In 1986 Ray Knight – the oldest position player on the Mets – won the World Series MVP on the strength of two good performances in the final 2 games.
In 2009 Hideki Matsui – the oldest position player on the Yankees – won the World Series MVP on the strength of two good performances in the final 2 games.
Knight had a good year in 1986 – playing in 137 games he batted .298 and knocked in 76 runs (4th on the team). More than that though, Knight was a leader on and off the field. He gave them an edge, an arrogance, that unified the team (who can forget the punch he laid on Eric Davis).
Frank Cashen though, in his infinite wisdom, did not see Knight as a leader, but rather as an aging player. Following the 86 Series, Cashen did not resign Knight, who declared free agency and signed with the Orioles.
The Mets have not won a World Series since.
Hideki Matsui had a good year in 2009, finishing 3rd on the team in RBIs (90). He is an acknowledged clubhouse leader – Joe Torre mentions Matsui’s rallying “statement” before the team would take the field in important games. (I’m not going to repeat what he actually says).
Now Matsui is a free agent and it’s unclear whether the Yankees will bring him back next year.
Is Matsui the new Knight?
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