Six months earlier, there was uncertainty if Pete Alonso would make the Mets’ Opening Day roster. Now he was making history.

It was the penultimate game of the regular season, one in which the Mets would not be playing beyond the scheduled 162. An otherwise meaningless game for the team, but an exceptionally meaningful night to Alonso and the crowd at Citi Field.

In the third inning of what would become a 3-0 win over the division champion Atlanta Braves, Alonso sent Mike Foltynewicz‘s pitch into the center-field seats. It was his 53rd home run of the year, breaking the new single-season rookie home run record previously held by Aaron Judge since 2017.

Alonso admired the towering fly ball as he went down the first-base line, raised his arms in triumph, waved his arms after he crossed home plate, hugged his teammates as he approached the dugout, acknowledged the standing ovation from the fans, and wiped tears away as he stood at first base during the next inning.

Among the 32,210 cheering were his parents, his fiancée Haley, and his high school coach. Each had experienced Alonso’s 2019 journey: from Spring Training prospect, Opening Day starting first baseman, to All-Star first baseman, to home run king.

It was the latest in what was a first season beyond anyone’s imagination: the Home Run Derby title, the franchise single-season home run record, and the franchise single-season extra-base record. Even with Jacob deGrom pitching his way to a second straight Cy Young Award, Alonso’s performance was the preeminent individual accomplishment in New York’s 84-win campaign.

There were more rewards to come for Pete. He maintained his lead in the major-league home run race, becoming the first rookie in the modern era (since 1900) to be the outright home run champion. He finished 2019 with a slash line of .260/.358/.583, a 147 OPS+, a 144 WRC+, and a 5.6 offensive bWAR.

To nobody’s surprise, Alonso was voted the National League Rookie of the Year in a landslide. And as we’ve found out, it is the foundation of what appears to be a historic Mets career.