Fansided

11 players you totally forgot played for the Mets

By Ryan Morik

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: Rick Ankiel #16 of the New York Mets bats against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on June 8, 2013 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Andy Marlin/AM Photography/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: Rick Ankiel #16 of the New York Mets bats against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on June 8, 2013 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Andy Marlin/AM Photography/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 04: Marlon Byrd #6 of the New York Mets reacts after striking out for the third out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals during the game at Citi Field on August 4, 2013 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Andy Marlin/AM Photography/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 04: Marlon Byrd #6 of the New York Mets reacts after striking out for the third out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals during the game at Citi Field on August 4, 2013 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Andy Marlin/AM Photography/Getty Images) /

Marlon Byrd

Byrd spent his first 11 seasons on five different clubs: the Phillies, Nationals, Rangers, Cubs, and Red Sox. He finished in fourth place in the 2002 National League Rookie of the Year voting, behind Dontrelle Willis, Scott Posednik, and Brandon Webb.

But then he posted three-straight seasons where his best OPS was .698.

He magically caught fire from 2007-2009, posting an .820 OPS. Wonder how that happened!

It then dwindled down again, as his OPS was .775, .719, and .488 the next three years.

So the Mets took a gamble on the once-promising, once-suspended for PEDs Byrd. And it worked!

Byrd racked up the best OPS of his career (.848). in 2013 and blasted a then-career best 24 home runs. His 88 RBI were the second-highest he ever had in a season.

He then was traded to the Pirates in late August, and hit a home run in the 2013 National League Wild Card Game for them.

Byrd, of course, called it quits as soon as he was suspended for performance-enhancing drugs a second time, resulting in a 162-game ban.

Can’t serve a suspension if you’re not an active player *points at brain gif.*

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