Countdown to Mets Fantasy Camp 22 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.
#22
#1
Donn Clendenon
Without Donn, there would have been no Miracle Mets. He gave the Mets lineup balance and was a legitimate power threat in the middle of the lineup. Having him behind Cleon Jones forced pitcher to throw Cleon better pitches to hit. Add in his three home runs in the World Series were all crucial in games that ended 2-1, 2-1 and 5-3, a case could be made that Donn was the most important member of the 1969 Mets, as well as the World Series MVP.
#2
Ray Knight
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Ray Knight is his brawl with Eric Davis, Ray was a gritty player who rebounded after his bad throw in game 6 of the 86 Series against the Red Sox allowed them to tie the game. Of course he rebounded with a key hit in the bottom of the tenth inning and scored the winning run. His homer off Calvin Schraldi in Game Seven gave the Mets the lead they never relinquished.He like Donn Clendenon won the World Series MVP. Here is our Interview with Ray Knight.
#3
Al Leiter
7 seasons as a NY Met, none of them a losing season, 5 games shy of 100 wins,his 1998 Season earned him enough votes to place 6th in Cy Young Award voting. In 1999, when the Mets were tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the National League Wild Card spot after 162 games, Al was the Mets starting pitcher in the "winner take all" one game playoff in Cinergy Field in Cincinnati. Leiter pitched a 2-hit complete game shutout to earn the win in the Mets 5–0 victory. The win put the Mets in the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons.. Al and I talked about this years later, Watch the interview.
Mets who wore #22
Bob Moorhead
Joe Hicks
Jack Fisher
Donn Clendenon
William Cotton
Jack Aker
Bob Gallagher
Jay Kleven
Doc Medich
Dale Murray
Mike Jorgensen
Bobby Valentine
Ray Knight
Kevin McReynolds
Charlie O'Brien
Brett Butler
Alex Ochoa
Al Leiter
Royce Ring
Xavier Nady
Michael Tucker
José Valentin
Ramon Martinez
J. J. Putz
Raul Valdes
Willie Harris
Eric Young
By: Mark Rosenman
WLIE 540 AM SPORTSTALKNY Host and Producer
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