Inspired by the reigning New York Macropolitan's just short-enough-to-win start yesterday, let's celebrate those who've donned XS jerseys for the Mets.First Base: Sandy Alomar (5'7")
It's amazing that someone so tiny could father such a behemoth. I did cheat a little with this pick. Sandy Senior played 14 games at first in his career, but never for the Mets. In fact, no Met shorter than 5'10" has ever held down the warm corner. Most notable among the near six footers are Ed Charles, Jose Valentin and Bobby Valentine.
Second Base: Wally Backman (5'9")
A short man with a shorter fuse, is it possible that the root cause of Wally's temper was a Napoleon complex? Being the shortest player on roster for almost a decade must take a psychic toll. Then again, a more probable cause is booze. Sauced or not, Wally is the most accomplished player on this list, compiling a WAR of 9.7 over the course of nine years with the Mets, for a WARPI (WAR per inch) of 0.141.
Third Base: Sergio Ferrer (5'7")
Ferrer is undoubtedly the smallest Met ever. Five-foot-seven, 145 pounds. To put that into perspective for you younger fans, two Ferrers equals one pre-Wii Fit Heath Bell.
Shortstop: Desi Relaford (5'8")
His time in Queens was short, but memorable. When he wasn't being the 2001 Mets' second most productive hitter (only Mike Piazza put up a higher OPS+), Desi found time to be the shortest man to take the Shea mound, toeing the rubber in a 15 to 3 laugher against the Padres. The results? Surprisingly not bad. Where was he last September?
Outfield: Ced Landrum (5'7"), Ricky Otero (5'7"), John Cangelosi (5'7")
All three played between 1993 and 1995 and none came remotely close to hitting a home run for the Mets. I dub them: Cedrickohn Langelotero.
Catcher: Frank Estrada (5'8", 182 lbs.)
After the 1971 season, the Mets traded Estrada and a few spare parts to the California Angels for Jim Fregosi. Estrada never played in the majors again. SUCKERS! Also, what's with small catchers? The Mets have had a bunch of them (Choo Choo Coleman, Jerry Grote and Todd Hundley were all under six feet). Seems like pitchers would want a big target behind the plate.
Starting Pitcher: Al Jackson (5'10")
Ironic that he'd wind up on this list, given his long involvement with the organization. Fun fact: Tom Seaver is the Mets' all time leader in wins with 198. The man who held the record prior? Al Jackson. With 43.
Relief Pitcher: Bob Short (5'9")
That's an apropos note to end on, isn't it?
Mike Pelfrey takes the mound later today for his first start of the season. While he may or may not meet the mighty expectations Met fans have for him this year, let's not lose sight of the great height to which he's already ascended: for the third year running, Big Pelf is the tallest man on the 25-man roster.
What's more, barring a trade for Jon Rauch, a big league appearance by this guy or a Cotton Hill-style mishap with his shins, Mike could conceivably set the record for most consecutive seasons as the team's resident giant.
(In case anyone was wondering, the current record holder is the 6' 6" Ed Lynch, who was the tallest Met from 1980 to 1986. Darryl Strawberry, who is also 6' 6", would have set the record with eight consecutive seasons had 1987 deadline acquisition John Candelaria been one inch shorter. Esoteric? You bet, but have you seen how many Mets-themed blogs there are? One really needs to dig to find a fresh vein.)
With any luck, Big Pelf will make a few All Star game appearances before osteoporosis turns him into Regular-Sized Pelf. Yet, no matter how hard he works or how much milk he drinks, at only 6'7", there's one roster he'll always be too short to crack: the New York Mets Tall-Star Team. Behold, the most Brobdingnagian of Metropolitans...
First Base: John Olerud (6'5")
An example of art imitating height. A maestro with the lumber, Olerud physically towers over other Met first baseman the way his 1998 season towers over their stats.
Second Base: Bill Almon (6'3")
Did you know that that as of Opening Day 2009, the Mets have played 7,483 games and all but 28 of them have featured a second baseman shorter than Janet Reno? I didn't either until Baseball Reference told me.
Third Base: Jim Hickman (6'4")
I thought for sure David Wright would end up in this slot, but turns out he's only one hundred feet tall and made of solid gold in my mind. Dave Kingman also played a little third, but we'll get to him in a bit.
Shortstop: Kevin Elster (6'2")
I cheated a little with this one. Bill Almon is also the tallest man ever to play short for the Mets, so I went with the shorter, more well-known guy. Remember how he practically disappeared from baseball for four years and then came back to hit 24 home runs for the Rangers? That was weird.
Outfield: Darryl Strawberry (6'6"), Dave Kingman (6'6"), Tony Clark (6'7")
Two of these guys are in the top 5 on the Mets' career home run list. The other wore number 00. Can you figure out which is which?
Catcher: Sandy Alomar, Jr. (6'5")
Junior got Dad's name, Mom's height genes (more on that tomorrow). Despite playing only eight games for the Amazins, he still had more XBHs than Robbie.
Starting Pitcher: Eric Hillman (6'10")
Until Jon Rauch came along, Eric and Randy Johnson shared the title of tallest player in MLB history. The similarities diverge there. In 1993, Eric gave up 10.7 hits per nine innnings. Randy struck out 10.9 per nine.
Tomorrow, a look at the littlest Mets. Believe it or not, some are even smaller than Luis Castillo.
Mets (0-0) at Cincinnati (0-0), 1:10 PM (EST)
Johan Santana vs. Aaron Harang
Let's play ball!*
*Weather permitting
Inspired by the reigning New York Macropolitan's just short-enough-to-win start yesterday, let's celebrate those who've donned XS jerseys for the Mets.
