Reese Kaplan -- Hernandez Was in the Mets Top Three at 1B

At a time when everyone is going Mets-bonkers over the induction of Keith Hernandez into their internal Hall of Fame, it got me to wondering about the first basemen the Mets have employed over the years and pondering whether or not Mex was indeed the best of the lot.

There is absolutely no question of Hernandez' defensive abilities at the position.  First base had often been the repository for guys who could swing the bat but needed to be hidden on the field in a slot where they would do the least damage with the glove.  Keith Hernandez changed all of that, charging aggressively on bunts, fielding with pizzazz and showing that the defensive side of the game was just as important as the offensive one.  

The Mets obtained Hernandez during a period where the Cardinals were trying to rid themselves of a player who was thought to be overindulging in recreational substances.  The Mets had a similar problem with the drinking habits of reliever Neil Allen.  The match was made and the bundle of Allen plus pitching prospect Ric Ownbey got the deal done.  

On the surface it seemed as if the Mets didn't give up very much to obtain the MVP, 2-time All Star and 5-time Gold Glover, but Hernandez was poised to hit free agency and he was thought to be a rental player who often doesn't net that much in return.  

Allen went 20-16 during three years with the Cardinals while providing a solid if unspectacular 3.84 ERA while fighting his control.  Ownbey had parts of two seasons there going just 1-6 with a 4.09 ERA.  Yeah, the Mets won that deal for sure.  

Hernandez was not initially interested in remaining with the Mets, but after arriving to great acclaim and fan affection, he started to think it was a possibility.  Then when he saw some of the players due to come up through the minors, it became a much more attractive prospect of remaining in New York.  The initial contract provided to Mex was for five years and a total of $8.4 million -- chump change by today's standards -- and he made the Mets feel it was a great investment.

When you look at his offensive contributions to the club, he was very good.  As a New York Met Hernandez was there for parts of seven seasons while providing a .297 AVG with 80 HRs and 468 RBIs.  While the batting average is most definitely a standout, the breakdown of fewer than 12 HRs and 69 RBIs per year was respectable but hardly noteworthy.  While with the Mets he earned 3 more All Star berths and 5 more Gold Gloves, but the MVP days were certainly a thing of the past.  His best Mets season was likely 1984 when he hit .311 with 15 HRs and 94 RBIs.  

I've very nearly come to blows with fellow Mets fans suggesting that the value of John Olerud during his three years in New York was actually higher.  He was a very solid fielder as well with 3 Gold Gloves and a pair of All Star appearances.  For those folks with short memories, as a Met he hit .315 with 63 HRs and 291 RBIs.  That breaks down to an average of 21 HRs and 97 RBIs per season while hitting substantially higher.  The cost to bring him in was just Robert Person whose Toronto career was horrific, pitching to an 8-13 record over parts of three seasons with a 6.18 ERA.  

The other first baseman worth considering is Carlos Delgado.  The Mets obtained him late in his career from ages 34-37 while he hit .267 with 104 HRs and 339 RBIs.  That's an average of 26 HRs and 99 RBIs per season.  He was known more for his bat than his glove and those numbers were indeed impressive.  

While Hernandez has longevity on his side with most of 7 years with the Mets, it would seem that Olerud and Delgado outperformed him during their tenures in Queens.  I'm not trying to take anything away from appreciating Keith Hernandez, but be realistic about how well he performed as compared to others who wore Mets uniforms.