Retire 17: The Only Logical Choice In An Illogical Time

This is the second in a series of articles demanding that the Mets retire Keith Hernandez's number 17. The series will continue until the Mets do the right thing.

As manager of another New York team Casey Stengal won seven World Series Championships. As Mets manager from 1962-1965 Stengal's teams finished in last place every season. But he was a vital piece to the launching of the New York Met Franchise. Because of Casey it didn't matter that the Mets were laughably bad; he gave the team a charming identity and a reason for fans and media to come to the ballpark. The Mets retired his number 37 in 1965.

Gil Hodges was the beloved first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947-1957. In 1968 he took over the managerial duties of the New York Mets. Hodges was known for his hard nosed, no nonsense approach and is credited as being the heart and soul of the 1969 World Champion Mets. His was the rare personality that rubbed off on players around him. His number 14 was retired by the Mets in 1972.

Like Stengal, Keith Hernandez gave the Mets an identity. Prior to his arrival in 1983 the Mets were irrelevant and wallowing away in obscurity. And like Hodges, Hernadez brought with him an attitude that would come to define not only a championship team, but the most successful era in New York Mets history. And unlike Hodges and Stengel he actually played for the team. And boy did he play. He was the rare baseball player whose style made players around him even better. He made losers into winners. He was also the greatest defensive first baseman to ever play the game. His number 17 is currently worn by Fernando Tatis.

Isn't this ridiculous? Why do the Mets not only refuse to acknowledge Hernandez's place in Mets History, but insult him by haphazardly giving out his number to, at best, marginal players? For this reason alone, I cannot share in the love that so many Met fans feel for Charlie Samuels, the longtime Mets equipment manager who has been responsible for assigning uniform numbers. But its not just Charlie to blame, because as Fed Wilpon once said, "The buck stops with me." Well Fred, I call upon you then to put an end to the madness and Retire 17.