There are numerous tales of David Wright’s generosity with followers, teammates and Mets staffers. The third baseman, who was inducted into the Mets Corridor of Fame and had his No. 5 retired Saturday afternoon at Citi Area, has lengthy been generally known as a caring, real teammate who would drive rookies round New York Metropolis, arrange dinners for his or her family and friends members, and nonetheless makes an effort to satisfy with members of the present crew.
However he was additionally extraordinarily aggressive, and based mostly on his response to the retelling of a spring coaching anecdote by Terry Collins, he nonetheless is.
The story goes like this: Wright and Jose Reyes, the previous Mets shortstop who spent most of his profession taking part in subsequent to Wright, would race each other on the sector on the finish of practices.
“Here’s my two stars, going full-bore on the second day of spring training,” Collins stated.
Wright, apparently, by no means gained. That’s not solely stunning since Reyes was recognized for his velocity and base stealing, main the league in stolen bases in three consecutive seasons. Wright might get out on the bottom paths and make issues occur, however not like Reyes, who stole 78 bases in 2007. Wright’s career-high mark topped out at 34.
Nevertheless, Collins knew that Wright would by no means admit defeat. When requested Saturday to set the document straight about whether or not or not he ever beat Reyes, Wright deflected.
“Did we ever race?” Wright requested a really dapper-looking Reyes throughout his pregame press convention. “There are two guys standing next to you, I could probably beat one of them.”
That “one” was Daniel Murphy, a former Mets second baseman and a teammate of Wright’s on the 2015 World Sequence crew. Murphy was shocked by the reply, asking the gang, “Why am I back here catching strays?”
It was a humorous, but nostalgic second that confirmed how the admitted prankster led within the clubhouse, commanding authority when he wanted and firing up the crew with pleasant competitors.
“Going into a clubhouse is like elementary school humor,” he stated. “Jose and I probably were talking trash to each other one day, and I bit off more than I could chew, tried to race him, and it probably didn’t go well for me.”
Reyes, Floyd and Murphy had been joined by quite a lot of former Mets on the sector Saturday for his dual-ceremony celebration, together with Josh Satin, Joe McEwing and Howard Johnson, considered one of Wright’s first coaches within the minor leagues.
Wright was joined by his household as properly, who spurred his Mets fandom as a child rising up in Norfolk, Va. Again then, the Mets had a Double-A crew in close by Tidewater, the place his father, Rhon, would work safety as an off-duty police officer. Rhon would get Wright, his three older brothers and their mates on the sector to take images.
“Just a crazy, crazy coincidence,” Wright stated. “But I’m very thankful it happened like it did.”
Saturday’s ceremony was a full-circle second in some ways. When he performed his last recreation in 2018, his daughter Olivia threw out the primary pitch. This time, the entire household was throwing, along with his different two youngsters, Madison and Brooks, throwing pitches to his spouse, Molly, his father and his mom, Elisa.
Brooks, 4 years outdated, was even given a miniature model of the Mets’ Corridor of Fame jacket to match his dad, and bought to take the lineup card out to house plate, and Madison kicked off the sport by saying “play ball” to the gang.
There have been no races between Reyes and Wright this time round, solely respect and admiration for individuals who confirmed up for him on a day the Mets cemented his legacy.
“Jose’s getting emotional in his old age, so he’s going to start crying here,” Wright stated. “And he’s going to make me cry.”
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUTS
The pregame ceremony was emceed by longtime Mets radio voice Howie Rose. Wright got here out and stood at third base to salute the followers, earlier than delivering a shifting speech about his baseball journey. Each groups had been of their respective dugouts to observe the festivities, with a number of holding again tears, together with outfielder Brandon Nimmo, Wright’s final remaining energetic teammate on the Mets, and supervisor Carlos Mendoza.
“I was a fan right there,” Mendoza stated. “I had tears in my eyes. It was incredible.”
Wright took the time to hunt out Cincinnati Reds supervisor Terry Francona. The veteran supervisor by no means labored with Wright, however maintains a friendship with Collins. Francona was clearly moved by the gesture.
“Of all the things that were going on today, he took the time to do that, that was very touching,” he stated. “And it’s not surprising. His speech was — I mean, I was in there clapping.”
Initially Printed: July 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM EDT
