So I was reading DiComo's arguments in favor of Lindor getting MVP when I saw the following line

"In another year he’d be the clear-cut NL MVP. As it is, he may have to settle for one of the greatest individual seasons in franchise history, without any league-wide hardware to show for it."

This had me thinking, who did have the number one greatest season in franchise history? It's too messy if you include pitchers, but just looking at position players, I think that I found the four best contenders:

John Olerud 1998 8.1 fWAR He slashed .354/.447/.551 while putting up gold glove defense at 1B.

Carlos Beltran 2006 7.8 fWAR Tied the the franchise record for single season HRs with 41 while giving us gold glove defense at center field.

David Wright 2007 8.4 fWAR joined the 30-30 club for the first time and got his first gold glove and silver slugger.

Francisco Lindor 2024 7.8 fWAR I shouldn't have to remind you why this year was amazing.

Out of these four, I think Wright had the best season, but I may be bias. He was just an all around 5 tool player with no weaknesses.

What do you think? Did I miss anyone?

22 comments

  2. Robin Ventura 1999. He wasn’t better than any of the players you listed but still deserves a mention.

  5. 2007 was also the year that Jimmy Rollins stole the NL MVP from the 3 better hitters who finished below him…

  6. I think Lindors season is a bit overrated. His WAR is at that level because he plays above average SS.

    I can’t put an .844 OPS as an all time great Mets season. He was great and clutch, but I just can’t get there.

  7. A few that come to mind:

    * Cleon Jone’s 1969. .340/.422/.482 during a very pitching advantaged era is very impressive.
    * Darryl Strawberry’s 1987. 39 home runs and 36 stolen bases.
    * Edgardo Alfonzo’s 2000. .324/.425/.542 and 25 home runs.

    These aren’t necessarily the very best season but they were in the ball park IMO.

  8. I’ve always considered beltron’s 06 season the best season I’ve ever seen. But lindor didn’t just have a great statistical season he also had that clutch factor[so did Beltran dispite that one at-bat] so it’s close. I don’t remember olerud’s season enough comment on it tbh

  9. Honorable mention to Cliff Floyd in 2005. Not upper echelon, but one of the better unicorn seasons by a met ever.

  10. >It’s too messy if you include pitchers

    In my opinion, Gooden’s 1985 season is untouchable.

    24-4, 1.53 ERA, 220 ERA+, 2.13 FIP, 276.2 IP

    Since 1900, only Walter Johnson and Cy Young top his 12.2 pitching bWAR, plus he added another 1.1 WAR at the plate.

    As for hitters, you could make a good argument for any of the players you listed. I’d also like to give a shout out to Lance Johnson’s 1996 season just for the counting stats:

    227 H, 21 3B, 50 SB while playing gold glove caliber defense in CF

  11. Deep cut, Bernard Gilkeys’ 1996 is super underrated because it was with a team just starting to emerge from the disastrous early 90’s. 317/30/117.

  13. HoJo’s 1989 deserves mention. 7.0fWAR but mostly dragged down because of his poor defense, offensively he was an absolute beast.

  15. Not the best all-time. But Cleon Jones was a monster for the Miracle Mets

    .340 BA!/.422 OBP/.482 Slug 154 wrC+ (where 100 is league average. So 54% better then your average hitter in 1969. Which is elite adjusted for his era.)

    6.3fWar and lead directly to a World Series Ring? Pretty significant. Although not best all time ofc.

    And hit a blistering .429 in the NLCS against the Barves to sweep them

  19. Met fans complain endlessly about Beltran’s called strike 3 in the 06 NLCS but never respect the fact that he was largely the one that got us there. Many clutch moments, a quiet leader.

  20. It’s not messy at all when you include pitchers, it’s just that our top seasons of all-time are all by pitchers. Gooden, Seaver, deGrom.

  21. Beltran was one of the best free agent signings in our history. He was an absolute pleasure to watch. 

  22. Ok, not position, but it is David Liddell and it is not close by a mile.

    There is noone more obscure and more perfect for an entire MLB career.

    iykyk

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