Worst Mets' of the Past 33 Years: Part One

We recently posted a bunch on our sister site, Sheanation, but weren't able to post those articles up here due to some computer issues. Here is a recap of all of these posts, and we're back to normal as of today (however one describes "normal" these days, anyway.) Here they all are...

in order...

The Outfield

During the past 33 years, we've had our share of terrible teams, and, of course, terrible teams become that way due to the contributions of the oft-terrible players they're stocked with. As we've just clinched the NL East title, we thought this was the perfect time to look back at some of the worst players we've seen wearing Mets's uniforms during the past 33 years. We'll start with the Outfield, and go position-by-position, every few days, until the post-season begins.

Why the Outfield first? Well, with 3 people supposedly manning it each game, and with at least 5 on the roster per year, that's well over one-hundred players to choose from over the past 33 years (and besides, pitching is going to be the hardest, so there's something to be said about beginning with an easier challenge).

We've had some players who should have been stars, based on their past performances, including Ellis Valentine, George Foster and Vince Coleman. We've had some whom we really liked, but actually weren't as good as we wished them to be, including Elliott Maddox, Lee Mazzilli, Del Unser, Mike Vail, Gene Clines and Steve Henderson. And, finally, we've had some that were just so bad, it hurts just to think about them. So cast aside your Pepe Manguel's, your Juan Samuel's, your Benny Agbayani's and your Joel Youngblood's, because these 3 are by far and away the worst to suit up in the blue and orange:

3.) Don Hahn: He was supposed to be the heir apparent to Agee and Jones, and, instead, he was a throw-in in the deal that brought us John Stearns and cost us Tug McGraw! In 1971, in a trade with the Expos, he cost us '69 World Series hero and future broadcaster, Ron Swoboda, and delivered nothing in return. I watched in horror as he collided with "The Mad Stork", George Theodore, on a hit by, I believe, Ralph Garr - and that was, sadly, his career highlight with us! Hahn's career never amounted to much, as in 454 games, he hit .236, with 7 homers and 74 RBI's. Besides the "collision", Hahn is mostly known for platooning with Willie Mays in the '73 pennant-winning season. Hahn's promise never panned out, and we are annointing him the THIRD worst outfielder on the Mets during the past 33 years.

2.) Dave Schneck: Not much to say about Schneck- he showed some promise, power-wise, for a few brief moments, emphasis on "brief". He joined Hahn in the trade with the Phils, and for his career, he hit a whopping .199 with 8 homers and 35 RBI's in 143 games. Once again, a case of the Mets over-valuing a power-hitting prospect who flopped in the majors. He toiled in the minors for a while, and at one time, the Mets rated him quite highly as a major league prospect, along with future All-Star Ken Singleton (himself traded to Montreal in the Rusty Staub trade). Schneck never accomplished anything with the Phillies, and his sub-Mendoza-line average rates him a solid number TWO in the worst Mets' outfield of the past 33 years!

...and, the drum roll, please...

1.) George "The Mad Stork" Theodore: The afore-mentioned collision with Don Hahn...the gangly-looking fielder who served as the poster boy for the last player picked on the kickball team...a minor league slugger who once belted over 30 homers in a season but who only hit 2 homers in 105 major league games...the Mad Stork, so named for the crazy way in which he both hunched at the plate and ran in the outfield turned 60 this year, and never came close to the promise he showed as a minor leaguer. We hear that the Stork is now a school counselor back in his home state of Utah, and he remains the only Met to ever lace up cleats to come from that state...he hit .219 in 105 games, and besides the 2 homers, he knocked in a whopping 16 runs. By all accounts, Theodore was and is a very nice person, dedicated to children's education. However, as a Met, and in spite of his oft-entertaining persona, we vote him as the number ONE worst Met outfielder of all time!

Part 2- Catcher - Coming Soon

Let us know what your choices are for worst Mets' outfield of all time!