The Best Mets Nicknames

Okay it has been very slow in the baseball world. News sources are reporting that Omar Manaya is content with what he has in place now. Minaya refuses to OVER SPEND on a very weak Free Agent market and teams asking for the farm in trades.

That being said lets take a look at the best player nicknames that have passed through Shea Stadium. Nicknames. They are something that everyone is familiar with in one way or another. However, most people have little, if any, personal experience with nicknames. Nicknames play a major role in everyday life. Nicknames are formed with a certain unspoken format, and they have a particular importance. To the “outside world” the use of nicknames may bring to mind organized crime, or gangs, maybe it's just a family tradition.

Well lets get to it...

Alright lets start with the team name. The New York Mets:

The first run they ever scored came in on a balk. They lost the first nine games they ever played. They finished last their first four seasons. They were 100-l underdogs to win the pennant in 1969 and incredibly came on to finish the year as World Champions. They were supposed to be the replacement for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. They could have been the New York Continentals or Burros or Skyliners or Skyscrapers or Bees or Rebels or NYB's or Avengers or even Jets (all runner-up names in a contest to tab the National League New York team that began playing ball in 1962). They've never been anything to their fans but amazing-the Amazin' New York Mets.

1-Tom Seaver "Tom Terrific" or "The Franchise"

No introduction needed here. Seaver is considered one of the greatest players in club history. Seaver was the first true star for the Mets and led them to their miracle World Championship in 1969. This was the year that Seaver appropriately earned his nickname, he finished the year winning his last 10 decisions to end the year 25-7 with a 2.21 ERA.

2-Dwight Gooden "Dr.K" or "Doc."
Again no introduction needed. Gooden made his debut indoors, on April 7, 1984 in Houston. He tied the major league mark for strikeouts in two consecutive games, with 32 in starts on September 12 and 17, which, combined with his September 7 start, gave him a record 43 in three straight games. He went on to set a major league rookie record with 276 strikeouts in only 218 innings. The strikeouts earned him the nickname Doctor K and a rooting section in the upper deck that hung out a red K for each strikeout during his starts.

3-Lenny Dykstra "Nails"
Nicknamed "Nails" for his scrappy style of play, Dykstra did everything all out! He worked hard, played hard, and partied hard. Dykstra rose through the Mets' farm system, joining Seaver and Gooden. The pesky Dykstra helped ignite the Mets' offense from the top of the batting order.

4-David Cone "Coney"
In March of 1987 Cone was traded from Kansas City to the Mets for catcher Ed Hearn. Later call one of the worst trade in Royals' history. As the ace of the 1988 team, Cone went 20-3. At any point in an at-bat Cone was capable of pinpointing a cut fastball, slider, curve, changeup, or his lethal split-finger. Cone's mischievous manner and engaging personality made him a favorite with both fans and the press. Wearing the cones to Shea, many fans dubbed themselves "Coneheads" after the Saturday Night Live characters. Earning Cone his nickname.

5-Gary Carter "The Kid"

Carter was traded to the Mets for Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham and Floyd Youmans for the start of the 1985 season. Earned the nickname "The Kid" in his first spring training camp with the Expos in 1974, by trying to win every sprint and trying to hit every pitch out of the park. Carter will be forever remembered by Mets fans as the man who started the Mets 10th inning two out Game 6 rally in the World Series against Red Sox.

6-Howard Johnson "HoJo"

Johnson was traded to the Mets for Walt Terrell for the start of the 1985 season. Earned his nickname while with the Tigers. In 1987 he and Darryl Strawberry became the first teammates to both hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases, and Johnson's 36 homers set a NL record for a switch-hitter, which he would break four years later.

7- Edgardo Alfonzo "Fonzie"

Alfonzo was signed by the Mets as a non-draft amateur free agent in 1991. Alfonzo was part of the infield dubbed "The Best Infield Ever" on a cover of Sports Illustrated, along with Rey Ordonez, Robin Ventura, and John Olerud. I could be wrong on this one, but I believe Alfonzo was given the nicknamed Fonzie by teammates after the character Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli from the television show "Happy Days" .

8-Keith Hernandez "Mex"

Traded to the Mets for relief pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey in 1983. Nicknamed Mex for his Spanish descent. (Also part Scots-Irish descent.) Keith Hernandez may have been the best defensive first baseman in MLB history. Mets and Yankee fans are often found arguing over who's the better firstman was during the 1980s Mex or Don Mattingly.

9-Sid Fernandez "El Sid"

Obtained by the Mets with infielder Ross Jones for Bob Bailor and Carlos Diaz in a trade with the Dodgers following the 1983 season. Fernandez's 16-6 record in 1986 helped the Mets to a pennant, but he didn't start in the World Series. His best years were with the Mets from 1984 to 1993 and he was an integral part of the 1986 Championship team.

10-John Maine "The Maine Event" or "The Maine Man"

Maine was traded to the Mets along with Jorge Julio for Kris Benson in 2006. The New York media quickly nicknamed Maine after pitching 22 scoreless innings over three starts after being recalled from the DL on July 3, 2006. Maine's scoreless-inning streak reached 26 innings before he allowed a run. His streak was the longest ever by a Mets rookie starter.

Honorable Mention: Orlando Hernandez "El Duque" - Jerry Koosman "Cooz" - Mike Piazza "The Pizza Man" - Kevin McReynolds "Big Mac" - Wally Backman "Cabbage Patch" - Frank McGraw "Tug" - Dave Magadon "Mags" - Lee Mazzilli " The Italian Stallion"

It is pretty obvious that the tradition of nicknaming misses nobody. Nicknames are a part of baseball, and some of the best to ever play the game have nicknames. Ty Cobb "The Georgia Peach" and George Herman Ruth "Babe", "The Bambino", and "The Sultan of Swat".