Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Mookie Wilson

Greg
Mookie Wilson was definitely one of my favorite Mets of all time, not to mention a player who carried himself in an exemplary fashion. He epitomized, in my opinion, what being a team player is all about. Even though his numbers wasn't overly impressive, he played with all his heart, all his soul, and all his strength, which is all you can ask for from anyone. I agree that the Mets did not treat him as well as they should have, especially that year when he was being platooned with Len Dykstra, in spite of the fact that he was batting well above .300 at the time. He definitely did not deserve to be playing only part of the time.

Mookie Wilson could also play the outfield well; I remember when he actually stole a home run on at least a couple of occasions by jumping above the centerfield wall to catch a ball. But most of all, he will be remembered as the all-time Mets leader in stolen bases (boy could he run!). It's so good to see Mookie serve as coach for the Mets; it brings back a lot of memories.

In short, Mookie was a good hitter, a great centerfielder, an outstanding base runner, and a wonderful person. He will always rank high on my list of ball players.

Ryan
Mookie was so loved in our household that my mother often joked that she was going to name my little sister after him. Still a class act, and great to have on the big league squad as a coach.

David
Mookie epitomizes class in a baseball player. Always a gentleman, always cheerful. Nobody before or since ran the bases with his style. How fitting that he was at the plate for the big one in '86!

Vince in ny
And here I thought I was the only one. Mookie Wilson was and is my all-time favorite ballplayer just because at first, he was the only decent player on those early 80's clubs, and then later on, for being such a genuinely nice person.

Drew
Talk all you like about his hustle. About his heart. About his personality. About the Buckner Ball. But if I live to be 100, what i'll remember most about Mookie will be my father's nickname for him: EFBAA. Which stood for "Every Fly Ball An Adventure." Truly, this man had one of the most erratic fielding histories in all of...well, history! Ball hit to center...could be a dynamic dramatic catch, or a bonehead error...but almost never, NEVER anything in-between.

Jen
Who doesn't love the Mookster? This guy IS the Mets. May no one wear #1 ever again for the Amazins. 100% class, hustle, and loyalty. Might not have had the best numbers, but had the best, biggest heart around. Here's hoping we can get Mookie another ring!

Richie
January 6, 2001
Retire #1! I only hope that Mookie Wilson visits this site one day to read what can only be called an outpouring of love for the best-loved Met ever. My most vivid Mookie moments feature his daring baserunning that I always imagined to be Jackie Robinsonesque. The most vivid single image is Mookie's afro exploding as his headfirst steal of second knocks his helmet off. The excitement he created on the field is exceeded by his class and character off it.

Me
February 28, 2001
They never should have platooned him with Dykstra. That "Mookstra" combination sucked. Mookie deserved better than that. Such a kind and decent man, he was a refreshing alternative to those other wild carousing Mets of the 80's.

SAY HEY KID FROM WOODSIDE
March 1, 2001
I remmber Mookie working in Joe's Seafood on Roosevelt Ave and 59th St. Great guy. It was during the players strike.

EG
March 18, 2001
Can you imagine how many additonal runs scored and stolen bases he would have had if he had any eye at the plate. Look at those career walks!

Never thought he would extend the at bat against Stanley when he got behind in the count. Even if Buckner had fielded the ball clenaly, it would have been a close play.

Chris Sullivan
April 24, 2001
I remember him scoring from second on ground outs a couple times in the mid-80s... once against the Pirates when Hernandez was batting and Jason Thompson was at first. My favorite Met of all time and I also hope that #1 can be retired someday.

tony walker
May 22, 2001
Mookie is the best player to ever put on a Mets uniform. Not one person has had such a positive effect on the team or the fans. Just him being on the field makes everyone happy. His hustle and his positive attitude on and off the field is the way we should all be.Mook is the perfect role model for kids. No matter how good or bad he was playing he was always smiling. Just having him coaching first is the main reason I go to shea. When I met him in 2000 I felt like I was 16 again watching my hero. I'll never forget it.

Joe Figliola
August 9, 2001
What pissed me off the most this year was when the Mets staged a Mookie Wilson Bobble Head Doll Day--and then they gave them to kids 12 and under!

What an insult! Most of these little punks weren't even born when Mookie drove that grounder through Buckner's bandy legs to spark the Mets to its second World's Championship. And most of those little s*** a**es were floating in sperm when I saw Mookie live for the first time on a cold September Saturday in 1980 (age 17), when his bunt single helped the Amazin's beat the Cubs.

