The New York Mets are a professional baseball franchise in Queens, New York City. Established in 1962, the Mets compete in the National League (NL) East division of Major League Baseball (MLB). Their formation was part of MLB's expansion to fill the void left by the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants, who relocated to California in 1958. The Mets are one of two major league teams based in New York City, alongside the American League's New York Yankees.
Citi Field serves as their home stadium, having opened its doors in 2009 to replace Shea Stadium, the team's venue from 1964 until 2008. In their initial years, they faced difficulties on the field, concluding their first season with a record of 40–120, the worst ever at that time in MLB history. Nevertheless, under manager Gil Hodges’ leadership in 1969, known as the "Miracle Mets," they made a comeback by winning their inaugural World Series against the Baltimore Orioles in five games. Throughout their history, the Mets have reached postseason play ten times and claimed two World Series championships (in 1969 and 1986), along with five National League pennants (the latest being in 2000 and 2015) and six NL East division titles.
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New York Mets Captains History
The New York Mets have had five captains throughout their history. The franchise introduced its first captain of the team in 1987, along with a co-captain. As of October 2025, the New York Mets have no current captain.
| Captain | Years as Captain | Notes |
| Keith Hernandez | 1987–1989 | Co-captain with Gary Carter from 1988–1989 |
| Gary Carter | 1988–1989 | Co-captain with Keith Hernandez |
| John Franco | 2001–2004 | Longtime closer, named captain in 2001 |
| David Wright | 2013–2018 | Served as captain until retirement |
Keith Hernandez (1987–1989)
From 1987 until 1989, Keith Hernandez was the New York Mets' first captain. In 1982 and 1986, he and the New York Mets won the World Series. Hernandez, who is well-known for playing first base defense, played a significant role in the Mets' push for the 1986 World Series. Throughout his career, he has earned the Silver Slugger Award twice, been named an All-Star five times, and won the Gold Glove Award eleven times.
The New York Mets retired his uniform number 17, and his time as captain cemented his status as one of the greatest defensive first basemen in MLB history. In 1988 and 1989, Keith and Gary Carter were co-captains.
Hernandez is currently a baseball commentator and analyst for the Mets' television broadcasts on SNY and WPIX (SNY produces WPIX games), along with Gary Cohen and Ron Darling. He has gained recognition for his directness on the mike, sharp wit, and sardonic commentary.
Gary Carter (1988–1989)
Gary Carter, a Hall of Fame catcher, served as co-captain of the New York Mets alongside Keith Hernandez from 1988 to 1989. Nicknamed "The Kid" for his youthful enthusiasm and energy, Carter was pivotal in the Mets' 1986 World Series victory. He was a clutch hitter and a leader behind the plate, earning 11 All-Star selections and three Gold Glove Awards during his career. Gary has also received the Silver Slugger Award five times, and he was a Roberto Clemente Award winner in 1989. He has also played for the Montreal Expos, and his number eight with the Montreal Expos is retired.
Carter signed a statement of intent to play football for the UCLA Bruins as a quarterback after obtaining over 100 offers for athletic scholarships. However, he later signed with the Montreal Expos after being chosen in the third round (53rd overall) of the 1972 Major League Baseball draft.
John Franco (2001–2004)
John Franco was named captain of the Mets in 2001 and held the title until 2004. Franco, a Brooklyn native, is the Mets’ all-time saves leader with 276 saves and is second on MLB’s all-time saves list among left-handed pitchers with a total of 424 saves throughout his career. Known for his reliability as a closer, Franco played 14 seasons with the Mets and was a four-time All-Star. His leadership was particularly valuable during a period of transition for the team in the early 2000s and was also inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame.
David Wright (2013–2018)
David Wright served as the Mets' captain from 2013 until his retirement in 2018, becoming the longest-tenured captain in team history. Wright was a seven-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner in 2007 and 2008, along with a Silver Slugger Award in the same consecutive years. He spent his entire 14-year MLB career with the Mets and is the franchise’s all-time leader in hits, RBIs, and runs scored. He also played third base in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for the United States and in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
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FAQ's On New York Mets
A. The Mets have won two World Series titles, in 1969 and 1986.
A. The Mets play their home games at Citi Field in Queens, New York. Citi Field opened in 2009, replacing Shea Stadium.
A. The current owner is Steve Cohen, who purchased the team in 2020.
A. The Mets have appeared in the World Series five times: in 1969, 1973, 1986, 2000, and 2015.
A. The Mets' mascots are Mr. and Mrs. Met, a baseball-headed figure who has been a fan favorite since 1964.
