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Mets Citifield Mets Hall of Fame

With an eye toward shining a brighter light on their storied franchise history, the Mets on Saturday announced plans to rename areas of Citi Field after former team greats, as well as a reformation of the Mets Hall of Fame Committee.

According to a team release, the first-base VIP entrance will be named after Gil Hodges, who led the Mets to their first World Series title in 1969, while the third-base VIP entrance will honor pitching legend Tom Seaver, widely considered the franchise's greatest player. The left-field VIP entrance will be named after Casey Stengel, the team's colorful first manager, and the outfield bridge will be dedicated as Shea Bridge to commemorate William A. Shea, who was instrumental in bringing National League baseball back to New York after the Dodgers and Giants moved to California following the 1957 season.

With the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum set to open adjacent to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Cit Field in 2010, the team has reformed a committee comprised of media members and front-office staff to evaluate potential future inductees. Media members include MLB.com beat reporter Marty Noble and Mets broadcasters Gary Cohen and Howie Rose. Mets vice president of media relations Jay Horwitz, senior marketing director Tina Mannix and former Mets pitcher and current pitching consultant Al Jackson will also serve on the committee. Mets COO Jeff Wilpon will serve as ex-officio.

"The reformation of the Mets Hall of Fame Committee is central to our concerted efforts to better connect our present and future to our past," Wilpon said in a team release. "It reinforces the organization's and our fans' shared desire to recognize our greatest players. With our 2010 opening of the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum at Citi Field, now was the time to bring this group together."

Stengel and original Mets owner Joan Payson were inducted in the inaugural franchise Hall of Fame class in 1981. Since then, 19 additional players, managers, broadcasters and executives have been added for "their impact on the field while in a Mets uniform, how they represented and affected the organization and their place in Mets history."

The most recent person to be inducted was former "Amazin' Mets" outfielder Tommie Agee in 2002.

1-800-BEISBOL November 22, 2009 12:57 AM