Welcome to the third installment of Mets Sunday School: Forgotten Faces of Flushing, where we take a trip down memory lane to revisit the orange-and-blue-clad players who time—and often Mets fans—seem to have forgotten. Every week, we’ll rummage through baseball cards (or crumbling programs that smelled like hot dogs) to shine a light on the Mets who didn’t make headlines but somehow found a way to be part of the team’s unpredictable and unforgettable history at Shea, Citi, the Polo Grounds, and beyond.Think of this as a history class for the diehards, but without the pop quizzes or mandatory attendance. Whether these players were flashes in the pan, benchwarmers who turned into cult heroes, or just plain footnotes, they all have a story worth telling so grab a seat, sharpen your pencils, and let’s get to work!
After diving into the quirky and captivating tale of Mike Bruhert—complete with his Carvel ice cream days and his brief stint as a member of the Hodges family—we now shift our focus to Rich Puig. From sky-high draft-day hopes and fielding blunders to a brush with Hall of Fame "what-ifs," Puig’s story reminds us that even the shortest stints in Mets history can leave fans scratching their heads and wondering, "What might have been?"
Rich Puig’s career in the big leagues was as brief as a lightning strike—four games and a handful of plate appearances—but it’s no less fascinating. Drafted 14th overall in 1971, just one spot ahead of future Hall of Famer Jim Rice, Puig carried the hopes of the Mets on his Tampa-bred shoulders. A product of Hillsborough High School, the same baseball factory that produced Dwight Gooden, Gary Sheffield, and Carl Everett, Puig is one of 11 alumni from the school to reach the majors. And here’s a fun twist: the Mets managed to have both the Hillsborough drafted alum who played the most games in MLB (Gary Sheffield, a staggering 2,576) and the one who played the least (Puig, with a grand total of four). Talk about cornering the market on extremes! Sometimes, the baseball gods just have their own quirky sense of humor.
The 1971 MLB draft was a fascinating snapshot of baseball potential and near-misses, peppered with a few eyebrow-raising surprises. The top ten picks? Not exactly the stuff of Cooperstown legends. But dig deeper, and you'll find future Hall of Famers lurking in later rounds. George Brett and Mike Schmidt—two of the greatest hitters to ever wield a bat—were plucked in the second round by the Royals and Phillies, respectively. Jim Rice, destined for a Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame career, was the 15th overall pick. And then there was Mike Flanagan, who Houston took in the 15th round, only to see him head to the University of Massachusetts instead of the minors. (Spoiler: he eventually became a Cy Young winner.)
But here's where things get weird. The 1971 draft wasn’t just a baseball talent grab—it doubled as a bizarre quarterback combine. Three QBs were drafted, future NFL stars Archie Manning (Royals, 2nd round in January and White Sox, 3rd round in June), Steve Bartkowski (Royals, 33rd round), and Joe Theismann (Twins, 39th round). None of them played an inning of pro baseball, but they all made their mark on the gridiron instead. Talk about hedging your athletic bets!
Oh, and let's not forget Danny Goodwin, the top overall pick, who made history by saying, "No thanks" to the White Sox and opting for college instead. Four years later, he made history again by becoming the first player to be drafted first overall twice. The Mets, meanwhile, passed on all that talent—including Brett, Schmidt, and Rice—and chose Rich Puig, a glove-first prospect with a lot of hope and, as it turns out, a short stay in the big leagues.
When the Mets drafted Rich Puig straight out of Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Florida, they likely envisioned a slick-fielding second baseman who could one day anchor their infield. What they got instead was a bit more... let’s call it raw potential. After the draft, Puig was shipped off to the Appalachian League, where he suited up for the Marion Mets in Virginia. The results? Well, they were more “work in progress” than “can’t-miss prospect.” Puig hit .217 with three homers and 13 RBIs, which might’ve been passable had his glove work been smoother. Instead, he piled up 17 errors, giving new meaning to the phrase “learning curve.”
Puig’s rookie season wasn’t without its quirks, though. He shared the field with some interesting company, including Gil Hodges II and Larry Berra II—yep, the sons of baseball royalty. The Mets’ vision for their middle infield was clear however—Puig, their #1 draft pick, at second and John Busco, their #2 pick, at short. The execution? Let’s just say Busco’s 24 errors in 48 games and Puig's 17 errors didn’t exactly inspire thoughts of Jackie and Pee-Wee—unless we’re talking Mason and Herman, not Robinson and Reese.
Still, the Mets held out hope for Puig’s development. After all, what’s a few errors among friends when you’ve got first-round status and the promise of untapped potential? Unfortunately, the baseball gods, as we’ll soon see, had other plans.
Rich Puig’s major league career was so short, it might’ve been measured in innings rather than years. After four seasons in the Mets’ farm system, batting a decent .251 with 27 home runs and 132 RBIs, Puig was called up to the big club in September 1974. He stepped into the batter's box 11 times, walked once, and committed one error. That’s right—he didn't exactly break any records.
But, hey, at least he was there for the Mets' worst defeat of the season—a 12-0 loss to the Cubs. In those four games, Puig faced off against the likes of Jim Todd (25-23, 4.23 ERA), Burt Hooton (151-136, 3.38 ERA), Dennis Blair (19-25, 3.69 ERA), Dale Murray (53-50, 3.85 ERA), and Wayne Twitchell (48-65, 3.98 ERA)—a real cross-section of '70s pitching. Not exactly a group that would get you excited if you pulled them from a pack of baseball cards, but certainly a group with some respectable careers There was one small consolation, though—Puig did start a game pitched by Mets Hall of Famer Tom Seaver. Unfortunately, Seaver's Hall of Fame stuff didn't rub off on Puig's teammates. In Puig's four games, they were outscored 26-6, making it clear that Puig would never get a 'Welcome to New York' moment in the win column—or an invite to be on Kiner’s Korner anytime soon.
As we turn the page on another forgotten face of Flushing, one thing becomes clear: Rich Puig’s brief stay in the big leagues may have been fleeting, but he’s still a member of a very exclusive club. Sure, he didn’t register a hit or escape the infield with any lasting glory, and his brief tenure left a trail of errors and losses. But let’s not forget: Puig is one of only 20,787 players who’ve ever stepped onto a Major League Baseball field since 1876. That’s a club you can’t just walk into, no matter how short your stay. So, here’s to Puig—brief, flawed, but undeniably part of the Mets' colorful, quirky history. And with that, we’ll leave you with a question: Who’s next in our ongoing journey through the forgotten faces of Flushing? Stay tuned to discover more, and remember, there’s always room in the Mets’ history books for a few more forgotten faces who deserve a second look!
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