Sheffield Blasts Number 500

It was perfect timing…

With the Mets down by a run in the seventh inning, Gary Sheffield came in to pinch hit for the pitcher with the score 4-3.

Mitch Stetter was pitching in relief for the Brewers, and after an eight pitch at-bat, he served a 3-2 slider to Sheffield who quickly launched it down the leftfield line and over the wall for his historic 500th homerun.

Play was stopped for about 2 minutes as he was congratulated by his teammates on the field and the crowd gave him a standing ovation, and even had him come back out for a curtain call. He tipped his hat to the crowd that for the moment gave him him his due reward.

The Mets then loaded the bases soon after with only one out and Delgado and Beltran due up. Two broken bats later, the inning was over and the score was still tied.

Interesting facts about Sheffield’s historic shot…

1. He hits his 500th homerun against the Brewers, the team he broke in with as a rookie.

2. It was his first hit a s a Met, and oh what a hit it was.

3. It was the first time anyone in a Mets uniform hit his 500th homerun.

4. He becomes the 25th player in MLB history to reach that milestone.

5. He has now homered for eight different teams in his career.