Despite a shorter history than most, the Mets have had their fair share of prominent sluggers.
In 1980, Major League Baseball realized it had an awards problem. Historically, the best pitcher in each league was rewarded with the Cy Young Award, while the top position player would take home MVP honors. However, the MVP didn't account for the nuance between positions. Some, like first base, have always been more offensive-forward, while defense is the primary focus at a position like shortstop.