more so then ever, in the past I have simply gone down to cover the week long camp as a reporter, this season I am headed down to actually participate as a player. Each year I have tried to find unique ways of counting down the days until camp and sharing them with Mets fans, So this year I will do the countdown by Jersey numbers, When possible I will post my 3 favorite Mets who have worn that number, some numbers are harder then others.
#23
#1
Doug Flynn
Without a doubt one of the nicest men to ever wear a NY Mets Uniform.I think Doug Flynn maybe in fact the first major league player I ever interviewed and he could have been nicer, 30 some odd years later we reunited for a follow up interview, he is still a great guy with a tremendous sense of humor, and still can field with the best of them, he was such an amazing fielder.
#2
Bernard Gilkey
Aside from being in "Men in Black" ... where he got hit on the head with a flyball as he watched a UFO fly over Shea Stadium., Bernard was one of those trades you could label a steal for the Mets,The Mets got Bernard for for Yudith Ozario, Erik Hiljus and Eric Ludwick. Gilkey went on to have one of the greatest single best years in Mets history, .317 batting average, 30 homers,117 Rbis at that time a Met Record and 44 doubles. unfortunately he never came close to equalling those numbers over the next season and 1/2 but you still would have to consider the trade a steal for the Mets.
#3
Mike Baxter
The words no-hitter and Johan Santana and the Mets would never have been used in a sentence if it wasn't for Mike Baxter, Mike Baxter made one of the most important regular season catches in Mets History, it preserved what would eventually be the first no-hitter in Mets History.
Mets who wore #23
Bob Miller
Joe Christopher
Billy Murphy
Bob Heise
Leroy Stanton
Dave Schneck
Ted Martinez
Jesus Alou
Leon Brown
Doug Flynn
Brian Giles
Bud Harrelson
Chuck Hiller
Chris Donnels
Tim Bogar
Bernard Gilkey
Jermaine Allensworth
Pat Mahomes
Brian Rose
Matt Lawton
McKay Christensen
Esix Snead
Jason Phillips
Kaz Ishii
Julio Franco
Marlon Anderson
Brian Schneider
Chris Carter
Blaine Boyer
Mike Baxter
Taylor Teagarden
By: Mark Rosenman
WLIE 540 AM SPORTSTALKNY Host and Producer
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