A thought every NY Mets fan should’ve had during David Wright’s jersey retirement

The only thing missing from David Wright’s jersey retirement ceremony was a win in the game after. Secondary for many on Saturday July 19, the New York Mets fell to the Cincinnati Reds in a game that barely escaped the rain. Wright’s number 5 successfully went high above Citi Field to forever remind us all just how important he was to the team.

Lots of emotion for fans who grew up loving Wright, there’s another thought many likely shared.

The thought: It sure would be nice to celebrate Pete Alonso the same way in the future

What makes Wright especially important in Mets history is how he spent his whole career with the team. Francisco Lindor, whom many believe should be the captain right now, doesn’t have that distinction. It won’t stop him from having his jersey retired one day or even a trip to Cooperstown representing the Mets. Something is special, though, for a guy like Wright and maybe one day Pete Alonso to represent no other team in their career.

Many Mets icons were traded away at the end of their careers or decided to hang around a little longer than the team believed they could produce. It’s not easy to spend your whole life with one team. Twice, they failed to keep Tom Seaver. Once by choice and the other by pure stupidity when they left him available in the offseason free agent compensation draft.

Alonso has already tested the free agent waters once. No nibbles on his hook, a return to the Mets on what will become only a one-year deal given the decrease in pay and increase in production should have him again swimming out to free agent sea.

Narrowing in on setting the franchise’s all-time record for home runs, there’s always a chance he still gets his jersey retired even if he leaves after this year. It’s less likely without a championship to his name. Keith Hernandez is great, but there’s another Mets player wearing 17 right now if Bill Buckner fields a ground ball in 1986.

Until Steve Cohen, the Mets were cheap with jersey retirement. They’ve gone to the other extreme in recent years with Hernandez, Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Jerry Koosman, and Willie Mays all having their numbers retired. However you feel about jersey retirements, it’s always a nice reminder of the past we once lived. Alonso having his day wouldn’t have the same exact feels as Wright, but would feel good nonetheless. 

A five-time All-Star in only six opportunities (no game in 2020), Alonso has the goods to see number 20 retired by the Mets. It would require a lengthier stay. He’ll cross over 1,000 games played this year if all goes right. He’ll be just the 12th Mets player to do it, the most recent being Brandon Nimmo who accomplished the feat this month. It’s no prerequisite to have a jersey number retired as only Wright and Strawberry are in this group who had the honor bestowed on them. It couldn’t hurt.