If anyone deserved a Mookie Wilson bobble head doll, it is for adults who REMEMBER what this wonderful outfielder accomplished! And the same goes for Seaver (whose bobble head doll cost me $50) and, most likely, Keith Hernandez if they decide to stage one for him next year. MET BOBBLE HEAD DOLLS FOR EVERYONE!

Red Sox fan
September 6, 2001
The name Mookie Wilson has a slightly different connotation for me. But one cannot deny what a great player he was.

In the late 1980's the Mets had a logjam of two very good Center Fielders in Mookie Wilson and Lenny Dykstra. So what did they do? They traded both of them! What were the Mets thinking? Awful! And what did they get? Jim Musselman and Juan Samuel. Oooogah! No wonder Strawberry walked!

Mookie and Dykstra were great leadoff hiters. Too bad the Sox didn't trade for them...

Scott
September 17, 2001
THE most popular Met since the mid 80s. My favorite Mookie memory occured when I was driving to a game at Shea and I was late. It was the bottom of the first and I was listening to the game on the FAN and I was stuck in traffic and Mookie led off with a home run. I could hear everyone at Shea screaming: "MOOOOOOOOOOOOK". He is probably one of the reasons I am such a die hard Mets fan.

Mr. Sparkle
September 28, 2001
Mookie will always be my all time favorite player. He was awesome. He was never an all star but he always gave 110%. He had the best hustle I've ever seen. I've seen him run from 1st to 3rd on a ground out by the batter more than once which to me is amazing. I've never seen any other layer do that. He does want to manage someday so I hope it's with the Mets. I'd hate to see him go somewhere else particularly to the other side of the city to manage.

d(t)
December 8, 2001
My favorite player ever! I think everyone else's comments about his class, cheerfulness and hustle says it all. In 1986, when he batted in the 10th inning of WS game 6, all I hoped was that he wouldn't suffer the indignity of making the final out ... and he didn't. I agree that trading him to Toronto was pathetic. The first time he came back to Shea after that was an exhibition game between the Mets and Blue Jays. I went to that game and was part of the well-deserved standing ovation he got from the fans. It was hard for me to regain my interest in the Mets until he came back as their first base coach. I just bought one of his old jerseys on ebay and I plan to wear it next time I go to a Mets game. He's the best!

Jeff M.
January 7, 2002
As classy as a baseball player can get. Always smiling and enjoying baseball for what it is. Mookie was and will always be the heart and soul of the New York Mets. 100 % hustle 100% of the time. Lets give Mookie his due and retire # 1 !

revolve
February 1, 2002
MOOKIE!!!!! My all-time favorite Met. Great attitude. Hustled. I always loved how he'd blaze around the bases. I actually rooted for Cedeno not to break his record (though I like Cedeno). I remember that massive MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKIE (unsure of the number of O's) sign that used to hang roughly from home plate to, oh, deep left along the bottom facade of the upper deck. I cried when they traded him. Unthinkable.

Grew up in NY
April 30, 2002
Retire #1? You bet! When Mookie went to make the play, you never did know what was gonna happen. He could win it for you in a thousand different ways but he would never lose one out of being lazy or boring. Great guy, great speed, great glove, great attitude and one of the game's great moments in the 86 series. Retire #1 for the Mook.

Luis in Rochester, NY
May 16, 2002
I will never forget how down I felt as Mookie stepped up to the the plate in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series; the Mets were in a tough spot. I said to a friend watching the game with me, "If there's anybody that can save the Mets now, Mookie can." It was simply an acknowledgement of his speed, spirit, and the great work he had been doing in the field. Little did I know...

A few pitches later I was screaming at the top of my lungs and jumping around like a crazy man. I have never gone from such a low feeling to a state of exhiliration in such a short span of time before or since.

Mookie is the man. I will always insist that he won the 1986 World Series for the Mets.

Larry Burns
May 30, 2002
The all-time greatest Met. Exciting, passionate, classy, and talented, he epitomized what athletics can be. Not a superstar in the classic sense, Mookie did everything with gusto and determination. He made a first to third dash one of the most exciting things to witness in baseball. Whenever he spoke he was grateful for all the blessings he had. It is great to see him in a Mets uniform as a coach. I can only hope that young Mets will attempt to mirror the Mookster's love of life and the game. You are the best Mookie!

