The New York Mets announced that outfielders Carlos Beltrán and Lee Mazzilli, along with manager Bobby Valentine, will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 2026. The ceremony date will be revealed in the coming months, bringing the total membership to 38. This honors their significant contributions to the franchise.
The New York Mets revealed the inductees on Thursday, recognizing three key figures from the organization's history. Carlos Beltrán, a dynamic outfielder from Manati, Puerto Rico, signed a seven-year contract with the Mets in January 2005, injecting optimism into the team. During his tenure, he earned five All-Star selections, three Gold Gloves, and two Silver Sluggers. In 2006, Beltrán posted an 8.2 bWAR, ranking second in the National League, and helped the Mets reach the NLCS. He ranks in the top 10 in Mets history for home runs, RBI, runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. Beltrán returned to the organization in January 2023 as a special assistant to President of Baseball Operations David Stearns. Last January, he received 70.3 percent of the Baseball Writers' Association of America vote for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, falling short of the 75 percent threshold.
Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen praised Beltrán, stating, “Carlos’ impact on the organization was and continues to be invaluable. His unique blend of power, speed and defensive grace made him one of the most dynamic players ever to wear a Mets uniform. He is a respected voice inside the clubhouse, sharing his wisdom as a Special Assistant to David Stearns. We are extremely hopeful that he receives positive news this January when the Baseball Hall of Fame announces its 2026 class.”
Lee Mazzilli, a Brooklyn native, had two stints with the Mets from 1976-1981 and 1986-1989, slashing .264/.357/.396 over 10 seasons. He finished top 10 in the National League twice for on-base percentage and walks, was a 1979 All-Star, and hit the first home run by a Met in an All-Star Game in Seattle that year. Mazzilli drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning to secure a 7-6 National League victory. He ranks sixth in franchise stolen bases with 152 and ties for fifth in pinch-hits with 38. In the 1986 World Series against Boston, he went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in Games 6 and 7. The Cohens noted, “Lee was drafted by the Mets as an 18-year-old prospect out of Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. He debuted three years later for the 1976 Mets. He quickly became a fan favorite during the late '70s and hit the first home run by a Met during 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 clutch hits in the most crucial moments.”
Bobby Valentine managed the Mets from 1996 to 2002, accumulating 536 wins, third-most in team history. From Stamford, Connecticut, he led the team to the postseason in 1999—the first since 1988—and to the World Series in 2000, marking the franchise's first consecutive playoff appearances. Valentine also played a vital role in the team's response to the 9/11 attacks, organizing fundraising and charity efforts. The Cohens said, “Bobby served as the charismatic manager of the Mets from 1996 to 2002. He ranks third in franchise history with 536 wins and became the first skipper to guide the team to consecutive Postseason appearances, in 1999 and 2000 — a run that culminated in a trip to the World Series in 2000. Known for his innovation, baseball intellect and relentless pursuit of every competitive edge, Bobby V left a lasting mark on the Mets organization.”