The New York Mets franchise began in 1962 as an expansion team in the National League. That inaugural season marked the first year that Mets cards entered the collectible baseball card market. The Topps set was the premier issue that year and featured rookie cards of some of the original ‘62 Mets, including pitcher Bob Miller and outfielder Charlie Neal.
In the decades since, Mets cards have chronicled the evolution of the franchise from lovable losers to perennial contenders. Some of the most iconic Mets cards memorialize the glory years of the late 1960s and early 1970s when the “Amazin’ Mets” shocked the baseball world by winning the 1969 World Series in just their eighth season of existence. Stars of that ‘69 championship like Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Tommie Agee, and Jerry Grote are well represented in vintage sets from that era like Topps and Fleer.
The 1973 Topps card of Nolan Ryan, then in his early days as a Met before being traded to the Angels, stands out not only because it features “The Ryan Express” but because it captured one of the hardest throws in baseball history–Ryan’s 100 mph fastball. In the decades since, that 1973 Nolan Ryan card has become one of the most valuable vintage baseball cards in the hobby due to its rarity, subject, and perfect timing capturing one of the true freak athletes the sport has ever seen.
The 1980s saw the Mets recapture some of their old glory with young stars like Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, and Keith Hernandez leading the franchise to unexpected World Series appearances in 1986 and 1988. “Doc” Gooden’s rookie card from 1984 Topps is one of the most iconic Mets cards ever issued and remains a highly sought after piece of cardboard for collectors. Gooden would go on to become the youngest player ever to win the Cy Young Award in 1985 while starring on some of the best Mets teams of that era.
During extended runs of mediocrity for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Mets cards tended to feature more flavor-of-the-month type players who did not have the lasting impact of names from the 60s-80s glory years. Notable exceptions included Todd Hundley and John Olerud, who each had productive offensive seasons for those Mets clubs. Rookie cards and early returns of future stars who didn’t blossom until leaving New York, such as Armando Benitez and Scott Kazmir, also made lasting impressions in cardboard during this period.
The mid-2000s signaled a resurgence for the Mets franchise that coincided with new stars appearing on baseball cards. Popular players who sparked renewed interest in Mets collecting included Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Tom Glavine. In particular, hometown hero Wright became the new face of the franchise and one of the most featured players in cardboard over the following decade-plus as the longest tenured Met of all time. Other stars who became integral to those mid-2000s teams like Carlos Beltran, Johan Santana, and Carlos Delgado also populate Mets cards from sets like Topps, Upper Deck, and Leaf during this time period.
The 2015 Mets team captured the fascination of fans by riding a second half surge to the club’s first National League pennant in nine years behind the pitching of young stars Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, affectionately known as the “Amazins’.” Cards featuring rookie seasons and breakout performances of this new “Big Three” starting rotation became instant classics for collectors. Later additions like Yoenis Cespedes also produced memorable cards during their tenure in orange and blue uniforms.
More recently, the 2019 Mets surprised the baseball world by nearly winning the NL East without their injured ace deGrom for much of the season. Potential rookie gems were produced that year as well from players like Pete Alonso, who smashed an MLB rookie record 53 home runs and took the league by storm in his cardboard debut. Similarly, breakout seasons from others on that club like Jeff McNeil added new excitement for today’s Mets collectors and generated interest in their modern card issues from the past few years.
Through more than half a century, the New York Mets franchise has endured many ups and downs but has created a rich history documented in baseball cards. Collectors today can trace the evolution of the club through decades of cardboard, from the original “Amazin’ Mets” of the 1960s to modern standouts like deGrom, Alonso and more. Mets cards remain a vibrant part of the collecting landscape, commemorating past heroes while also capturing current stars who continue adding new chapters to the franchise’s unique story.
