Mack - GOAT: #50 1B John Olerud

# 50:   John Olerud

            1B       6-5      220     L/L

      Washington State University

In December 1996, Olerud was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Mets, in return for pitcher Robert Person.

1989 Round 3 draft pick by Toronto

Never played a minor league game until 2005.

He played only three years with the team, but they were terribly productive:

            1662-AB, /315/.425/.501/.926, 63-HR

             17.3 WAR for 3 years as a Met

            He set a team record of reaching base for 12 straight starts.

    

            In 1998:

                        Set team record with a .354 batting average

                        Set team record for on-base percentage (.447).

                        Set team record for runs created (138).

Came in 2^nd in the league in batting average, behind Larry Walker.

Was touted by Sports Illustrated (1999) as part of the ‘best defensive infield ever”. 

Featured on September 6^th issue cover with Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordonez, and Robin Ventura.

Hit .438 in the 1999 NLDS against Arizona.

In the LCS, singled off John Rocker, sending home Roger Cedeno and Melvin Mora to win the game.

In 2007, Olerud was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Mack – Many of you might think Olerud should be higher on this list. I fully understand that, but the majority of his years and accomplishments in baseball happened on other teams. An example… his three Gold Gloves were won in the American League, not with the Mets. The same for his two all-star appearances, and his two World Series rings. And, 1998 was the only year he broke .300-BA as a Met.

Olerud chose to leave the Mets and sign a $20mil deal with Seattle.

He definitely would be higher if he played longer for us, but still, he deserves to be on this list.