Mr. Met
August 5, 2002
Even if he didn't dance above the wild pitch that scored Carter, or dribble the ball through Buckner's legs (he was going to beat it out anyway), I think he would still be my favorite Met ever. He was a classy classic. In 1984, before you knew how good the Mets were going to become, and Bobby V. was the Mets third base coach, if Mookie was on first base, you knew that a single could bring him home. Thanks Mookie.

Lenny
September 1, 2002
My favorite Met of all-time. He was one player that never complained or neve got into trouble, he just went out everyday and played 110%. I met him and buckner at a autograph signing show, they were both really nice and friendly. I hope the Mets will make him the manager soon.

Robert
September 10, 2002
Looooooved Mookie!!! The baserunning, the hustle - Mookie was a treat to watch. Had quite a few adventures in the outfield, but had an extra gear when it came to running down liners in the alley and made one of the great all-time over the wall home-run thefts in a game in LA. I was at Game 6 when Mookie had one of the greatest at-bats ever. I remember watching the spin of his grounder as well as how quickly Mookie was out of the box and thinking no way is Stanley going to beat him to first - AND THEN!!!!!! No doubt in my mind Buckner noticed how fast he was getting down the line and took his eye off the ball that split second - any other Met hits that same shot and we're looking at the 11th inning.

flushing flash
October 3, 2002
With all due respect to Mookie the ballplayer and Mookie the man, as Mookie the first base/baserunning coach he is quite inadequate. There is no excuse for a player with the speed of Jay Payton not to become a huge base stealing threat, or for Roger Cedeno to swipe only 25 bases in 2002 after stealing over 60 in 1999. Mookie was hired to teach these guys the finer points of taking a lead, reading a pitcher's motion and stealing a bag and so far he has failed at his job.

It's not surprising that he has not once been mentioned as a possible successor to Bobby Valentine.

Walter
October 17, 2002
I love Mookie. Hopefully the Mets will not sell out and hire Pinella or somebody from another team to manage but keep the heart and soul of the Mets on to manage. I was very young when he played for us but still remember his speed, hustle, and smile. It would be fitting to have him manage us and not someone from outside the organization with no history as a Met when we can hire THE Met instead. By the way, my dog is named Mookie in honor of him.

NL
October 20, 2002
You can tell from everything written what he's meant to Met fans. He is an absolute, all-time, glad-he's- ours Met.

Kevin McGrath
November 20, 2002
Mookie Wilson will always be my favorite NY Met ballplayer. A class act every single day!!! A family man who has contributed in numerous charitable ways, he will always hold a special place for me. I remember how one day after The Mets played a Sunday afternoon game, Mookie came and spoke to our Little Leaguers out in Brooklyn. He did this on the spur of the moment after another "Big Leaguer" backed out at the last minute, leaving our kids "hanging" after they were promised that a ballplayer was going to present awards to each and every one of them. Mookie gave a very inspiring speech, extemporaniously mind you, speaking to the kids about setting goals and not letting anything stand in the way of achieving them. The kids loved him and his wife, 7mos. pregnant at the time, told me how much he liked working with children. What a great guy! He should have been given a hit on that play in Game 6 too; and the error should have been for allowing the run to score (Mookie would have beat him to the bag on that play; watch the replay again). Retire Met jersey #1! It couldn't happen to nicer guy!

Marcie Freeman
December 4, 2002
Mookie was the reason I became a baseball fan. Living in NY back in 1986 I couldn't help but get sucked into the excitement that season. His enthusiasm and class were always impressive and I cried buckets the day he was traded to Toronto. I no longer live in New York but I remain a Mets fan as well as fan of "the Mook". I lost my beloved 14-year old beagle in June. Her name was Mookie. I got a new beagle in August. His name is Wilson.

Jeff from SC
December 20, 2002
Mookie is the reason I am a die-hard Mets fan today. Growing up in South Carolina, we obviously had no professional teams of our own. But here was a guy from my home state and my home school (USC) who played his guts out every play of every game and seemed to enjoy every second of it. I couldn't help but love him, and by extension, the Mets!

Jason
February 3, 2003
Moooooooookkkkkkkkk!!!!!!! I will also have that sound running through my head when I visit Shea Stadium. He is my all-time favorite player. Like many other fans, I am a Mets fan because of the spirit, hustle, and excitement of Mookie Wilson. I even wear #1 in softball as a tribute to Mookie.

I hope that Mookie becomes Mets' manager and has his number retired before too long. With this demotion to the minors, I have decided not to buy tickets this season. I'm tired of seeing players like Mookie and Fonzie not getting their due. Perhaps the Mets demoted him so that it wouldn't appear that Bobby V was taking all the blame (although he should). I predict that Mook will be back in mid-season.

