He tipped his cap when they chanted his name before the game. He tipped it when they cheered his announcement in the starting lineup. And again after the tribute video.
Pete Alonso by Roberto Carlo
Before his first at-bat, Pete Alonso raised his helmet in appreciation to the 35,800 at Citi Field, many of whom were on their feet, wearing his jersey, his shirsey or holding a homemade sign made for a night they had both been looking forward to and wished would have never happened.
“Going to the home plate, it was awesome,” he said. “And then I was like, ‘Alright, let’s go, let’s rock.’ So it’s like as awesome as it is, people are here to see a baseball game. But I appreciate it all. I appreciate the sentiment from the fans.”
“He’s earned it,” starting pitcher Jonah Tong said. “He’s an incredible human being … to see what he’s done for the city, for the Mets, everything involved with it. If it were up to me, they probably should’ve given him a little bit longer, but we do have a game to play.”
Alonso flew out to right.
Pete Alonso by Roberto Carlo
The crowd gave the franchise home run leader a warm ovation before every at-bat and even booed a bit when it looked like Tong was pitching around him. Many, oddly, headed for the exits when Alonso struck out in the eighth inning of a 1-1 game. The next batter, Gunnar Henderson, homered, and the Orioles won 2-1. Alonso went 0-for-3 with a walk.
“I think he got every ounce of love that he deserved, he got it tonight,” Francisco Lindor said. “He’ll probably get it tomorrow too and the next day too.
“It was cool to see how they showed out for him, how they gave him love. Next time they got to give the pitcher a little more love too because at the end of the day we’re trying to win the game. He’s one of the most beloved players that come through here. Even ourselves, we love him. So it was a cool day to watch how they acknowledge him.
“As a person, I do miss him, for sure.”
“I feel very fortunate,” Alonso said before the game. “I appreciate all the support. And people keeping up. It just shows, I care so much about like leaving it all on the field, like really taking every opportunity and pouring all the emotion I have and emptying the tank every night. I’m glad people appreciate that. For them to recognize that and appreciate that continuously it’s really special.”
Alonso was asked after the game for a favorite Citi Field memory and he cited the three-run homer he hit in the first inning of Game 5 of the 2024 NLCS against the Dodgers. The Mets went on to a 12-6 win to force a Game 6 in Los Angeles.
He was also asked what he’d want the fans to remember about him.
“I gave it all.”
