REAL CUFF GUY: Francisco Rodriguez is led in handcuffs into the Queens courthouse yesterday for his arraignment on an assault charge following Wednesday night’s blowup at Citi Field. (Tomas E. Gaston)
Wednesday night’s Francisco Rodriguez fracas was just the latest in a long line of embarrassing headlines the Mets have grabbed over the years. A look back:
MAN WITH A VAN
1975: Cleon Jones is found in a van with a woman not his wife and is forced to apologize by owner M. Donald Grant. Jones ends up being released.
DOCTOR DRUGGIE
1987: In the first season after the Mets’ World Series championship, Dwight Gooden tests positive for cocaine and enters rehab. “Stand Up and Boo,” says The Post back page before his first start, June 5.
HITTING THE CUTOFF MAN
1989: On team picture day in spring training, Darryl Strawberry tries to punch Keith Hernandez.
HERE’S THE RUB
1989: David Cone is alleged to have masturbated in the Shea bullpen in front of two women. He
denied it.
UGLY ALLEGATIONS
1991: Dwight Gooden, Daryl Boston and Vince Coleman are accused of rape. No criminal charges are filed.
BRONX TALE
1993: Bobby Bonilla gets into a clubhouse confrontation with reporter Bob Klapisch, telling him “I will show you The Bronx.”
VILE VINCE
1993: Vince Coleman tosses a firecracker at onlookers in a Dodger Stadium parking lot, injuring three children, including a 2-year-old. He is charged with endangerment.
BLEACH BUM
1993: Bret Saberhagen squirts bleach onto the Mets media.
STUDLY STEVE
1998: After being accused of sexual harassment, then-general manager Steve Phillips takes an eight-day leave of absence. The claim is settled and Phillips returns. He does admit to having sex with the woman.
PAIR OF JOKERS
1999: During Game 6 of the Mets’ NLCS loss to the Braves, Rickey Henderson and Bobby Bonilla reportedly are in the clubhouse playing cards.
HIGH AND OUTSIDE
2002: A newspaper report shows a picture of Mets pitcher Grant Roberts smoking from a bong.
STRAIGHT SHOOTER
2002: Mike Piazza dispels rumors by announcing he is not gay.
SHEAR NONSENSE
2003: Shortstop Rey Sanchez is found to have gotten a clubhouse haircut during a Mets game.
PIZZA PERPS
2004: Karim Garcia and Shane Spencer are involved in an altercation with a pizza delivery man in spring training and receive $500 fines.
TOPLESS TONY
2009: Assistant GM Tony Bernazard removes his shirt and challenges the Mets’ underachieving Double-A team to a fight. He eventually is fired.