When Todd Hundley hit 41 home runs to set the Mets’ single-season record in 1996, it was the only thing worth paying attention to around the team that year. The Mets went 71-91 under the late Dallas Green, and Hundley ended up all but forgotten two years later when Mike Piazza came to town.
Carlos Beltran tied Hundley’s mark in a more meaningful 2006 season. But even that proved more frustrating than fruitful as the Mets lost in the National League Championship Series in seven games, with Beltran taking a called third strike with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 3-1 loss.