Ron Darling, Edgardo Alfonso & Jon Matlack Inducted To Mets Hall of Fame

In a ceremony Saturday night before the game, Ron Darling, Edgardo Alfonzo and Jon Matlack were all honored with bronze plaques, becoming the 28th, 29th and 30th members of the New York Mets Hall of Fame.

It was the first time the team inducted members into its Hall of Fame in eight years.

The trio, who represent Mets teams from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, appeared in a total 1,546 games for the Mets. Matlack, Darling and Alfonzo each made it to a World Series with the Mets in 1973, 1986 and 2000, respectively, though Darling is the only one tho have won it with the team.

All three were developed the the Mets’ minor league systems, too. Matlack was drafted by the team in 1967, Darling was traded for (in a Lee Mazzilli trade) in 1982 less than a year after he was drafted by the Texas Rangers and Alfonzo was signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela.

Matlack got the induction ceremonies started. He pitched in over 200 games for the Mets–199 of them starts. He had a 3.03 ERA–fifth in team history–over nearly 1,500 innings in seven seasons. He also accrued the seventh-most bWAR (26.6) of any pitcher in Met history.

In his acceptance speech, the big lefty noted his pride in his “modest accomplishments” with the team, which included a Rookie of the Year award in 1972 and three All-Star nods from 1974 to 1976.

Top 10 among franchise pitchers in wins, complete games, ERA, strikeouts, shutouts and innings pitched.

Jon Matlack has his place in #Mets history. pic.twitter.com/gUbUb1EVbw

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 31, 2021

Next came Darling, who started 241 games over nine-plus seasons in the 1980s. The righty, born in Honalulu, Hawaii, earned an All-Star nomination in 1985–his best overall season with the team with a 2.90 ERA in 248 innings–and a Gold Glove in 1989. He’s also been a television broadcaster for the team for 15 years since SNY’s inception.

Darling said ahead of the ceremony that he was “overjoyed” with entering the Mets’ Hall of Fame and said thanked his family and, primarily, the fans for their support throughout his decades with the team during his acceptance speech.

From Honolulu to a #WorldSeries champion.

Keith Hernandez narrates the story of #Mets Hall of Famer, Ron Darling. pic.twitter.com/EUe3Di0yeq

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 31, 2021

Alfonzo came next. He played second base, third base and shortstop for more than 1,000 games for the Mets, becoming one of the franchise’s better offensive players in the process. He’s top five in franchise history in offensive bWAR, batting average, runs scored and hits and is top 10 in just about every other offensive category.

In the late 1990s, Fonzie was part of one of the best defensive infields ever aligned with John Olerud, Robin Ventura and Rey Ordoñez, who handed Alfonzo’s bronze plaque over to him during the ceremony.

Alfonzo also coached with the Brooklyn Cyclones from 2014 to 2019, culminating in a Penn League championship in his final year. His contract with the Cyclones was unceremoniously and controversially not renewed, so Saturday’s ceremony was a needed re-welcoming back into the organization. Alfonzo was once considered a potential major-league managerial candidate with the team.

He was beaming with pride during his acceptance speech, thanking his parents in Venezuela, as well as teammates and managers like Bobby Valentine, Mike Piazza and Ordoñez.

Once a part of the best infield ever, Edgardo Alfonzo goes down as one of the best #Mets ever. pic.twitter.com/CWw5uRXb6v

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 31, 2021

Al Jackson, an original Met who pitched for a the team for a total of six years who also coached in the team’s minor leagues for over two decades, was given the Mets Hall of Fame Achievement Award in the same ceremony.

Darling noted in his acceptance speech that Jackson taught him his split-finger fastball that he used throughout his time with the Mets. Darling said “I never would’ve made it” to the big leagues without the help of Jackson.

Jackson passed away in 2019 at the age of 83, but his family–his wife and two sons–were there to accept the award on his behalf. SNY’s Steve Gelbs interviewed them during the game about their late father’s dedication to baseball–especially Mets baseball–and Jackson’s relationship with his “mentor” Casey Stengal.

"He loved baseball for breakfast, lunch, and supper"

The family of the late Al Jackson talks to @SteveGelbs after Jackson posthumously received the Mets Hall of Fame Achievement Award: pic.twitter.com/kpYWszjcD6

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 1, 2021

The ceremony was originally set to take place in 2020, but it was delayed to this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can watch the full Hall of Fame induction below.

The post Ron Darling, Edgardo Alfonso & Jon Matlack Inducted To Mets Hall of Fame first appeared on Metsmerized Online.