Dan Doherty
April 14, 2003
With all due respect to those evaluating Mookie's coaching skills:

Jay Payton, under Wilson's tutelage stole 4 bases in '02. After he was traded to Colorado, he stole 3. Sounds like what's consistent here is Payton's mediocrity.

As far as Roger Cedeno goes, he's stolen, over a four- year span, 66,25,55, and 25 bases. Who was coaching him in his best year? Mookie Wilson. Who was coaching him at his worst? Mookie Wilson. The problem seems, to me at least, to be with the inconsistency of the pupil rather than the ineptitude of the teacher.

chris
May 30, 2003
Ok maybe I watch the 1986 Mets video too much. It starts with Mookie getting hit in the eye during a rundown. Gary Carter runs over. "Did it break the glass? Oh God, it did!." He was taken off on a stretcher after his glass eye broke. Mookie then got the game winning hit (ok error) during game 6 of the World Series. He didn't want to strike out. "I have one theory in hitting and that is 'Thou shall not pass without offering,' and that's what I did." "We win dee ballgame," he added. How good is this guy?

Barbara
December 19, 2003
I have followed Mookie's career since he was in A ball in Wausau, Wisc. He was a classy man then as well as through his career. You could tell early on that he had a future with the Mets organization. Not only can he play ball, but I happen to know that he can sing really well too. I have known him personally and can state that he is truly a man of integrity on the field as well as off. We once stayed up all night singing Love Ballad by LTD as well as Float on by the Floaters. I have followed his career and have rejoiced with his accomplishments. Sending out a large cheer from an old friend from Wausau, Wisconsin. I've been following your career and am so happy for all that you have accomplished. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy! Float on with your bad self!!

Jon Rizzi
December 25, 2003
I adored Mookie. Though I never abandoned the Mets, I became a Blue Jays fan after the Mets made him "the player to be named later" in that Jeff Musselman deal. I even got a copy of "The Mookie Mash," a tune a Toronto radio station created when Mookie spurred them to the '89 division title. The guy just created magic every time he stepped to the plate, got on base or had a ball come in his general direction.

Looking back at Game 6 of that '86 Series, I admit I had a premonition that when Mookie came up to bat, he'd probably take a wild swing at strike three and send the Red Sox to that long-awaited Series win. Ha! Mook rose to the occasion, practically levitating over that wild pitch and then cueing that shot between Buckner's wickets.

Straw may have stirred more excitement, Keith may have sparkled with the glove and Gooden may have had the gas. But we've since discovered what reprobates that '86 lot were, and it only confirms what I thought then. Mookie and Carter were the soul of that team. I was there when Mookie got inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame, and as far as I'm concerned No. 1 should be retired. No one, not Lance Johnson or any other imposter, could wear that uniform with as much class or spirit.

Steven Gallanter
June 2, 2004
I first saw Mookie Wilson in 1980 in an exhibition game that was telecast over Channel 9. I was in a pizza place in Oneonta, NY where my brother was attending college. We had enjoyed a cost-effective night of partying, enjoying some boogie weed and several bottles of Andre champagne.

We had the munchies and got a pizza. There was a television on top of a stand-up cooler showing a "snowy",(this was pre-cable)image of the Mets. There was a ground ball to second and I was shocked to see the runner on second jet to third!

That was my first vision of Mookie Wilson!

One thing that struck my mind was that he threw his arms in back of himself as he bellyflopped into third giving him an impetus that a foot-first slide couldn't provide. His method reminded me of Manny Sanguillen.

I was managing Our House a bar in the Allston section of Boston when Mookie had his most famous moment.

Buckner was shocked that Mookie was running all out!

Mookie ALWAYS shocked people who take things for granted... this created opportunities no one else could have created!

I also recall that Jack Newfield of THE VILLAGE VOICE named him one of NYC's most valuable people.

