# "So, You used to play for the Mets? For ten years huh...?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 7, 2021, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358 "2021-02-07T05:30:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/1 "2021-02-07T05:30:15Z")
A new trainer in my building claims to have played for The METS for ten years as a professional ball player (big leagues?). He saw I had a METS hat and he signed it. Cool, right? There’s just one hitch… I can’t find his name anywhere on the hisory of METS players going back to the beginning of time. Is there a definitive website I can check? He talks about having his own ‘rookie card’ and all that. I’d just like to know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/2 "2021-02-07T05:50:31Z")
Some of the Mets minor league affiliates uses the nickname Mets. For minor league players, do a name search [HERE](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi) I had an uncle by marriage who told me he pitched in the Western League, but he, umm, fibbed. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/3 "2021-02-07T06:08:10Z")
Check Baseball Reference. If he ever played in the majors, he’d be listed. The site also does include some players who only played in the minor leagues, but I don’t know how complete those records are. > **[MLB Stats, Scores, History, & Records | Baseball-Reference.com](https://www.baseball-reference.com/)** > > Complete source for baseball history including complete major league player, team, and league stats, awards, records, leaders, rookies and scores. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/4 "2021-02-07T06:09:07Z")
You Rock! I was worried about the whole “but he fibbed” thing, but lo-and-behold… > **[Dave Magadan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |...](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/magadda01.shtml)** > > Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Dave Magadan. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com ( Guess I can wear that hat with so much pride, I can pretend I’m Billy Crystal. ) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/5 "2021-02-07T06:10:27Z")
I even recognize the guy’s name. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/6 "2021-02-07T06:13:01Z")
It’s awesome he was in the show. Even more awesome he’s your trainer and you have a signed hat. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/7 "2021-02-07T06:16:27Z")
He’s actually PHENOMINAL! Always upbeat, always positive. He qualified for the Iron Man in HI… and I think he’ll do great. The only run he hasn’t done so far is the Boston Marathon… and I think when he does it, he’ll kick its ass. Something about… METS players… and Boston… Go Figure. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/8 "2021-02-07T06:18:10Z")
So do I. He replaced Keith Hernandez at first base and hit .328 in 1990. He also spent a short time with the Mariners. Overall, while not a Hall-of-Famer, he had a long and substantial career in the majors. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/9 "2021-02-07T06:18:32Z")
Also, Dave Magadan’s rookie card: [![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ZDoAAOSwhBtfX7aj/s-l225.jpg) ](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ZDoAAOSwhBtfX7aj/s-l225.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/10 "2021-02-07T06:21:02Z")
This place keeps him busier than a paper hanger with one leg… but No Bull Sh-t… he’s a really cool human being. He has a mustache now. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/11 "2021-02-07T06:22:22Z")
Yeah, he’s pretty famous - at least to someone my age (early 40s) who grew up following baseball. Also, since I was a Yankees fan he was known for being related to Lou Piniella (also his godfather). I started collecting cards in '87 so I had several of his rookie cards. He was seen as a top prospect until the market became saturated and it was clear he was not exactly a “future star.” He had a heck of a career for a non-star, though. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/12 "2021-02-07T09:15:16Z")
I have to ask the OP - how did you manage to not find him? If you stick his name in Google, without hitting enter, up comes Dave Magadan, American baseball player, with a picture. But you found him at Baseball-Reference, so you had the right name? ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/13 "2021-02-07T10:02:40Z")
Magadan was a really good player. If I were asked to name a Met from that era, his would be one of the first I’d think of. Shake his hand for mr. ---
**Author:** ![CardboardBoxx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardboardboxx/32/7079_2.png) [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/14 "2021-02-07T10:05:35Z")
Why the consistent capitalisation of Mets? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/15 "2021-02-07T12:58:51Z")
Billy Crystal is a die-hard Yankees Fan. One of the highlights of his life was befriending Mickey Mantle before he passed. Maybe you’re thinking Jerry Seinfeld? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/16 "2021-02-07T13:11:56Z")
Wait, I’m the furthest thing from a baseball fan and even I know who he is. Where were you looking that you didn’t find him? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/17 "2021-02-07T13:22:21Z")
Any baseball fan in that era would recognize him, although I had forgotten about the Lou Piniella connection. I guess the OP is a very recent Mets fan. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/18 "2021-02-07T13:30:19Z")
Yeah, I’m a Yankees fan but I recognized the name instantly. He was was a significant part of the Mets team when they were consistently at or near the top of their division. He wasn’t a big star but if you followed the team at all you would know who he was. He was also recognizable by his unusual last name. For some reason I was aware of [Magadan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magadan) in Russia, maybe because it was a notorious Gulag center. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/19 "2021-02-07T13:45:24Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I have to ask the OP - how did you manage to not find him? If you stick his name in Google, without hitting enter, up comes Dave Magadan, American baseball player, with a picture. But you found him at Baseball-Reference, so you had the right name? In the office, everyone calls him David. He said his name a few times, but I’ve never seen it in print. There’s no printed staff directory so I didn’t have the exact spelling. Oh, and I’ve almost never typed “Mets” before (who knew it wasn’t all in caps?). ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358/20 "2021-02-07T14:16:44Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Maybe you’re thinking Jerry Seinfeld? I was hoping it was Billy Crystal because I like his work and I respect him. I never would have used the name of Jerry Seinfeld because I think he’s a jerk . Still, the analogy doesn’t work as is. Jon Stewart’s name would work spectacularly as would Ed Burns or Sigourney Weaver; and there’s always Kimmel. The Page Six site had a picture of Sandra Bullock in full Mets gear. ( She really does make her hat look good. ) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-used-to-play-for-the-mets-for-ten-years-huh/932358.md?page=2)