FLUSHING, NY – With the retirement of the number 5 being the latest celebration of the New York Mets’ past, will number 8 be next? After David Wright’s speech is done, the Mets franchise needs to get on the ball and honor Hall of Famer Gary Carter.
Another legend whose number should be discontinued is Yogi Berra, who although is known as a Yankee, is very much a part of the Mets’ history. We know what Carter’s leadership provided for this team in 1986, but fans forget about Berra’s impact.
The three-time MVP arrived in Queens in 1965 at the age of 40. Berra was on the roster as a player coach. He produced 2 singles in 9 at-bats before retiring to be full-time coach. He was on the coaching staff in 1969, the year of the Miracle Mets. After manager Gil Hodges’ untimely death in 1972, Berra took over the helm, and led the Mets to a 1973 World Series appearance. They battled the Oakland A’s for seven games, but came up short.
Gary Carter, along with Keith Hernandez, whose number 17 is honored up in the left field tier, showed the Mets how to win again after the Joe Torre, Joe Frazier, George Bamberger years.
Yogi Berra is a New York institution who brought his good luck charm over to Shea Stadium, and although both have passed on, they left their marks in Mets history.
Over in the Bronx the kings of Retired Numbers, the NY Yankees, pulled that double retirement number gig back in 1972 when the number 8 was retired for Berra and HoF’er Bill Dickey. The Mets owners, Steve and Alexandra Cohen, need to pull the same trick for their new generation of fans.