CHOD6
January 10, 2005
I met Mookie and his wife on a flight from NY to Atlanta in July 1988 as I was heading to Airborne School at Ft. Benning. I noticed him sitting behind me during the flight and was surprised knowing that the Mets had started their series in Atlanta the night before. After deplaning, I approached Mookie and asked, "Mr. Wilson, may I trouble you for an autograph?" He replied, "You've already troubled me." He then quickly moved on. He didn't seem too happy or maybe he disliked the military. I don't know, but I don't hold it against him and will always consider him an authentic Mets hero.

todd schuster
January 10, 2005
In a society where surliness reigns supreme among athletes (see Barry Bonds, Kenny Lofton), with William Hayward Wilson it was always 75 degrees and sunny. I've met Mookie twice and he is nothing but a gentleman. Also it was a joy to watch him play baseball. Coming up in 1980 when the Mets were abysmal it was always fun watching this speedster go to work on the bases. Of course, he'll forever be remembered for that hitless at bat in the 10th inning of the 6th game of the World Series back in 1986. I was so happy to hear that Mookie is going to be the new Brooklyn Cyclones manager in 2005. Maybe one day he will be a Mets manager. Thanks for the memories Mookie and keep smiling. God bless!

Anthony
January 26, 2005
I was not much into baseball when Mookie Wilson was playing for the Mets. But I did meet him at spring training in 2004. My dad and I were waiting by the players' lot to get autographs when suddenly we get a tip that Wilson is walking in the fan parking lot. I spot him and immediately run over to him. Surprisingly there was nobody around him. I ask for his autograph and if I can take a picture with him. I was the only one there with the camera so he says "how ya gonna do dat?" You all must know that accent with which he talks. So, I put my arm around him and put the camera in front of our faces and snap. Got a good picture along with his autograph. Seems like a great guy. I wish he were still a coach on the team.

Jonathan Stern
March 8, 2005
I got autographs from Mookie and Bill Buckner (on a picture of their famous 1986 play) at a signing that took place the day after John "Awesome Name" Stearns was fired as a Mets coach. I told Mookie, a Mets coach at the time as well, my name was Jon Stern and that I "didn't have a great day yesterday either." Somewhat sarcastically, Mookie said under his breath "Oh, so you didn't have a good day, huh?" Neither he nor Buckner wanted to talk to me or anyone else on that big line (no, I will NEVER sell that autographed picture), but in truth, I felt like kind of a dufus for saying that. It was meant to be light-hearted, but I shouldn't have brought it up. That's one reason why I'm hesitant to approach celebs. I sometimes say dumb things (like I do on this website, as has been pointed out).

Mookie was - is - an Ultimate Met. Maybe THE Ultimet. A non-HOFer who made magic occur when it was all on the line. His at-bat may have been the greatest of all time, certainly the best ever that did not involve a hit. Maybe it's a shame that the at-bat overshadows everything else he did (we loved him before and he did great things afterwards, here and in Toronto). But that it does is no big deal to say the least. It doesn't seem like one to Mookie, at any rate. So even though I embarassed myself a little in front of him (like he remembers or cares), I was honored to be in his presence, and consider myself blessed to have seen him play at Shea.

Kingofqueens718
February 18, 2006
There was nothing more exciting than watching Mookie leg out doubles and triples...always losing his helmet!

My mother was no sports fan but I remember times when she was watching the tv over my shoulder shouting "Go head Mookie!! Go head Mookie!!" as he ran the bases.

One of my top 5 favorite Mets of all time and definitely deserves to have his number retired.

Bonbolito
May 24, 2006
The best centerfielder the Mets have ever had. I'll always remember how he could get into these long at bats where he'd just keep fouling off pitch after pitch. Once he had the pitcher read, Mookie was going to get a hit or get walked. He rarely lost in this situation.

5280MetsFan
July 12, 2006
I almost stopped being a Mets fan when they traded him to Toronto. The only good thing about that was, that the Blue Jays spring training camp was about 2 miles from my home in Florida. He signed everything I gave him with a smile on his face the next year in Dunedin. Just meeting Mr. Game 6 was the highlight of the year for me.

Mike Pinto
July 12, 2006
My friend and fellow Met fan Malcolm and I were both working at AT&T while in college in Providence in the fall of 1988. Due to the nature of our jobs, we were able to gain access to phone records of all AT&T customers, one of which was the New York Mets.

So before Game 7 of the NLCS, which was being played in LA against the Dodgers, Malcolm and I started calling all the LA phone numbers which appeared on their most recent bill.

After speaking with Ralph Kiner at the hotel, we called another number which put us through to some Dodger Stadium internal line. I asked the woman to be connected to the Mets clubhouse. When she asked me who I was, I said "Jimbo Wilson" the brother of Mookie.

