Top single-season pitching efforts
Best 16 performances by Mets pitchers from Matlack to Diaz to Gooden to Seaver
One of the top pitchers to come through the Mets organization will be recognized this weekend as Dwight Gooden has his No. 16 retired by the team before the 1:40 p.m. Sunday matchup with the Royals at Citi Field.
Gooden captivated his teammates, coaches and fans alike as he broke onto the scene in 1984 and supplied two of the most iconic seasons of pitching prowess in the history of the franchise. Then, helped them to their second World Series crown in franchise history.
With Gooden being honored this weekend, here are our rankings of the 16 great single-season pitching performances by Mets players:
16. Jon Matlack in 1972
With Tom Seaver leading the staff, Jon Matlack provided an encouraging rookie season back in 1972 behind the ace. The left-hander started the season with six straight wins and went on to post a 15-10 record with a club-best 2.32 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 244 innings on his way to claiming National League Rookie of the Year honors.
15. Frank Viola in 1990
It was one of the underrated efforts by a Mets starter in a bygone era. In his first full season with the Mets after spending part of eight seasons with the Twins, Viola captured 20 wins and led the NL with 35 starts. He posted a 2.67 ERA in 249.2 innings while notching his second All-Star selection and finishing third in the Cy Young.
14. Jerry Koosman in 1976
One of the top pitchers to come through the Mets organization in the early years, Koosman pieced together one of his most complete seasons in 1976. The left-hander finished with 200 strikeouts in 2471⁄3 innings while posting a 2.69 ERA with 17 complete games and three shutouts.
13. Pedro Martinez in 2005
It was the last glimpse of greatness for Martinez as he moved south to New York. In his first season with the Mets, he finished 15-8 and grabbed his seventh of eight All-Star selections. He led the major leagues with a 0.95 WHIP and struck out more than 200 for the final time in 217 innings.
12. Johan Santana in 2008
After agreeing to a six-year, $137.5 million deal with the Mets before the season, the left-hander lived up to the hype in the early going. He led MLB with a 2.53 ERA, 35 starts and the National League in innings pitched (2341⁄3) as the Mets narrowly missed the playoffs despite 89 wins. He added 206 strikeouts
and finished third in Cy Young voting. 11. David Cone in 1988
After being acquired before the 1987 season, it took one season before Cone reached his peak level for the Mets. He earned his first All-Star selection while finishing with a 20-3 record, with a career-high eight complete games, and 213 strikeouts in 2311⁄3 innings. He finished third in the Cy Young and 12th in MVP voting.
10. Edwin Diaz in 2022
Diaz became the first Mets player to win the Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year award, which was introduced in 2014, after striking out more than half (118) of the 235 batters he faced. He finished with 32 saves and a 1.31 ERA in helping the Mets capture 101 wins — the second-most in franchise history.
9. Jerry Koosman in 1969
At the very least, Koosman belongs after his epic World Series performance when he won a pair of games, including the clincher, by limiting the Orioles to four earned runs in 172⁄3 combined innings. During the season, Koosman was 17-9 with a 2.28 ERA and 180 strikeouts in 241 innings, including 16 complete games.
8. R.A. Dickey in 2012
It was a season to remember for the 38-year-old journeyman, who became the first knuckleballer and third Mets player to win the Cy Young. During the first half of the season, Dickey set a franchise record with a stretch of 322⁄3 scoreless innings. He led the NL in strikeouts (230), innings pitched (2332⁄3
), including five complete games, and quality starts (27), while posting a 2.73 ERA and 20-6 record.
7. Jacob deGrom in 2019
After winning his first Cy Young in 2018, DeGrom added to his collection the following year to become the 11th pitcher in major league history to win back-to-back awards. After enduring a rough April, deGrom finished the season with an 11-8 record, including a leaguebest 255 strikeouts in 204 innings and a 2.43 ERA.
6. Tom Seaver in 1973
Seaver was surprised to win his second Cy Young award of his career in his seventh year with the Mets. In an era where win totals reigned supreme, Seaver grabbed the hardware in workhorse fashion, working 290 innings and a league-best 18 complete games. He posted a 19-10 record with a 2.08 ERA and helped lead the Mets in the postseason with four quality starts and a combined 35 strikeouts.
5. Seaver in 1969
The Franchise grabbed his first of three Cy Youngs in his third season with the Mets. Seaver won a franchise record 25 games, struck out 208 in 2731⁄3 innings with a 2.21 ERA. He also notched five shutouts. He also tossed 10 innings of one-run ball to help the Mets grab a Game 4 win over the Orioles in the World Series. He also came within three outs of a perfect game against the Cubs on July 9, 1969.
4. Dwight Gooden in 1984
No one on the Mets was quite sure to
make of Gooden’s meteoric rise to the big leagues until he took the mound. Then, they were as captivated as the fan base. In his rookie season, Gooden finished 17-9 with a 2.60 ERA and leagueleading 276 strikeouts in 218 innings. He won the Rookie of the Year and finished behind the Cubs’ one-loss Rick Sutcliffe for the Cy Young.
3. Seaver in 1971
Tom Terrific notched a trio of career bests during his fifth season in the major leagues in 1971. He struck out a Mets record 289 strikeouts and posted the lowest ERA of his career at 1.76 while polishing off 21 complete games. He finished second in the Cy Young to the Cubs’ Fergie Jenkins, who threw an unfathomable 325 innings.
2. DeGrom in 2018
The 10-9 record was deceiving because of a lack of run support, but deGrom’s 2018 campaign was as overpowering as they come. His sterling 1.70 ERA was among the three lowest since MLB lowered the mound in 1969. He struck out 269 batters in 217 innings — fourth-most in Mets history. He also became the fastest pitcher in Mets history to 1,000 Ks.
1. Gooden in 1985
Now, Gooden really hits his stride. It was one of the most dominant seasons in major league history as Gooden captured the pitching triple crown, with 24 wins, a 1.53 ERA and 268 strikeouts across 2762⁄3 innings. He also led the majors in complete games (17) on his way to his lone Cy Young.