During an early afternoon workout at Citi Field on Thursday, the New York Mets gave all the players and coaches their National League Championship rings in a private ceremony that included Fred and Jeff Wilpon and former Met Michael Cuddyer.
“When you get them, they will serve as a reminder of two things,” Sandy Alderson said while addressing the team. “First, they’ll serve as a reminder of what was accomplished last year. First World Series for a Mets team in 15 years. First 90-win season since 2006. So as you get the ring and reflect on what took place last year, think how that can be motivation for this season as well. The same kinds of things that got us to the break are gonna get us back there.”
Third baseman David Wright told reporters it’s officially time to move on and that it’s the first place ring everyone wants not these second place rings.
“All of us will wear that proudly,” Wright said. “But at the same time, it’s time to move on. After we get the rings, it’s officially last year. We need to start worrying about this year.”
“Obviously, we could spend all day reflecting on the success that we had last year and the run and how much fun we had on the baseball field. But I think the flip side of that is it gives you a little motivation. That second-place ring is not what anybody in here wants. It’s that first-place ring. So I think it reminds you that you’re still working for that.”
The rings are crafted in 10-karat white gold and features 110 round diamonds. The top features 42 round sapphires fashioned to create the NY logo. The logo is set atop an infield base path surrounded by a field of diamonds. The words NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS surround the top and bottom of the ring.
One side of the ring features the player’s name above a silhouette of the New York skyline, and the other side features the National League Championship Series (NLCS) logo and the Major League Baseball logo surrounded by the words NEW YORK and the championship year 2015.
The inside of the ring features the Mets National League pennant championship years (1969, 1973, 1986, 2000, 2015) set next to a silhouette of the Warren C. Giles National League Trophy with NEW YORK etched above the trophy.