So the lady put me through and some guy answered in the clubhouse and I asked for Mookie. The guy shouted out "Mookie" and before I knew it the speedy center fielder was on the line. So I said, "Hey Mookie just a fan from RI calling to wish you luck tonight." He responded, "Hey, thanks a lot" and then before he hung up I heard him say to somebody, "Man they'll let anybody call in here."

Paul
August 28, 2006
I had the pleasure of meeting Mookie a few weeks ago at my job, Best Buy in Westbury, NY where he was doing a autograph signing to promote the new Mets 86 WS DVD and the upcoming 1986 Mets Reunion at Shea.

I have never met a more accomodating, pleasant athlete. He stayed the entire time and when the lines slowed down, he talked baseball with me for almost 30 minutes.

I cannot even begin to tell you how awesome it is to talk baseball with one of your childhood idols!

Paulie G
October 6, 2006
He really made the most of his talents. As I recall, when Mookie first came up from the minors he was strictly a right-hand batter, or had just recently converted to switch hitting. At first he was a bit painful to watch batting left-handed, but doing so took advantage of his speed to first base. (I'm sure his career power numbers were much better righty, though I don't have the stats in front of me to prove it.) He wound up getting a huge number of infield hits batting lefty -- he'd hit some pathetic squib about twenty feet in front of home plate to the pitcher's left, and by the time someone picks up the ball he's already almost on first. And I loved the way he'd sometimes take an extra base on a groundout, going from 1st to 3rd to catch the lazy infielders unaware. I was 3,000 miles away from the NY area when he was a coach for the Mets, so I didn't get to see much of him in that role -- why did they let go of such a fan favorite?

GOMets2006
October 6, 2006
Mookie is the reason I stopped liking the Yankees in 1980 and started rooting for the Amazin's! I knew there was something special about the Mook and to this day believe there was no coincidence he was at bat when the Mets beat the Red Sox in Game 6 in '86 and the ball went between Buckner's legs. When he was traded to Toronto, I almost gave up on the Mets because It was like tearing the heart out of the team. I still think #1 should be retired by the Mets and Mookie should be honored by the team. Thanks for the memories, Mookie!

dre J
November 4, 2006
I'll always remember Mookie backing up the left or right fielder on a base hit in case the ball got by. BOY! Could Mookie run those triples. He could flat out FLY!. He would have been safe on the gounder to first, so we should not blame Buckner. He never complained although he had the right to do it. He was the ULTIMATE team player. Man could he run. He could run down a ball in the gap and make it look so easy. He could not throw worth a darn though. I do not know a true Met fan that does not appreciate Mr Wilson.

Jamey Bumbalo
December 22, 2006
Mookie certainly deserves his status as one of the most beloved Mets of all time. As others have noted, he could fly on the bases and he did whatever the team asked of him (listen to his comments in the Mets' 1986 video). No one else has mentioned his amazing consistency at the plate. In 1983, 1984, and 1985 he batted .276! Has any other major league ballplayer ever had the same average three seasons in a row? And his career batting average is .274. I'd love to see him back coaching with the Mets (and how about inviting Backman and Dykstra?).

David Mo
February 11, 2007
There is often great truth in humor. It is fitting that when David Letterman did a late-1993 Top Ten List of "Mets Excuses" for their dismal season (e.g., "All those empty seats are distracting"), the Number One excuse was "No one named Mookie." With all due respect to that lovable guy with the huge, stitched head, Mookie Wilson is the true "Mr. Met."

pete hamner
September 16, 2007
I was with the Wausau Mets in 77. We were in Cedar Rapids. Mookie had just joined us out of the draft. I think he was our number 2 pick. His first time up he struck out. His next time up he hit this little bloop to center and in a blur, was on second. We all looked at each other like....whoooaaaa.

What was a real hoot was in spring training when the infielders would work on "rundowns." Mookie would get in and be the runner and it would be almost comical...them trying to get him. Man he was quick!

Ted Salins
September 16, 2007
What does it say about the character of a man without Hall Of Fame numbers that so many of us consider Mookie to be our favorite baseball player?

Big Daddy
September 6, 2008
Mookster is one of my favorite Mets of all time. I tried tagging him with the nickname "Mookie Hustle" but it didn't catch on (neither did the Mookie Hustle dance I created). Nevertheless, he is the reason for the greatest moment in Mets history and he always had heart. RETIRE #1.

Larell
October 1, 2008
We got our dog around the same time Mookie was being amazin' in '86. Ultimately, since she was a girl, we named her something else but my mother always called the dog Mookie and the dog would respond! Now I have a daughter and my mom calls her Mookie and that isn't her name, but it's all because we adored Mookie! He was so entertaining to watch and we were always rooting for him.

