Sports Berkeley Hometown Hero Al Leiter To Join Mets’ Hall Of Fame Before he was an MLB star, Al Leiter was a Central Regional star. And now, he’s being inducted into the Mets’ Hall of Fame. Reply
New York Mets’ Al Leiter pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning Saturday, Aug. 14, 2004, in New York. (AP Photo/Chad Rachman)
BERKELEY, NJ — After being inducted into the Central Regional Sports Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Hall of Fame, a local legend is reaching a new height – the Mets announced that Al Leiter will be inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2023.
Leiter, a Berkeley Township native, will be sworn into the Hall of Fame along with Howard Johnson and broadcasters Gary Cohen and Howie Rose on June 3 in a pre-game ceremony prior to the 4:10 p.m. game vs. the Blue Jays at Citi Field, according to a Mets press release. “It was an honor informing each of the four new members that they were going to be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame,” Mets Owner, Chairman and CEO Steve Cohen said. “Al Leiter, who grew up in New Jersey rooting for the Mets, ranks in the top 10 in team history in wins and strikeouts.”
According to the MLB, Leiter won double-digit games seven straight years (1998-2004) with the Mets. He ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in wins, innings, strikeouts and quality starts. He famously hurled a two-hit shutout in the one-game playoff at Cincinnati in 1999. In 2002, he became the first pitcher to defeat all 30 major league teams. Leiter was a two-time All-Star.
He was honored by Major League Baseball with the Roberto Clemente Award and the Branch Rickey Award for his charitable efforts. These efforts expand to his hometown, as it was his six-figure donation that allowed what is now known as Al Leiter Field at Central Regional to be redone. The field was named Field of the Year by the Sports Field Management Association in 2022.