In baseball, few debates are as divisive as judging a player’s greatness based solely on World Series rings. It’s an argument nearly as old as the game itself. But as any true fan knows, the essence of baseball stretches far beyond the glint of championship jewelry. Look at Ken Griffey Jr., a Hall of Famer, an icon, a generational talent who never played a single game in the Fall Classic. Yet, his career stands as proof that greatness doesn’t always need a ring for validation. And this time, the Mets cemented the narrative again!

The NYM—a franchise rich in history, passion, and heartbreak. Since their last championship in 1986, many Mets legends have come and gone, leaving their mark on the game without ever hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy. Now, as the team honored one of its beloved stars who never won it all, the celebration felt bigger than nostalgia. One that acknowledges that a ring, while golden, isn’t the only shine for a player’s legacy.

If you’ve followed David Wright’s journey, from top prospect to All-Star to Mets captain, then what happened Saturday afternoon at Citi Field probably didn’t come as a surprise. However, his expressions caught everyone’s eye.

“Now, whether or not I earned this love, this respect, can probably be debated. I never accomplished my goal of bringing a World Series back to Queens. But I promise you, I gave it everything I had and wanted it just as badly as you did.” The whole stadium cheered with applause as Wright continued, “And I think this fanbase recognize that and was willing to genuinely have my back and support me unconditionally through the good and the bad. And for that, I will always be thankful.” We could watch an emotional former Mets captain, David Wright, during his Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday.

The Mets made it big in honoring David Wright, retiring his No. 5 jersey, becoming the 10th player in the team’s history with the same accolade. Plus, Wright was also inducted into the Mets’ Hall of Fame. He is just the second Met to get it both on the same day, after the Mets’ yesteryear legend Tom Seaver.

Wright played a total of 14 seasons with the Mets, and within that, he achieved several franchise records. He is topping the Mets’ leaderboard in terms of hits (1777), singles (1,119), doubles (390), and RBIs (970). He is also the third-best name from the Mets in terms of BA (.296) and HRs (242).

However, even with all these crowns, the World Series is surely missed, and even the man of the moment acknowledged that. In his speech during the ceremony, he was vocal about his one regret of not having a ring with the Mets. And that too, falling from the brink of winning it against the Royals in 2015…

But David Wright isn’t the only one…

The Mets’ long list of greats without a ring might be heading for a change

For a team that won the World Series last in 1986, it’s expected that a few of their icons will be without a ring.

And that made the Mets focus more on how these legends made an impact on the team and fans over the championship count. It showed that NYM doesn’t shy away from acknowledging their icons despite failing to secure the World Series. And in that list, along with Wright, we have Mike Piazza, Keith Hernandez, and Dwight Gooden.

Piazza’s No. 31 was retired in 2016, Hernandez’s No. 17 in 2022, and in 2024, it was Gooden’s No. 16.

While Gooden and Hernandez have the 1986 World Series with the Mets, the others don’t have any, and it reflects a consistent message from the Mets. Championship surely matters, but the impact and contribution to the team shouldn’t go unnoticed and unacknowledged. However, probably the time has come for the Mets to turn the tables.

This year, the Mets roster is equipped to the neck, and surely has the best chance in recent times to get the ring.

Aggressive front office decisions in the last offseason, financial strengths, and names in the dugout like Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Lindor are enough to offer hope. Currently ranked second in the NL East with a 55-44 record, a good and successful postseason is surely on the cards.

Now, let’s wait and watch if 2025 could add a new chapter in the Mets’ history and complete the circle dreamed of by Wright and others.