FLUSHING, NY — Bobby Valentine and Lee Mazzilli played a significant role when reflecting on the history of the New York Mets. I for one can recall those moments covering their respective careers at Shea Stadium.
Valentine, the manager from 1996-2002, and Mazzilli, the All-Star who was on the roster of the Mets’ 1986 World Series winning team. Appropriate the two were teammates for a pair of years from 1977-78 and inducted together into the Mets Hall of Fame Saturday afternoon at Citi Field.
Bobby Valentine and Lee Mazzilli were officially inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame on Saturday in a special ceremony – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
The Mets have not ignored the past, recent years of recognizing former players and managers as Hall of Fame inductees with a wing in their honor at Citi Field. Also since Steve Cohen assumed ownership, more players’ numbers have been retired and are displayed up in the rafters.
Even Willie Mays’ No. 24 is retired who had an illustrious 23-year baseball playing career (1948-1973), with the Birmingham Black Barons (Negro League in 1948), New York Giants (1951-1957) and Giants of San Francisco (1958-1972) before finishing up with the Mets (1972-1973).
Carlos Beltrán and his No. 15 will be honored with that distinction in a pre-game ceremony at Citi Field on Saturday, September 19th—months after his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum up in Cooperstown, NY.
Carlos Beltrán will be get inducting into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on Sunday, July 26th alongside Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent – Image Credit: Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
And with all the history across town with the Yankees and how they continue to recognize their array of Hall of Famers, it’s now a tradition at Citi Field. The Mets have slowly but surely built their legacy and recognized their history.
“Going in with him is special, ” Mazzilli said about Valentine prior to a field ceremony. “I don’t know if I can put it into words that I feel like. I’m coming back home.”
Mazzilli was home, a Mets first round draft pick (14th overall) in 1973 from Brooklyn, NY. He was highly touted and stole 41 bases in 1980. I recall late Mets broadcaster Bob Murphy, also a Hall of Famer inductee saying numerous times, “Well will you look at that, there goes Lee Mazzilli again. Oh boy, the Mets got a good one.”
Lee Mazzilli said in his Mets Hall of Fame induction speech: “I know that I am not the best player in the Mets Hall of Fame. But I am the proudest.” – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
He became a fan favorite, standing sixth in Mets franchise history with 152 steals. Perhaps a home run hitter would get more acclaim, Mazzilli, though was known for getting on base. He had speed, and could track down a ball in the outfield with those basket catches.
Years later, he would have ties across town with the Yankees as an outfielder, coach, advisor, and occasional broadcaster. The late owner George Steinbrenner wanted those attributes as Mazzilli always caught his eye. But he always looked at himself as a homegrown Met at Shea Stadium.
“When I found out that I was the number one pick of the Mets, I was really overwhelmed,” Mazzilli said. “I ran home from school to see my dad. I didn’t even expect that.”
Al Leiter and Lee Mazzilli sharing a moment after Leiter presented Mazzilli with his Mets Hall of Fame plaque – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Years later, Mazzilli still resembles a player, older though and still energetic as he was wearing a Mets uniform. He received a nice Mets welcome home on the field and is now a Mets Hall of Famer, but not with his name adorned on the walls in Cooperstown.
Of course, managers have been significant in Mets history. Like the late Gil Hodges leading the Miracle Mets to a World Series championship title victory in 1969 and Yogi Berra with the 1973 NL championship team that came up short versus the A’s. Also is Terry Collins at the helm of the resurgence 2015 team who fell short of a World Series championship against the Royals. Buck Showalter had the Mets in contention though it was tough breaks at times.
Lastly, current manager Carlos Mendoza and the surprise run to the 2024 National League Championship Series, falling short to the Dodgers.
Alex Cohen, Steve Cohen and Carlos Mendoza during Saturdays’s pregame ceremony at Citi Field for Bobby Valentine and Lee Mazzilli – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Of course, Bobby Valentine was promoted to manager of the Mets with 31 games left in the 1996 season, and led them to a 12–19 record the rest of the way. Over the next two seasons, Valentine led a Mets resurgence, finishing 14 games over .500 (88–74) both years. In the 12th inning of a 14-inning marathon against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 9, 1999, Valentine was ejected by home plate umpire Randy Marsh for arguing a catcher’s interference call against Mike Piazza.
He returned to the dugout an inning later disguised with sunglasses and a fake moustache made from eye black. The Mets went on to win the game 4–3, and Major League Baseball fined Valentine $5,000 and suspended him for two games.
Most remembered though was him leading the Mets to a record of 97–66 and a wild card playoff berth that season. Defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in four games (3–1) en route to the NLCS, eventually losing to their division rival the Atlanta Braves in six games (4–2).
And that year of 2000, a 94–68 record and another wild card playoff berth, winning the National League pennant by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2000 NLCS in five games (4–1). The Mets then went on to lose the 2000 World Series to their crosstown rivals Yankees in five games (4–1).
Controversial? Yes, that’s Valentine but he managed to get the Mets to play good baseball. The mustache story is chronicled many times as the Mets had a fan giveaway of the mustache/glasses Friday night.
In Bobby Valentine’s Mets Hall of Fame induction speech ahead of the Mets beating the Marlins on Saturday, he said: “I don’t know when I ever felt like this before, maybe it was when my son was being born” – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Valentine, with Mazzilli, threw out the first pitch Saturday prior to the Mets third straight win, 6-1 over the Marlins.
“I want to be remembered as the guy who shared,” Valentine said. “The guy who tried to understand his players and give everything I have to them.”
He also became a fan favorite and was a city wide hero with his efforts following the tragic events of September 11, 2001—smiling with pride when the Mets celebrated the rerun of baseball to New York at Shea Stadium a week after baseball was put to a stop. The induction speech of stories had the attention of Mazzilli, pitcher Al Leiter who threw 142 pitches in Game 5 that went to the Yankees in the first Subway World Series since 1956, and many more in the crowd of 38,552.
Bobby Valentine who was the manager of the Mets during the beginning of Mike Piazza’s New York career (1998-2002 before being fired) was presented with his Mets HOF plaque by Piazza on Saturday – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
An Amazin’ day for Valentine and Mazzilli, appropriately honored together. They loved the Mets franchise, fans, and contributed to the historic ride of New York baseball. It was that mutual respect and a part of Mets history that will be always remembered as honored members of their Hall of Fame fraternity.
THE GAME: It was an all around 6-1 win for the Mets (25-33) over Miami (26-33) following Valentine and Mazzilli’s special pregame ceremony. In his 16th career start, starter Christian Scott, earning his first MLB win, finished with a line of five innings, one-hit, one earned run, eight strikeouts and two walks (96 pitches, 60 strikes).
The 26-year-old right-hander Christian Scott recorded his first career MLB win Saturday afternoon vs. Miami, pitching five inning of one-run ball with eight strikeouts (tying a career high) – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Another career first was catcher Hayden Senger, hitting his first career home run while rookie Carson Benge had a 3-for-4 day with two doubles and Jared Young blasted a sixth inning home run.
Mark Vientos also tacked on two RBI, with Juan Soto and Marcus Semien, each recording one.
The Mets picked up their 25th win of the year Saturday and are now on a three game winning streak heading into Sunday’s series finale vs. the Marlins (one win vs. Cincinnati and two vs. Miami) – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Defensive outfield plays from Benge and rookie A.J. Ewing played a factor. So did a Mets three-run fourth, and four scoreless innings from the bullpen including a perfect frame in the ninth from Devin Williams.
Now, a three game winning streak and series finale Sunday afternoon with a chance to sweep the Marlins.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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