Pete Alonso is having one of the best seasons by a position player in Mets history.
He's already set numerous records, and since he should get another 40 at-bats or so this season, he will likely hit his 50th home run (and possibly more) before all is said and done.
He better win Rookie of the Year.
The thing is, as incredible of a debut as Alonso is having, his projected 5.1 fWAR for this season won't rank him in the organization's all-time Top 5 seasons by a position player.
I have no doubt he will one day make this list, as well as win at least one National League MVP award. But until then, these five men will continue to rank ahead of him...
5) Howard Johnson, 7.0 fWAR in 1989
Johnson was in the middle of an already-notable season when in June he erupted with 11 home runs and 24 RBI, which got the attention of the entire league. In particular, his jolt in power resulted in Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog accusing the third baseman of running cork through the center of his bat to help get more power from his swing. Herzog went as far as to have Johnson's bat X-rayed.
"He's using a corked bat, and we proved it," Herzog said later that summer.
Johnson's teammate and current SNY broadcaster Keith Hernandez supported Herzog's claim in 2003 when he told reporters that Johnson admitted to altering his bat in 1989.
Johnson never responded to Hernandez's accusation. He didn't have to. Herzog's X-rays reportedly never turned up evidence that Johnson was cheating nor did the investigation that was done by the league.
Cork or no cork, Johnson's 1989 will forever hold a special place in my life. I was 13 years old and being influenced by everything I was seeing in the world. HoJo was power, speed, entertaining and controversial, which were all things I strived to be as a young ballplayer. It's no wonder from that point on that I started wearing No. 20. Thanks to Alonso, I may need to again break out that jersey.
4) Bernard Gilkey, 7.6 fWAR in 1996
Gilkey is such an obscure, fleeting player in team history, yet also an important player because he helped give us something to cheer for when there was so little to be proud of during the early- to mid-1990s.
His 1996 was more or less an anomaly. In fact, while he produced 7.6 fWAR in what was a career year, he netted just 2.6 career fWAR the rest of his career combined.
Nevertheless, for the Mets, his 1996 was a Top 10 season. Still, Gilkey may be most remembered for his appearance in Men in Black and the terrible white hat he helped model entering the next season.
3) Carlos Beltran, 7.8 fWAR in 2006
Beltran is without question the most under-appreciated player in team history.
He signed a $119 million contract with the Mets immediately after jacking up his value during a legendary 2004 postseason with the Astros.
From that point on, for seven seasons in Queens, no matter what he did well, he was routinely hammered by talk radio and a large percentage of fans that felt he didn't hustle, failed in clutch moments and never fulfilled his end of the nine-figure contract.
He was literally the opposite of these criticisms, especially in 2006, when he had 41 HR, 38 doubles, 116 RBI, 127 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.
I know, I know, Adam Wainwright's curveball. It hurt a lot. But, it doesn't take away from the fact that without Beltran's regular season, the Mets don't cruise in to the postseason the way that they did.
2) John Olerud, 8.1 fWAR in 1998
His time in Queens was fleeting, but Johnny Baseball is never forgotten. In my experience talking with fans, Olerud is frequently mentioned among the most beloved players to ever wear a Mets uniform. I feel the same way. He was quiet, graceful, understated and unbelievably consistent.
In 1998 -- his second of three seasons with the Mets -- Olerud missed winning the NL batting title by just five hits. His .354 ended second to Larry Walker. He also had 22 HR with a .447 OBP, 93 RBI, 91 runs scored and just 73 strikeouts compared to 96 walks.
It's also worth noting that Olerud's effortless, rock-solid fielding at first base helped give the Mets the league's best infield defense in 1998, as well as 1999.
1) David Wright, 8.4 fWAR in 2007
Wright's 2006 and 2008 were outstanding, but 2007 was his best and the franchise's best all-around season, according to fWAR. At just 24 years old and in his fourth of 14 seasons, Wright hit .325 with a .416 OBP, 30 HR, 42 doubles, 107 RBI and 34 stolen bases, all of which helped earn him his second of seven All-Star appearances.
I think of doubles in the gap when I think of Wright, not just in 2007 but during his entire career. I envision his late flick of the wrists and an opposite-field double that perfectly finds the grass between right and center field, rolling to the wall as David pulls in to second base, standing and clapping his hands as the crowd roars.
In addition to his power and consistency in 2007, Wright's 34 stolen bases put him in the same company as his mentor, Howard Johnson, in the unique 30/30 club (30 home runs, 30 stolen bases). For what it's worth, Johnson ticked 30/30 three times with the Mets (1987, 1989, 1991). Darryl Strawberry did it once (1987).
The other thing that makes Wright's 2007 so special is how he thrived under pressure when most of the team around him fell apart. In September, when the blue and orange sky was falling, Wright hit .377 with eight HR and 26 RBI during the final 36 games of the season.
Honorable Mentions...
Gary Carter's 6.7 fWAR in 1985 and Mike Piazza's 5.8 fWAR in 2000 do not make the Top 5, but it's worth noting they put these numbers up playing nearly every minute of every game behind the plate.
Yoenis Cespedes does not show up on this list. However, his 2.3 fWAR during just 53 games for the Mets in 2015 would net out around 6.5 across a full season.
Darryl Strawberry's 6.5 fWAR in 1990 was his most in one season playing for the Mets. It was also his last season playing for the Mets. In November that year he inked a five-year $22 million contract to play for the Dodgers. Interestingly, his contract would be the same as signing a five-year, $45 million deal today, which is way, way below what a 28-year-old MVP would get in free agency these days...
Jose Reyes has no one season worthy of the Top 10, but his 17.1 fWAR from 2006 through 2008 is one of the best three-year stretches in team history.
Matthew Cerrone (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Contact) is lead writer of MetsBlog.com, which he created in 2003. He also hosts the MetsBlog Podcast, which you can subscribe to here. His new book, The New York Mets Fans' Bucket List, details 44 things every Mets fan should experience during their lifetime. To check it out, click here!