Ringo Boisclair
December 19, 2008
The 1983 season was the tipping point and the July 31st doubleheader was the fulcrum... after that the Mets themselves fully realized how good they were. They had a winning record for the rest of the year and the rest of the decade.

The first game saw them down 4-0 before an out had been recorded. They battled back and won in 12.

The second game saw Jose DeLeon no-hitting them into the 9th. Hubie Brooks broke it up. It was scoreless into 12. Mookie then scored the winning run from second... On a groundout!

This was Ty Cobb stuff.

As a kid, I was used to the Mets being used to losing. I was watching both games that day and had never seen my guys play baseball like this before. I don't think I dared think of them as anything like a championship club at that point, but looking back... These were the seeds of 86 I was watching.

Mookie won another game by scoring from second on a grounder a few days later. All in all, Mookie's great contribution to the Mets was using his hustle to help instill a culture of winning.

Stat-oriented guys will look at the Mook and say he was a solid enough hitter had speed, but didn't walk enough for a lead off guy, had a weakish arm... Blah, Blah, Blah...

Mookie's best contributions were always outside the numbers. He made things happen. He was one of the first talented players of the 80s to arrive and he led by example; he set a standard the other new Mets had to match. The degree to which he contributed to the Mets becoming a winner can't be overestimated.

Pockmarx
January 21, 2009
Hit .276 three years in a row from 1983 through 1985. His ten-year Mets average was .276.

One final note on the "should Stapleton have been in the game instead of Buckner" controversy. Buckner got to the ball. He was squared to the grounder and his feet were set. The fact that the ball got past him had nothing to do with the fact that his ankles were injured and his mobility was limited. He simply blew the play. Once again the press wanted to engage in myth making and finger pointing because second guessing makes for a better story and allows the press to indulge in the sort of self righteous criticism that has nothing to do with the simple idea that Buckner made a routine error.

Theresa
February 11, 2009
Love, love LOVE Mookie. He put a smile on my face all through the eighties with the Mets. I used to eat in a diner in Brooklyn, and the Greek guys who worked there used to check the papers every morning, and watch the game every night to cheer on their MOOOOOOKIE!!! When the Mets weren't winning much, we loved him; he was our best player and always gave his all. When the Mets won in the mid-80s, it was like we all went for the ride with Mookie. Now, every time I see him in an old game, or at a Mets event, he puts that same smile on my face. GO MOOKIE!

Kelvin
May 6, 2009
Damn, when I was in college in South Carolina, I tried out for the baseball team. Me and Mook were up for 2nd base. I could hit better, field better, but damn, I couldn't run faster!

Dennis
May 21, 2009
I have always, always wished Buckner had fielded that ground ball cleanly. No first baseman (with or without the pitcher covering first) could have beaten Mookie on that play.

Mookie would be more properly immortalized in Met history for what he did the best: run like a cheetah out of the box every at-bat, every game.

And Bill Buckner wouldn't have had such an unwarranted end to a solid career. Like I said - NO first baseman (playing "back of the bag" in that situation) could have gotten Mookie. That should have been an historic infield hit that turned into an historic error and hurt both players' legacies. In my opinion.

agee_of_aquarius
May 22, 2009
It's not clear-cut, whether Mookie could have beaten Buckner to the bag, had Buckner fielded the grounder.

During the regular season, when Boston had a small lead going into the late innings, Dave Stapleton (young and mobile) usually replaced Buckner at first. But in Game 6 of the Series, Manager McNamara wanted Buckner to be part of the on-field celebration when Boston won. So he left him in.

Before the Series started, Buckner was interviewed. After commenting on how exciting it would be to participate, he added something about "of course, you don't want to make an error in the 7th game of the Series." When I saw that video, I couldn't believe my ears. The clip is around somewhere, on some highlight film.

The '86 Mets were so cocky, it would be hard to imagine any of them making a similar comment.

Prospectus
June 18, 2009
Mookie turned first once it got past Buckner and it was hardly a slow developing play. He totally made it. It would have been interesting how Harrelson would have coached Knight since he was also in a wind sprint.

