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Spotlight on B-Mets Alumni -- Edgardo Alfonzo
11/29/2009 (Source: Connor Gates / Binghamton Mets)

There have been several Alfonzo’s to come through Binghamton. And, not surprisingly, they are all related. Brother Edgar coached the B-Mets in 2003, and nephew Edgar pitched out of the Binghamton bullpen from 2008 to 2009. But no Alfonzo has made a bigger impact on New York Mets baseball than Edgardo.

Signed by the New York Mets in 1991, the Venezuelan began his professional career at age 18 with the Mets Rookie team in the Gulf Coast League. Splitting time between St. Lucie and Pittsfield between 1992 and 1993, Alfonzo hit a combined .315 with 12 home runs and 130 RBIs. Never really known for his speed, Alfonzo added 33 stolen bases to his credit as well.

“Fonzie” spent all of 1994 with the Binghamton Mets. In 127 games played, Edgardo led the B-Mets with 15 home runs and 75 RBIs. His .293 batting average was fifth on a team that brought Binghamton its second championship in three years. Edgardo’s play that season brought MVP honors.

Alfonzo left the minors behind for a while after the 1994 season as he bypassed Triple-A and started 1995 in a New York Mets uniform. In 101 games that year, Alfonzo hit .278 with four home runs and 40 RBIs. He broke out in 1998 by improving his batting average to .315 with 10 home runs and 78 RBIs. His best offensive season during his eight-year Mets career came in 2000 when he slugged 25 home runs and drove in 94 runs with a .324 batting average, numbers that led to his selection to the National League All-Star game.

“Fonzie” was also a key part of the NY Mets playoff runs in 1999 and 2000. In 24 playoff games he hit .260 with four home runs and 17 RBIs. Alfonzo started game one of the 1999 National League Divisional Series with a home run off of Randy Johnson. Then, in the ninth inning with the score knotted at 4-4, Alfonzo’s grand slam sealed the victory for New York.

Aside from his offensive prowess, Alfonzo was no slouch with a glove, either. In 12 major league seasons Alfonzo boasted a .978 fielding percentage, which included stints at second, third and shortstop. In 1999, Sports Illustrated dubbed the Mets infield of Alfonzo, former B-Mets shortstop Rey Ordonez, third baseman Robin Ventura and first baseman John Olerud as “The Greatest Infield Ever.” The infield combined for only 27 errors that entire season.

A variety of injuries kept Alfonzo from reaching the heights previously recorded during his Mets career. When free agency came after the ’02 season, the Mets let “Fonzie” go as he moved across the country to the San Francisco Giants. Three years with the Giants and parts of two seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays would be the last that Alfonzo spent in the major leagues. A return attempt with the New York Mets in 2006 ended with 42 games with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. He spent most of 2007 in the independent Atlantic League with the Long Island Ducks. Alfonzo started 2008 with the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League before rejoining the Ducks.

Not ready to hang up the cleats in 2009 Alfonzo hopped a plane to Japan where he signed on with the Yomiuri Giants of the Central League. At this time, it is unknown whether or not Alfonzo is signed on to play anywhere for the 2010 season.

In 2008 Alfonzo was inducted into the Binghamton Baseball Shrine at NYSEG Stadium. His nephew, Binghamton Mets relief pitcher Edgar Alfonzo accepted the award on his behalf. Then, on September 28th that year, Alfonzo was honored as one of the Mets greats during the last game at Shea Stadium.

“Fonzie’s” 1994 B-Mets season is still resonating with B-Mets fans and his career with the Mets is will not be forgotten anytime soon. Edgardo Alfonzo, part of the Big League Show at a Small Town Price.

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