New York Mets fans have voted Ed Kranepool, Bob Murphy and Tug McGraw in to the MetsRewind Hall of Fame. Kranepool received 39.8% of the vote, followed by Murphy (31.7%) and McGraw (28.8%). According to the Mets Rewind voting process, the top three vote-getters would be inducted as part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
The third class of inductees joins Tom Seaver, David Wright, Gil Hodges, Mike Piazza, Jerry Koosman, Keith Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Rusty Staub and Gary Carter in the Mets Rewind Hall of Fame.
Kranepool, who spent his entire 18-year professional career as a member of the New York Mets, was the top vote-getter, receiving 39.8% of the fan vote. Kranepool, a member of the original 1962 Mets team, was part of the 1969 World Series championship team and 1973 National League champions. He holds the franchise records for games played (1,853) and pinch hits (90). He also ranks in the Top 10 In hits, runs, RBI and total bases.
Murphy is the first non-player or manager who has been voted into the Mets Rewind Hall of Fame. Murphy is one of the original broadcasters. He broadcast New York Mets baseball from 1962-2003. Murphy was elected to Hall of Fame in 1994 when his colleagues recognized him with the prestigious Ford Frick Award for broadcasting. After he passed away in August 2004 from lung cancer, New York Times writer and author Richard Sandomir wrote, “Murphy was as much an original Met as Al Jackson, Jay Hook or Don Zimmer, and he lasted longer with the team than any player, manager or owner.”
McGraw is an iconic figure in Mets history. He made his major league debut with the Mets in 1965 at age 20. After three seasons, McGraw missed the entire 1968 season to serve his country in Viet Nam.
He returned in 1969 to pitch in 42 games, mostly in relief, and recording a 9-3 record with a 2.24 ERA as the Mets went on to win the World Series. He moved to the bullpen in the 70s and posted an ERA under two in both the 1971 and 1972 seasons.
But it was 1973 that solidified McGraw’s name in Mets history when McGraw first uttered the rally cry, “Ya’ Gotta Believe!” to lead the Mets on a remarkable second-half run, a division title and a league championship over the Cincinnati Reds.
