Baseball Reference Blog
Top 5 Leaders in Home Runs for the New York Mets
Posted by Darren Baker on June 22, 2024
Unlike some other notable MLB franchises, the New York Mets haven’t been around for well over a hundred years, so their team history may not seem as storied as some others. Their first season was 1962. That 40-120 year was a rough start for New York’s second team at the time. Only a few years earlier, the Dodgers left for Los Angeles and the Giants moved to San Francisco. After a rough start to the decade, the Miracle Mets of 1969 won a World Series in only the franchise’s eighth season. Then the ‘86 Mets had one of the wildest seasons in baseball history on their way to the team’s second world title. Since 1962, the Mets have supplied the sport with many memories and some potent sluggers. Today we are going to look at the leading home-run hitters that launched bombs in Queens.
Howard Johnson
Positions: Third Baseman, Shortstop and Outfielder
Bats: Both • Throws: Right
5-11, 178lb (180cm, 80kg)
Born: November 29, 1960 (Age: 63-154d) in Clearwater, FL us
Draft: Drafted by the New York Yankees in the 23rd round of the 1978 MLB June Amateur Draft from Clearwater HS (Clearwater, FL) and the Detroit Tigers in the 1st round (12th) of the 1979 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase from St. Petersburg College (St. Petersburg, FL).
High School: Clearwater HS (Clearwater, FL)
School: St. Petersburg College (St. Petersburg, FL)
Debut:
April 14, 1982
(Age 21-136d,
14,576th in major league history)
vs. TOR 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 1, 1995
(Age 34-306d)
vs. HOU 4 AB, 3 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1982 season
Full Name: Howard Michael Johnson
Nicknames: HoJo
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
22.2
4940
1229
228
.249
760
760
231
.340
.446
.786
118
With the incredibly colorful cast of characters on the ‘86 Mets, this guy would probably not be one of the first names you think of, but he is 5th on the New York Mets all-time home-run list. Howard Johnson bashed 192 homers in a Mets uniform. This Howard Johnson has nothing to do with the hotel chain. This Howard Johnson has everything to do with a well-rounded player who had a phenomenal five-year stretch in Flushing. From 1987-1991, these are HoJo’s homer totals: 36, 24, 36, 23, and 38. His 1991 season was one of the best individual seasons in Mets history. That year he led the National League with 38 home runs and 117 RBIs. Johnson finished 5th in NL MVP voting (something he did twice), and it was his third 30/30 season with the Mets. In addition to round trippers, this third baseman and occasional outfielder sits in the franchise’s top five in quite a few categories: offensive WAR (30.4), runs scored (627), walks (556), doubles (214), and RBIs (629). HoJo also deserves a special spotlight for being on two of MLB’s best championship teams: the 1984 Detroit Tigers and the 1986 New York Mets. Howard Johnson was a great Met in the late 80s and early 90s, and he is one of the all-time home-run hitters in franchise history.
Pete Alonso
Position: First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-3, 245lb (190cm, 111kg)
Team: New York Mets (majors)
Born: December 7, 1994 (Age: 29-146d) in Tampa, FL us
Draft: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 2nd round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Florida (Gainesville, FL).
High School: H. B. Plant HS (Tampa, FL)
School: University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
Debut:
March 28, 2019
(Age 24-111d,
21,817th in major league history)
vs. WSN 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2019 season
2024 Contract Status: Signed thru 2024, 1 yr/$20.5M (24)
Service Time (01/2024): 5.000 • Free Agent: 2025
Agents: Boras Corporation • Previously: Apex Baseball
Full Name: Peter Morgan Alonso
Nicknames: Polar Bear
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
2024
Career
0.4
17.7
111
2642
26
661
8
200
.234
.250
20
422
15
513
1
15
.323
.341
.477
.526
.800
.867
129
136
If this next slugger re-signs with the New York Mets beyond 2024, he will be the franchise’s all-time home-run leader in a couple of years, but currently he will have to settle for 4th on the list. Pete Alonso, as of the moment, has 200 career bombs as a Met. As a rookie in 2019, this electric first baseman set the franchise single-season home-run record with 53 (the only Met ever to hit 50). Excluding the abbreviated pandemic season, the Polar Bear has since added seasons of 37, 40, and 46 dingers. If he maintains his current pace and stays with the Amazins, he will top this list soon. Alonso has been one of the most consistent power hitters in baseball over the last five years. Actually, since he entered MLB in 2019, he has led all players in long balls (by almost a 20-homer margin over the next guy). His career .527 slugging % is 2nd in Mets history, and his OPS of .868 is 5th in Mets history. In his young career, Pete Alonso is already an all-time power hitter in Mets history. We will have to wait and see if he finishes career in Queens and becomes their all-time home-run king.
Mike Piazza
Positions: Catcher and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-3, 200lb (190cm, 90kg)
Born: September 4, 1968 (Age: 55-240d) in Norristown, PA us
Draft: Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 MLB June Amateur Draft from Miami Dade College (Miami, FL).
High School: Phoenixville HS (Phoenixville, PA)
Schools: University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL), Miami Dade College (Miami, FL)
Debut:
September 1, 1992
(Age 23-363d,
16,204th in major league history)
vs. CHC 3 AB, 3 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 30, 2007
(Age 39-026d)
vs. LAA 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2016.
