Unofficial fan projectPiazza, Alfonzo, and the Return to October
Edgardo Alfonzo
Second and third baseman · Mets 1995–2002
The part fans remember
What the numbers leave out.
Fonzie was the player holding the late-1990s Mets together while everyone else got the attention. He hit, defended, moved around the infield, and somehow always seemed to be standing in the right place.
The Mets signed Alfonzo out of Venezuela, and he reached the majors in 1995 without the attention that follows a top American draft pick. He slowly became impossible to remove from the lineup. He could handle second base or third, hit near the top or middle of the order, and make the right play without needing to be the loudest person on the field.
His value became clear when the Mets turned into contenders. In the 1999 Division Series opener, Alfonzo hit a grand slam in the ninth inning and later homered again, announcing that the Mets belonged in October. He followed with his best full season in 2000, hitting .324 with 25 home runs while helping the club win the pennant.
Back problems and a move around the infield made his final Mets seasons less smooth, and he left after 2002. Even so, the late-1990s teams do not work without Fonzie doing a little of everything. Fans remember the quiet smile, the steady glove, and the feeling that a big at-bat was in safe hands.
The honest version
The best stretch
Alfonzo’s 1998–2000 peak belongs beside the best three-year stretches by any Mets infielder. He combined high averages, patience, power, and steady defense while moving between second and third base whenever the roster needed it. In 1999 he hit .304 with 27 home runs, then produced one of the greatest postseason games in club history with two homers—including a grand slam—in the Division Series opener at Arizona.
The part that got messy
Piazza received the headlines, but Alfonzo was often the player who held everything together. He could bat near the top or middle of the order, work a count, turn a double play, or make a difficult play at third look simple. In the 2000 World Series he remained one of the hitters the Yankees least wanted to face. His calm manner made his excellence easier to miss outside New York.
Why fans still care
Mets fans remember Fonzie with unusual warmth because he felt both great and completely unselfish. Injuries shortened his peak, and the club allowed him to leave after 2002, an ending many fans still believe came too soon. He never needed a loud personality to become beloved. The quality of his play, the October moments, and the sense that winning always mattered more than attention were enough.
Fonzie was the player who made everything work. Piazza drew the cameras, but Alfonzo could bat anywhere, play two infield positions, get on base, and deliver the biggest hit without making the moment about himself. Fans who watched the 1999 and 2000 teams know how good he really was. He is the classic answer to the question, ‘Which Met is still underrated?’
Signature Mets momentA key force behind consecutive playoff trips and the 2000 pennant.
The short list
The stuff worth remembering.
- 012000 All-Star
- 022000 National League champion
- 03Mets Hall of Fame