Mustache Greats #10: Wally Backman

Years with Mets: 1980-1988

Look at that picture over there. That's what I'm talking about. That picture alone is enough to get you into the Mets Mustache Greats Hall of Heroes. This post should really end right here. What's that? You need some more proof? If that's the case, you should probably just stop reading this blog right now, but I'm gonna throw some facts at you anyway.
• .283 average in nine years with the Mets (that's equivalent to about .396 in 21st century averages).
• Member of Backman-Teufel Overdrive
• Accomplished orator and future Mets manager. See evidence here.

Mets Mustache Greats #9: Frank Viola

Years with Mets: 1989-91

I was pretty excited when the Mets acquired Frank Viola from the Twins in 1989. He had won the AL Cy Young the previous year, he was a local boy (not sure why that really matters, but it sounds good), and of course...the mustache.

It's not like I was obsessed with mustaches in the late 80s or anything. I mean, every boy has an autographed 8x10 of Gene Shalit on their dresser, right? It's just that in my young mind it was a trait I associated with baseball success. The 86 Mets boasted numerous mustaches. Result? World Series champions. My Benson Little League under-12 Goodrich Dairy Orioles? Zero mustaches. Zero success.

Anyway...what was I talking about? Oh yeah, Frank Viola. The point of my story was that I knew that the arrival of Frankie (people call him Frankie, right?) and his 24-win mustache would bring an unparalleled level of success to the early 90s Mets. Well, I was right about Frankie, at least. Viola went 20-12 with a 2.67 ERA in 1990 and finished 3rd in NL Cy Young voting (which he should have won). Not too shabby.

Mets Mustache Greats #8: Bobby Valentine

Years with Mets: 1978. 1996-2002 (mgr).

This one should really go without saying. But since this is a blog and I'm probably expected to write something, I'll give you three reasons Bobby V. is a Mustache Great. Here they are (in order of importance):

1. Valentine claims to have invented the wrap sandwich.

2. In 2005, Valentine won the Japan Series with the Chiba Lotte Mariners. He promptly challenged the "World Champion" Chicago White Sox to a seven game series. The challenge was not met.

3. The Mustache Incident:
"Valentine is infamous for a dubious incident during a game in 1999 in which he was discovered to have sneaked back into the team dugout after being ejected, by wearing a disguise consisting of a change of clothes, sunglasses, and a "mustache" painted on his upper lip with eye black." [Wikipedia]

Any questions?

Mets Mustache Greats #7: Vince Coleman

Years with Mets: 1991-1993

One of the fastest mustaches to ever grace the base paths at Shea Stadium, Vincent Van Go never enjoyed higher than a fifth-place finish while with the Mets. Though his playing time was limited while in Queens (72, 71, and 92 games played in three years), he was still exciting to watch when he was in the game. His 162 game average for stolen bases in 1991 was 83.25. That's pretty remarkable for a guy on the decline. Compare that with Jose Reyes best year (79.98 SB avg per 162 games), or Rickey Henderson's best Met season (49.53 SB avg per 162 games).

We all know that stolen bases equal exciting baseball, and exciting baseball equals wins...which equals...no better than 5th place in three years with Vince Coleman...wait a second...something is wrong with my math here...hmm...no supporting cast...that's it. Okay, I've got it. If Coleman would have played more games and had some support behind him, he would have 200+ stolen bases and we would have had those three early 90s World Series titles we were all expecting. Case closed.

Mets Mustache Greats #6: Jose Valentin

Years with Mets: 2006-2007

Despite only two years with the club, the Pink Panther is a central figure in Mets mustache history for not only being a solid second baseman, but also being, to date, the last mustache the Mets fielded. His departure marks the first time in club history that the Mets have not had a mustachioed player on their roster, and thus signifies the beginning of what will surely be know by later generations as the Dark Ages.

Mets Mustache Greats #5:

Years with Mets: 1992-93

I always liked Eddie Murray when I was a kid. He seemed like some sort of distinguished elder statesman with that mustache of his. I later heard that he was kind of a dick, but what do I care? I didn't have to hang around with him in the clubhouse. He was only with the Mets for two years, but they were both quite productive. I'd say 1993 was actually a pretty great season for Eddie--100 RBI, 27 HR, .285 avg (or something like that...these are all from memory). I also believe he hit his 400th homerun as a Met, becoming the first mustachioed Met to do so. Okay, I made that last stat up, but it's probably true. Here's to you, Eddie Murray.

Mets Mustache Greats #4: Davey Johnson

Years with Mets: 1984-1990 (Manager)

The second Johnson in our series is an obvious choice. I guess they all are at this point, aren't they? Davey Johnson was a class act and instrumental to the great Mets teams of the 80s. He was an early proponent of computer-driven stat analysis way back in the old days (the 1980s). For some reason the Mets let him go after a poor start to the 1990 season. I still lie awake at night hoping he'll drop Team USA™ and come back to the Mets.

Mets Mustache Greats #3: Keith Hernandez

Years with Mets: 1983-1989

Let's just get this one out of the way. Hopefully Keith's enshrinement will quiet the email(s) in my inbox asking, "How have you done two Mustache Greats and not included Mex?! Blasphemy!!! You have lost any shred of credibility you may have had :("

Enough! Let me just set the record straight--Keith was far and away my favorite player when I was a young lad working my way up the ranks in the Benson Little League. There were three reasons for this:

1. He was left handed.
2. He had a cool mustache.
3. My dad bought me a Keith Hernandez signature model first base mitt (see item 1).

Yes, there were the near-MVP seasons, the first four Mets years with a .300+ average, the otherworldly defensive play, and the penchant for smoke breaks, but as a boy I thrived on trivialities.

My point is that we all know Keith was great. Now it's official. No disrespect was meant. The nasty emailer(s) can stop now. I could go on about his numbers and why he should be in the Hall of Fame, but that's for another post. Let us simply celebrate his greatness today.

Mets Mustache Greats #2: Bobby Bonilla

Years with Mets: 1992-1995, 1999

Probably the most overpriced mustache to ever suit up for the Mets, Bobby Bonilla wasn't really all that terrible. He had 2-3 completely respectable seasons for the Metropolitans in the early 90s. The problem was that we paid approximately $3 billion (adjusted to 2008 dollars) for his services. And we brought him back for 60 games in 1999...?

Mets Mustache Greats #1: Howard Johnson

Years with Mets: 1985-1993, 2007-2008 (First Base Coach, Hitting Instructor)

We're not pulling any punches here with the first in our weekly series of Mets Mustache Greats. Hojo could easily be a contender for greatest Mets mustache ever, having produced some of the greatest offensive seasons the team has ever seen in the late 80s and early 90s.

Hojo still sports a stache as the Mets hitting instructor.