THE Dishes add three new members to the team’s Hall of Fame.
Carlos Beltran, Bobby ValentineAnd Lee Mazzilli will be inducted in a ceremony at Citi Field during the 2026 season.
Beltran, 48, currently works in the New York office after making his mark in Queens as one of the best all-around players the team has ever had.
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From 2005 to 2011, Beltran played center field for New York making five All-Star teams, winning three Gold Glove awards and being a driving force during the club’s run to the 2006 NLCS.
In seven seasons for the Mets, Beltran slashed .280/.369/.500 with 149 homers, 208 doubles, 559 RBIs, 551 runs scored and 100 stolen bases.
His best season in Flushing came in 2006, when he hit 41 home runs to tie what was then the club’s single-season record, had a career-best OPS of .982 and finished fourth in voting for the National League MVP award.
“Carlos’ impact on the organization has been and continues to be invaluable,” Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a press release. “His unique blend of power, speed and defensive grace has made him one of the most dynamic players to ever wear a Mets uniform. He is a respected voice within the clubhouse, sharing his wisdom as a special assistant to David Stearns. We look forward to receiving positive news from him in January when the Baseball Hall of Fame announces its 2026 class.”
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Valentine, 75, was one of the most colorful managers the Mets ever had.
He went 536-467 during his tenure in New York from 1996-2002, leading the Mets’ trip to the NLCS in 1999 and the World Series in 2000.
Valentine also played for the Mets from 1977 to 1978 and coached from 1983 to 1985.
“Bobby was the charismatic manager of the Mets from 1996 to 2002,” the Cohens said. “He ranks third in franchise history with 536 wins and became the first skipper to guide the team to back-to-back postseason appearances, in 1999 and 2000 – a run that culminated with a trip to the World Series in 2000. Known for his innovation, baseball smarts and relentless pursuit of every competitive advantage, Bobby V left a lasting mark on the Mets organization.”
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Mazzilli, a 70-year-old Brooklyn native, has been one of the Mets’ most popular players since his rookie campaign from 1976 to 1981, during what was his first stint in Queens.
He earned an All-Star Game nomination in 1979, during a season where he hit .303/.395/.449 and had an .844 OPS.
In August of the 1986 season, the Mets brought Mazzilli back after his stint with the Pirates ended, and he was an important cog for the team down the stretch and into the postseason. Mazzilli singled to spark New York’s sixth-inning rally that tied Game 7 of the World Series against the Red Sox.
Mazzilli remained with the Mets until midway through the 1989 season.
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“Lee was drafted by the Mets as an 18-year-old prospect out of Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn,” the Cohens said. “He made his debut three years later for the 1976 Mets. He quickly became a fan favorite in the late ’70s and hit a Met’s first home run in an All-Star Game in 1979. Mazz returned to the Mets in 1986 and became a key contributor off the bench for the World Championship team, delivering game-winning hits in the most crucial moments.”