(Voted by BBWAA on 365/440 ballots)
View Mike Piazza’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1993 season
Agents: Dan Lozano, Dennis Gilbert
Full Name: Michael Joseph Piazza
Pronunciation: \Pee-AH-za\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
59.5
6911
2127
427
.308
1048
1335
17
.377
.545
.922
143
The 3rd guy on the New York Mets all-time homer list may also be the greatest offensive catcher in MLB history: Mike Piazza. He leads all catchers with 399 home runs (427 total), and this beast at the plate belted 220 of them as a Met. This 62nd-round draft pick was acquired by the Metropolitans in May of 1998, and he was an instant game changer. The rest of that season he hit .348 with 23 home runs and 76 RBIs. From 1999 to 2002, Piazza hit 40, 38, 36, and 33 dingers. He also hit .302 over that span. This guy could rise to the moment too. Piazza is in the Mets top ten of most major offensive categories, including being their all-time leader in slugging % (.542). Mike Piazza had some explosive offensive seasons with the New York Mets, and that’s why he is high up on the franchise’s all-time home-run list.
David Wright
Position: Third Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-0, 205lb (183cm, 92kg)
Born: December 20, 1982 (Age: 41-133d) in Norfolk, VA us
Draft: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 1st round (38th) of the 2001 MLB June Amateur Draft from Hickory HS (Chesapeake, VA).
High School: Hickory HS (Chesapeake, VA)
Debut:
July 21, 2004
(Age 21-214d,
18,502nd in major league history)
vs. MON 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 29, 2018
(Age 35-283d)
vs. MIA 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2004 season
Agents: ACES
National Team: us USA (WBC)
Full Name: David Allen Wright
Nicknames: Captain America or D-Dub
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
Career
49.2
5998
1777
242
.296
949
970
196
.376
.491
.867
133
It’s one thing to be in the franchise’s top ten of many categories, but it is another thing to be the franchise’s all-time leader in many of those categories. David Wright is that guy for the New York Mets. His 242 career home runs are second in team history. This first-round pick debuted in Flushing in 2004 and never looked back. Between 2005 and 2013, the team captain had 21 or more homers six times, twice blasting over 30 (2007 & 2008). In 2006, he helped lead the Mets to the edge of the World Series when they lost the NLCS in seven games, but he was a part of the 2015 NL Pennant winner at the tail end of his career. In addition to his offensive production, Wright won two Gold Gloves and was a seven-time All Star. Unfortunately, a recurring spinal injury limited this third baseman his last few seasons and forced him into an early retirement. However, Captain America is the Mets all-time leader in many categories, and here are just a few: WAR (49.2), ABs (5,998), runs (949), hits (1,777), total bases (2,945), doubles (390), RBIs (970), and walks (762). David Wright may be the greatest offensive player in New York Mets history, and he stands behind only one famous name on their all-time home-run list.
Darryl Strawberry
Position: Rightfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-6, 190lb (198cm, 86kg)
Born: March 12, 1962 (Age: 62-050d) in Los Angeles, CA us
Draft: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 1st round (1st) of the 1980 MLB June Amateur Draft from Crenshaw HS (Los Angeles, CA).
High School: Crenshaw HS (Los Angeles, CA)
Debut:
May 6, 1983
(Age 21-055d,
14,729th in major league history)
vs. CIN 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB
Last Game:
October 3, 1999
(Age 37-205d)
vs. TBD 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1983 season
Agents: Bill Goodstein • Previously: Eric Goldschmidt, Richie Bry
Full Name: Darryl Eugene Strawberry
Nicknames: Straw or The Straw Man
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
42.1
5418
1401
335
.259
898
1000
221
.357
.505
.862
138
Most children of the 1980s should get this question. Who is the New York Mets all-time leader in home runs? The answer is Darryl … Darryl. Darryl Strawberry and one of the sweetest swings ever produced 252 long balls for the Shea Stadium faithful. The first overall pick of the 1980 MLB Draft had big expectations, and he delivered big results. The 1983 National Rookie of the Year was an All Star seven times in Queens. His homer totals in eight seasons as a Met were pretty stellar and consistent: 26, 26, 29, 27, 39, 39, 29, and 37. Of course, his greatest accomplishment in New York was being a major piece of that legendary 1986 World Series championship team. Strawberry had three bombs during that October title run. This 6’6 right fielder is near the top in many categories for the franchise: 2nd in WAR (36.6), 3rd in slugging % (.520), 3rd in OPS (.878), 3rd in runs (662), 2nd in RBIs (733), and 2nd in walks (580). Darryl even had a 30/30 season in 1987. His best year was probably 1988 when he finished second in the NL MVP race with a league-leading 39 home runs and a .911 OPS. Darryl Strawberry is a no-doubt-about-it legend for the New York Mets and their all-time home-run king.
Pete Alonso has the Mets home-run record for a season. He hit 53 home runs in 2019. As of the moment, Alonso is the only Met ever to hit 50 homers in a season.
Darryl Strawberry is the Mets career home-run leader with 252.
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