When it comes to the New York Mets, the most polarizing uniform in team history may just back the alternate black jersey that was commonly worn in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.
It seems that those jerseys are either hated or loved, without much gray area in between, as fans and pundits alike argue if they should be brought back into the fold. When it comes to the players, Pete Alonso has stepped out in front campaigning for the jerseys to return, explaining that they don’t just “want” the black jerseys back, but instead “NEED” them back.
According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, Alonso responded to his question about whether he’d like to wear those jerseys, with a long diatribe about why those jerseys should return sooner rather than later.
“The reason why I love the black uniforms so much, [is] when I think of the New York Mets, I think of Pedro [Martinez], I think of Mike Piazza. I think of Edgardo Alfonzo. I think of Cliff Floyd. David Wright wore the blacks. Carlos Beltrán wore the blacks. I think of so many just electric players that wore the black.”
Alonso’s attachment to those jerseys is similar to a lot of fans that are around the same age as the slugger, who grew up watching those great teams led by Piazza and eventually Wright, who were most known for playing in black.
“When I think of that, I imagine and put in my mind 45,000 people blacked out, screaming down the necks of whoever’s in that opposing dugout. It’s a mentality, and it’s an attitude.” Alonso said.
Having a player of Alonso’s caliber speaking of an edge that can came from wearing those black uniforms is sure to make team officials consider bringing them back.
Then again when it comes to inspiring fear into opponents, Alonso must not have been watching the Mets lose 95 games back in 2003 during the black uniform era, or seen them fail to eclipse 80 wins from 2009 through 2012, before the black jerseys were disbanded for the alternate blue.
Still, if the new team leader thinks the Mets should bring back the black uniforms and he gets his guys to rally around an identity wearing them, maybe it would be wise to listen to the 25-year-old.
“Hopefully, you’re wearing black and it’s a funeral for the other team because we’re going to beat them on Friday,” Alonso said. “It sets a tone. It’s an attitude, and it’s a type of swagger. I feel like that gives people something to really look forward to — show up wearing black and just create this absolute mayhem.”
One thing I can say with certainty about those black uniforms is this. A blue “C” with that white and orange outline will look damn good on Alonso’s shoulder, the same way it did on captain John Franco back in the day.