John L.
January 17, 2010
Did not know it at the time, but Mookie's arrival in 1980 was the beginning of a new era in Mets history. How can Mookie not be one of the most popular Mets of all time? A fine player that never gave less than his all. He is also a true gentleman and a great role model for us all. My favorite memories of Mookie (less game 6), was watching him score twice on groundouts FROM SECOND BASE! If our current group of Mets put forth the effort that Mookie did, we'd probably have another pennant or two flying from Citi Field. And it should also be noted that Mookie's work ethic remained the same whether it was in the playoffs or when the Mets were in the cellar.

Shickhaus Franks
April 6, 2010
SNY has been airing the Mets Yearbook series and it recently aired the 1980 year in review. They had a brief clip of Mookie on 1st base running towards 2nd and it was against the Cubs and the 1st Baseman holding Mookie was... Bill Buckner!

Dutch
July 1, 2010
Like most Mets fans who saw him play, Mookie was one of my all time favorites. Lee Mazzilli was Mets centerfielder before Mookie and Maz was marketed as the team star during the lean years. But when Mookie came up and showed how much ground he could cover in center, they had to find a new position for Lee. Mookie's daring base running brought excitement to Shea - I can still remember Bob Murphy when Mookie took the extra base (or two) - "ooh, Mookie really put the pedal to the metal."

Quality Met
August 18, 2011
My most vivid memory of Mookie did not occur during the 1986 World Series. It came three years earlier in two parts. During the 1983 season, the Mets won a pair of games on some daring baserunning, courtesy of William Hayward Wilson. He came around to score the winning run from second base on an infield out in extra innings one day. A few days later, he did the same thing again in the bottom of the ninth for another Met win. Although (third base coach) Bobby Valentine deserves some credit for these particular moments, it's Mookie that I like to remember from them. This kind of agressive play is what he was all about.

In the 1988 movie "Major League", the Indians scored their pennant-clinching run in a similar fashion to the way the Mets won those '83 games - the runner scored from second base on an infield grounder in the bottom of the last inning. Did the writers of that film get the idea for such a thing by watching Mookie? I like to think that they did.

Lori
November 27, 2011
Mookie did a baseball clinic that my son attended yesterday. I grew up liking Mookie, and my 12 year old had no idea who he was. I told him it would be like him meeting Jose Reyes in 30 years. Mookie is absolutely a wonderful person. He genuinely loves the game. He was in no rush, worked individually with each kid, told stories, signed autographs, and joked around for as long as everyone wanted. We both went away loving the guy.

VIBaseball
January 23, 2012
Sometime in the late '80s, I noticed in the paper that Mookie was doing a signing in a sporting-goods store in Greenwich Village. I didn't live far away, and I was in time, so I hustled over. I was surprised to see that the crowd was not all that big -- plus there was no fee for him to sign either! Anyway, I chatted with Mookie for a few minutes or so, considering there was no rush. He was as friendly and down to earth as you could want. It must have been '87 or '88, because I remember mentioning a three-run homer that he hit off Tim Burke in Montreal's Olympic Stadium to cap a seven-run, eighth-inning rally after the Mes had been trailing 6-1. The Mets wound up winning 10-8. I was at that amazing game (August 9, 1986), one of the kind that typified that season. I also asked Mookie who was the toughest reliever for him in the late innings. He answered, "Reardon."

scott r
August 29, 2013
What more can be said about Mookie? He had one of the most famous at bats in baseball history, was always smiling. The one Met no one can say anything bad about.

Anthony V
August 29, 2013
Best memory of Mookie for me is actually the two times (or maybe more) in 1984 that he scored from 2nd base on a routine infield ground ball. The first time I think was with Keith Hernandez batting and the opponent was the Pirates.

The second time was even more amazing because George Foster was batting, and he hit what appeared to be an inning-ending double play ball. The runner got forced at second, but Foster chugged hard and he BEAT OUT the throw to first. And all along Mookie was motoring home from 2b, and the distracted first baseman threw and couldn't get him out.

jack pesserilo
November 10, 2015
Here is an interesting comment about Buckner's error. Manager John MacNamara always took Buckner out for defense in the 8th or 9th inning. He would put Dave Stapleton in for Bill. The way I heard it MacNamara left Buckner in the game so he would be on the field to enjoy the celebration better. What would have happened if Dave Stapleton was at first? Call it fate? The will of the "baseball Gods? Think about it!

JR
January 1, 2016
I loved watching him play. My fondest memories of Mookie are from June of 1983. I was living in California and was able to see the Mets and Dodgers in a four game series. On Friday night he went above the wall to rob a home run and then he robbed another the exact same way on Sunday afternoon. I was lucky enough to see both and thought they were the greatest things I've ever seen!!