8 Baseball Players who Played for Yankees and Mets
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the New York Mets and the New York Yankees.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found 6 players who played for both the Mets and the Yankees.
Popular Choices
Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Strawberry, who played from 1983 to 1999, is most recognized for his time as an outfielder with the New York Mets and the New York Yankees.
Strawberry had a powerful career, notching 1000 RBIs, 335 home runs, and a .259 career batting average. An eight-time All-Star (Mets, Dodgers), he was named the National League’s Rookie of the Year in 1983 (Mets). Strawberry’s best season might have been 1987, when he hit 39 home runs with 104 RBIs and a .284 batting average.
Despite battling personal issues off the field, Strawberry was part of three World Series-winning teams, showcasing his ability to perform at the highest level.
*Strawberry has been the most popular pick for this square in a previous grid (Grid 100).
Rare Choices
Robinson Cano
Robinson Cano began his MLB career with the Yankees in 2005, quickly establishing himself as one of the game’s top second basemen. He was selected for multiple All-Star Games and won a World Series championship in 2009. He also earned Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards in New York.
In 2014, Cano signed with the Seattle Mariners, inking one of the most lucrative contracts in baseball history at the time. With the Mariners, he continued to excel, earning additional All-Star selections and reaching career milestones in hits and home runs.
Despite his on-field successes, Cano’s career faced significant setbacks (and controversy) when he was suspended for 80 games during the 2018 season and 162 games in 2020 for violating MLB’s drug policy.
Cano Key Stats
- All-Star (Yankees, Mariners)
- Gold Glove (Yankees)
- Silver Slugger (Yankees)
- World Series Champ (Yankees)
- 200+ Hit Season (Yankees)
- 100+ RBI Season (Yankees, Mariners)
- .300 Batting Average Season (Yankees, Mariners, Mets)
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson was one of my favorite baseball players growing up. In fact, somewhere in a closet, I have a baseball card binder with over 150 Rickey Henderson baseball cards.
Most of us probably remember Henderson as an Oakland A, back in the late 80s playing on the same A’s teams as the Bash Brothers.
But, he played for an incredible 25 years in the majors and played on 9 different teams during that span.
Rickey played 14 years with the A’s, but he also played for the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, LA Dodgers, Anaheim Angels, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays.
So, not only is he an acceptable answer for a player who played for both the Mets and the Yankees, but Rickey Henderson is a very versatile Immaculate Grid answer that you can use quite often.
In fact, he also had over 1400 career stolen bases, over 2200 runs and over 3000 hits (all of which could appear as possible categories).
Gary Sheffield
Gary Sheffield was a beast on the baseball field and is a beast on the Immaculate Grid. He played from 1988 to 2009, suiting up for eight different teams – Marlins, Dodgers, Brewers, Yankees, Braves, Padres, Tigers and Mets.
Sheffield helped the Marlins snag a World Series Championship in ’97. Over his career, he cranked out 509 home runs (one of 28 players who hit over 500) and had a solid .292 batting average.
Sheffield was a nine-time All-Star, but his multiple stops along his career are what makes him really stand out for this particular game.
Carlos Beltran
Carlos Beltran is a 9-time all-star who played an incredible 20 years in major league baseball. Over his 20-year career, he played for 7 different teams – 2 of which were the Royals and the Mets.
Beltran also played for the New York Yankees, St Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants – making him an extremely versatile Immaculate Grid answer.
Beltran Key Stats
- Rookie of the Year (Royals)
- All-Star (Astros, Mets, Cardinals, Yankees)
- Gold Glove (Mets)
- Silver Slugger (Mets)
- 40+ Home Run Season (Mets)
- 100+ RBI Season (Royals, Mets)
- 40+ Stolen Base Season (Royals)
Bartolo Colon
Bartolo Colon, affectionately known as “Big Sexy”, was a fixture on the mound in baseball from 1997 until 2018. He played for a whole bunch of teams (11), which makes him an extremely versatile player for the Immaculate Grid.
Colon’s career stops included the Indians (now Guardians), Dodgers, Mets, Athletics, White Sox, Twins, Braves, Red Sox, Rangers, Montreal Expos and Yankees.
Colon was a 4-time All-Star and even bagged a Cy Young Award in 2005. He had over 240 wins and more than 2,500 strikeouts.
Bobby Abreu
Bobby Abreu, who played from 1996 to 2014, is most recognized for his time as an outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees.
Abreu had a productive career, collecting over 2400 hits, 288 home runs, and a .291 career batting average. He also amassed 400 stolen bases, making him one of only a few players to reach the 200-400 club in home runs and steals.
A two-time All-Star, Abreu won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger Award (all awards with the Phillies), demonstrating his balanced skill set. His best season might have been 2004, when he hit .301 with 30 home runs, 105 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases.
Rich Hill
Rich Hill is an Immaculate Grid beast. The left-handed pitcher has played for 13 different clubs over his incredible 19-year career – one that is still ongoing as I’m writing this (he’s currently pitching with the Padres).
Hill’s MLB journey began when he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2002. After making his major league debut in 2005, he had initial success with the Cubs, particularly in 2007 when he had a standout season. However, injuries, inconsistency, and command issues led to him bouncing around the minors and various MLB teams for several years.
After refining his pitching approach and mechanics, he experienced a career resurgence starting in 2015. At an age when many players see diminished returns, Hill became one of the most effective starters in baseball. This late-career renaissance led to stints with the Red Sox, Athletics, Dodgers, Twins, and Rays.
