#4) JESSE GONDER

Jesse Gonder was traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the New York Mets in exchange for Charlie Neal and Sammy Taylor on July 1, 1963. He served as the starting catcher, and clean-up hitter during the first game ever played at Shea Stadium in 1964. Jesse continued to enter into the Shea record books when he hit the first ever triple by a Mets player there on May 8th in a game facing the St. Louis Cardinals. Gonder was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Gary Kolb on July 25, 1965.

After he retired from the game, Jesse became a bus driver for Golden Gate Transit in the San Francisco Bay area, remaining in that position for over 20 years before retiring in the mid-1990s.

Jessie Gonder passed away in Oakland, California on November 14, 2004. "After retirement it was all bowling and poker," his daughter Tanya was quoted. "He was a very good father, a devoted family man. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye."

I created Jesse Gonder's card in the set from an autographed index card purchased from Bob Dowen on November 27, 2009.

#436) MICKEY WESTON

Mickey Weston was selected by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 1982 amateur draft. He would play in the Mets farm system until they granted him free agency in 1988. The Baltimore Orioles signed Mickey and he finally made his major league debut with them on June 18, 1989. A full seven years after being originally drafted. Following Baltimore his career had stops in Toronto and Philadelphia. It was after a short time with the Phillies that Weston became a free agent and resigned with the Mets on January 4, 1993.

Weston began the 1993 season with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. On April 13th his contract was purchased from Norfolk. Mickey took the roster spot of outfielder, Wayne Housie who then joined the Tides. He would make his New York Mets debut at Shea Stadium on April 22, 1993. Weston only made four appearances before being returned to the Norfolk Tides to finish the season. He was granted free agency on October 15, 1993. "Wish I could say I had a great memory from being at Shea," Mickey said in 2012. "I wasn't there very long and had only a couple of opportunities to pitch there. I guess the best memory was getting Tony Gwynn (Hall of Famer) to groundout to short."

A devout Christian throughout his baseball career, Mickey now currently serves with Unlimited Potential, Incorporated. UPI is a ministry that conducts evangelistic baseball clinics both in the United States and cities throughout the world.

Mickey Weston signed his card in the set from an autograph request sent to UPI on November 27, 2009.

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10)

#413) PAUL GIBSON

Paul Gibson was traded with Randy Marshall by the Detroit Tigers to the New York Mets on January 22, 1992 in exchange for Mark Carreon and Tony Castillo. "He doesn't light up your eyes with his fastball," said Manager Jeff Torborg, who said that as a manager of the White Sox he had been impressed with Gibson. "But he's got an air about him. He gives you the impression that the game is in control when he is on the mound."

In his first season with the Mets the left-handed reliever struggled through shoulder stiffness that placed him on the disabled list from July 28th to August 29th. He was resigned to a minor league contract and invited to major league camp during spring training of 1993. Paul made it back to New York but was only used in eight appearances before being released on June 11, 1993.

Gibson was raised in Center Moriches, Long Island and grew up being a Mets fan. He currently runs a baseball school named, "Paul Gibson's All-Pro Sports Academy" in Bellport, New York.

Paul Gibson signed his card in the set from an autograph request sent to his home on November 24, 2009.

#355) JOHN CANDELARIA

John Candelaria was traded by the California Angels to the New York Mets in exchange for Shane Young and Jeff Richardson on September 15, 1987. "The Candy Man" was added to strengthen a starting pitching staff that was suffering the loss of two members of the rotation. "John has playoff and World Series experience," said Joe McIlvaine, vice president for baseball operations for the Mets, "and he is just the person that we were looking for in our situation." Candy is a Brooklyn native and made three starts with a 2-0 record to finish the 1987 season. Unfortunately the Mets would finish three games back of the St. Louis Cardinals for second place in the National League Eastern Division. John would leave the Mets after that brief stint. He signed as a free agent with the cross-town rival New York Yankees on January 15, 1988.

John Candelaria signed his card in the set during a private signing held by Badgley Productions on December 6, 2008.

#477) KEVIN LOMON

Kevin Lomon was selected from the Atlanta Braves by the New York Mets in 1994 Rule V Draft. The right-handed relief pitcher made his major league debut in a Mets uniform on April 27, 1994 at Coors Field facing the Colorado Rockies. "I wasn't really nervous, but my adrenaline was flowing," said Lomon, "There I was for the first time in my life, doing what I always wanted to do. It was pretty much as big as I could have imagined."

He would make a total of six appearances posting a 0-1 record with a 6.75 ERA in 9.1 innings. It was determined that he was going to be removed from the active 25 man roster. According to the draft rules he was required to be offered back to Atlanta. Kevin was returned to the Braves on May 30, 1995.

Kevin Lomon signed his card in the set from an autograph request sent to his home on February 20, 2009.

#13) JOHN STEPHENSON

John Stephenson was signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent on May 30, 1963. He made his major league debut in a Mets uniform facing the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium on April 14, 1964. Primarily a catcher, John would also be used at third base and the outfield in his three seasons in New York. Stephenson was sent to the Chicago Cubs on June 17, 1967 to complete an earlier trade. He would return to the Mets to serve as their bullpen catcher in 1992.

John was born in South Portsmouth, Kentucky, but is featured on a 16 foot mural wearing his Mets uniform in Portsmouth, Ohio. In 1993, artist Robert Dafford began painting murals of Portsmouth's history on the city's floodwalls. Most of the mural project was finished around 2003, and the baseball mural honoring local baseball heroes was completed in 2006. Obviously he was confused about Johnny's hometown.

John Stephenson's entry in the set was created on November 24, 2009 from an autographed index card given to me by my friend Jessie.

#783) DANIEL MURPHY

Daniel Murphy was selected by the New York Mets in the 13th round of the 2006 free agent draft. He opened the 2008 season in Double-A Binghamton, and continued to prove that he is an exceptional hitter. On August 2nd, only a day after being promoted to Triple-A New Orleans, Daniel was promoted to New York. The Mets had placed left-handed reserve outfielder, Marlon Anderson on the disabled list and Murphy was asked to take his roster spot. A natural third baseman that now was learning the outfield at the major league level.

Murphy made his major league debut that first day and recorded a base hit in his first big league at-bat off of ace pitcher, Roy Oswalt in Houston. His father Tom said it well, "It's been overwhelming. We had no idea he would be this good this quick. We knew last year he probably had a chance, but people had to get hurt for him to get an opportunity."

"Murph" did take advantage of his opportunity. Playing the outfield with some questionable defense, but turning heads with his success at the plate. Daniel closed his first season batting .313 in 136 at-bats (exactly one at-bat too many to keep his rookie status in 2009).

"I always had to work," Murphy said. "I'm still not the fastest or the strongest. So my feeling is, If I'm going to be able to stay here in the big leagues and help this team win, I'm going to have to work every day."

Daniel Murphy signed his card in the set for me at Wrigley Field before a Mets-Cubs game on August 29, 2009. (Notice that Murph adds "Go Mets" behind his signature on the card.)