#282) GEORGE FOSTER

George Foster was traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the New York Mets for Greg Harris, Jim Kern and Alex Trevino on February 10, 1982. He became the highest paid player in baseball with the contract he signed as a result of that trade. Unfortunately George could not duplicate the success that he had with the "Big Red Machine". After struggling through four seasons in New York the World Series bound Mets made plans to replace him on the roster with a young player named Lee Mazzilli. The club released Foster on August 7, 1986.

George did leave his mark on the 1986 Championship team. He produced a rap song titled, "Get Metsmerized" before the season began. He would later establish an apparel company under the name Metsmerized Products.

George Foster signed his set card when he appeared at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio for an autograph event. It was obtained for me by my friend Dr. Jim on August 15, 2009.

#15) HAWK TAYLOR

Robert "Hawk" Taylor joined the New York Mets when his contract was purchased from the Milwaukee Braves on December 2, 1963. Hawk appeared as a pinch hitter in more than half of his major league appearances. (He lead the American League during the 1969 season with 49 pinch hit at-bats as a member of the Kansas City Royals.) Taylor had four hits (including two home runs) in the Mets 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on June 20, 1964. He was traded by New York to the California Angels for Don Wallace on July 24, 1967.

Hawk Taylor signed his card in the set from a mailed request to his home on October 23, 2008.

#534) MEL ROJAS

Mel Rojas was traded by the Chicago Cubs with Turk Wendell and Brian McRae to the New York Mets in exchange for Lance Johnson, Mark Clark, and Manny Alexander on August 8, 1997. He was never a very popular Mets reliever and routinely was booed loudly at Shea Stadium. This treatment was the result of his ineffectiveness on the mound. On September 8, 1998 the Mets lost to the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 16-4. Mel allowed three home runs in his two innings of work. That game concluded a stretch where he had given up 16 runs in just 10-1/3 innings. Rojas was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on November 11, 1998 in exchange for Bobby Bonilla.

His finest moment came before joining New York and at the hands of his future teammates. On May 11, 1994, Rojas struck out three batters on nine pitches in the ninth inning of a 4-3 Cubs win over the Mets. Mel became the nineteenth National League pitcher to accomplish this rare nine strike/three-strikeout half-inning feat.

Mel Rojas signed his card in the set for my friend, John Guzman during his trip to the Dominican Republic. I added it to the collection on October 8, 2009.

#756) CARLOS GOMEZ

Carlos Gomez was originally signed by the New York Mets as an international free agent on July 27, 2002. He was born in Santiago of the Dominican Republic. His lightning fast speed was documented before he ever reached New York. Word was spread that he would regularly beat teammate Jose Reyes in foot races. Carlos made his major league debut on May 13, 2007 at Shea Stadium. The Mets were forced to part with Gomez as part of the deal that brought Johan Santana to New York from the Minnesota Twins on February 2, 2008.

"Go Go" Gomez scored the winning run for the Twins in yesterday's AL Central tie-breaker game. (October 6, 2009)

The Hanson family (my Minnesota relatives) got Carlos Gomez to sign the index card that I used to create this card last January during TwinsFest 2009.

#278) RON GARDENHIRE

Ron Gardenhire was selected by the New York Mets in the sixth round of the free agent draft on June 5, 1979. He spent five seasons with the Mets primarily as a bench player. "Gardy" was known for his good baseball sense, but suffered through leg problems. Gardenhire told the NY Daily News, "they ever dig up Shea Stadium they'll find my hamstrings in the rubble." A victim of the limited 24 man roster in 1986 he was left off the World Championship team. Ron was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Donnie Iasparro on November 12, 1986.

Ron Gardenhire replaced the very successful Tom Kelly as manager of the Minnesota Twins in 2002. His work in the Twin Cities is highly respected throughout the game. Ron lead the Twins to their sixth division title yesterday.

I purchased the signed index card that I used to make this card from Jack Smalling in January 2009.

#338) RICK ANDERSON

Rick Anderson was drafted by the New York Mets in the 24th round of the 1978 amateur draft. He made his major league debut on June 9, 1986 at Shea Stadium in a game facing the Philadelphia Phillies. Used during the season as both a starter and reliever he appeared in 15 games. The Mets traded Rick along with Ed Hearn and Mauro Gozzo to the Kansas City Royals for David Cone and Chris Jelic on March 27, 1987.

Rick Anderson signed this card from a mail request sent to the Minnesota Twins (were he is currently the pitching coach) on June 5, 2009.

#91) SANDY ALOMAR, SR.

Sandy Alomar was traded by the Houston Astros to the New York Mets in exchange for Derrell Griffith on March 24, 1967. Although he played many years in his major league career, only 15 of those games would be with the Mets. Amazingly during his 22 at-bats with New York he failed to record even a single hit. So it was no surprise that the Mets traded him, along with Ken Boyer to the Chicago White Sox for J.C. Martin and Billy Southworth on July 22, 1967.

Sandy returned to the Mets as a coach in 2005. He would hold the positions of Bench, First Base and Third Base coach before being released yesterday, October 5, 2009. A true gentleman that has a tremendous knowledge of the game of baseball.

Sandy Alomar signed this card for me before the second game of the season when the Mets faced the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 8, 2009.