Who Wears a Mets Hat in the Hall of Fame?

On Tuesday, the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown will announce the 2026 inductees into their hallowed halls. We know that former New York Mets second baseman Jeff Kent was the first inductee into the 2026 class out of the Veterans Committee ballot. Other names that could be joining him are Carlos Beltran, Andrew Jones, Chase Utley, Andy Pettitte, and Bobby Abreu.

In terms of the Mets, what Hall of Famers, past, present, and future, who already have Mets caps on their plaques or who might get one one day? Who, currently in the Hall of Fame, could’ve worn Mets hats? Players have input on what cap they choose to wear, but that is ultimately up to the Hall of Fame.

While the Mets have numbers retired at Citi Field, only two have Mets ballcaps in Cooperstown. Casey Stengel and Gil Hodges are also in the Hall of Fame, but they wear Brooklyn Dodgers (Hodges) and New York Yankees (Stengel) hats, respectively. 

Mets With Caps In The Hall

Tom Seaver

We start with The Franchise, the man who has a statue outside Citi Field’s main entrance. From 1967 to 1977, and again in 1983, Tom Seaver made seven All-Star teams with the Mets and helped the Mets win the 1969 World Series and the 1973 pennant. He won all three of his Cy Youngs as a Met in 1969, 1973, and 1975. Seaver is the Mets’ all-time leader in wins (198) and strikeouts (2,541). Seaver was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988. 

Mike Piazza

The second Mets representative in Cooperstown and the greatest hitter in Mets history. Mike Piazza was traded to the Mets in 1998 and helped turn those teams into contenders, leading them to back-to-back NLCS appearances in 1999 and 2000, while winning the pennant in 2000. Piazza was a seven-time All-Star and a five-time Silver Slugger as a Met. Piazza hit 220 home runs, 655 RBIS, and a .296 average with the Mets. He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Guys In the Hall Who Could’ve Had Mets Caps

Gary Carter

This is the most notable and the one many argue should’ve been in the Hall of Fame as a Met. Gary Carter was traded to the Mets in 1985 and was the last piece of the puzzle for the 1986 World Series championship team. Carter brought leadership to the team and, along with Keith Hernandez (we’ll get to him), was named a co-captain. Carter made the All-Star team four times and won a Silver Slugger during his five-year run in Queens. He’s, of course, most remembered for starting the dramatic comeback in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

Carter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003 as a Montreal Expo, a team he spent 12 years with. Famously, Carter expressed a desire to go into the Hall in a Mets cap. However, the Hall of Fame determined that his accomplishments in Montreal during those years warranted his induction as an Expo. While Carter may not be in the Hall of Fame in the blue and orange, his number should be in the rafters of Citi Field. He spent many years in Montreal, but he’s most remembered for his time with the Mets and the 1986 team.

Future Mets Hall of Famers?

Carlos Beltran

It’s almost certain that Carlos Beltran will be announced as a Hall of Famer on Tuesday. The question, of course, is what team he will represent in Cooperstown. While Beltran was put on the map as a member of the Kansas City Royals, as well as his 2004 run with the Houston Astros, Beltran spent seven seasons with the Mets and made the All-Star team in six of those seasons.

New York signed him on the heels of that great postseason run with Houston. He became one of the best free agent signings in team history and the best center fielder they’ve ever had. All three of Beltran’s career Gold Gloves and both of his Silver Sluggers came as a Met. Beltran has been a member of the Mets front office since 2023. If Beltran’s name is called, expect him to become the third player to put on a Mets cap. 

Keith Hernandez

One of the biggest omissions from the Hall of Fame, Hernandez is regarded as one of the best first basemen of all time. In 1983, the Mets needed a veteran to teach the club how to win. After a successful run with the St. Louis Cardinals for nine seasons, including winning the National League MVP in 1979 and the World Series in 1982, Hernandez was traded to the Mets, and he would guide them to their most successful era in team history. He was named captain, won six of his 11 Gold Gloves with the Mets, played on three All-Star teams, and, of course, helped them win the World Series in 1986. 

Nowadays, Hernandez is recognized for his 20-year run on the SNY broadcasts with Gary Cohen and former teammate Ron Darling. Hernandez has been part of Mets broadcasts since the late 90s, but his time on SNY since the network’s launch has been nothing short of legendary. Hernandez’s number 17 was retired by the Mets in 2022. His name has gained traction in recent years, so look for him to get in at some point. If he does get in, he could go in as a Met.

David Wright 

Wright’s name is one of the more interesting on the ballot. The fact that he has remained on the ballot right now is a good sign. Though it still won’t be easy for the former Mets captain, as injuries derailed his career. However, his peak was outstanding, and he was a perennial MVP candidate in his prime. As a Met, Wright hit 242 home runs and is the franchise’s all-time leader in RBIs (970) and hits (1,777).

He was a seven-time All-Star and helped the Mets win the division title in 2006. He made a significant return in 2015, contributing to their run to the World Series. Wright would have his number 5 retired in 2025. He also made a name for himself in the World Baseball Classic as “Captain America”.

Wright will be on his third year on the ballot in 2026, and he has stayed on the ballot with 6.2% in 2024 and 8.1% in 2025. It’ll be interesting to see what his vote total will be in 2026, but if he does get in one day, it’s a guarantee The Captain will be on the team he grew up watching in Norfolk, Virginia.

Jacob deGrom

The most recent New York Met and still playing for the Texas Rangers, deGrom became one of the best pitchers in franchise history from 2014-2022. Right there with Seaver and Dwight Gooden. deGrom won Rookie of the Year in 2014 and helped the Mets to the pennant in 2015 all in his first two years in the league. Then, later in the 2017 season, deGrom became the best pitcher in baseball, and he won back-to-back Cy Youngs in 2018 and 2019. He also made the All-Star team four times.

Injuries, however, would be the story of 2021 and 2022 before he departed the Mets in free agency. If not for injuries that held him out of the second half of the 2021 season, it could’ve been one of the best seasons ever by any pitcher. He was that good in the first half on the mound. Injuries have also halted his tenure in Texas, but he bounced back with a really good 2025 season.

Still, deGrom’s resume and peak could put him in Cooperstown one day. If it does, he’ll be the next player to go in wearing the blue and orange. Not to mention his number being retired at Citi Field one day. 

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