The New York Mets are one of the most beloved franchises in Major League Baseball. Since their inception in 1962, they have entertained fans with their passion, hard work, and pure talent.

Over the years, the team has produced numerous players who have made a lasting impact on the game, and the team’s legacy.

In these articles, we’ll be exploring the top 50 Mets players of all time, with a summary of each player’s career, accomplishments, and impact on the game.

#50 – R.A. Dickey – Starting Pitcher

The former Major League Baseball pitcher known for his signature pitch, the knuckleball. Born on October 29, 1974, in Nashville, Tennessee, Dickey had a long and successful career in MLB that spanned over two decades.

Dickey was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round of the 1996 MLB draft but initially struggled to find success in the minor leagues. He was eventually called up to the major leagues in 2001 but continued to have a difficult time, posting an ERA of over 6.00 for two consecutive seasons.

It wasn’t until Dickey was in his late 30s that he began to truly shine. In 2010, he signed with the New York Mets on a Minor League contract and transformed himself into an All-Star pitcher. He became the first pitcher in MLB history to win 20 games in a season with a knuckleball as his primary pitch.

Dickey’s success continued in 2012 when he won the National League Cy Young Award. That season, he led the league in strikeouts, innings pitched, complete games, shutouts, and quality starts. He finished the season with a record of 20-6 and an ERA of 2.73.

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Even in trade, the Mets were able to get a decent sized haul for Dickey after his Cy Young year. Along with Mike Nickeas and Josh Thole going to the Toronto Blue Jays for Wuilmer Becerra, John Buck, Travis d’Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard.

After spending a few years with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Atlanta Braves, Dickey retired from baseball in 2018. He finished his career with a record of 120-118 and an ERA of 4.04.

While Dickey’s numbers may not jump off the page, his impact on the game of baseball has been significant. He proved that a pitcher can be successful with a knuckleball as their primary pitch and inspired a new generation of pitchers to try the pitch out for themselves.

Dickey’s hard work and dedication to his craft paid off. He overcame early struggles and persevered to become one of the most successful knuckleball pitchers in the history of baseball. He will always be remembered as a talented pitcher who made his mark on the sport.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. R.A. Dickey is probably one of the best examples of a player reinventing themselves.