Before today’s game with the Cincinnati Reds, the New York Mets retired number 5, honoring the fourth captain in Mets history, David Wright. With this ceremony, Wright becomes the only retired number to have played his entire career at a Met.
Wright, who came up on July 21, 2004 and retired on September 29, 2018, played his entire career with the Mets and became the eleventh number - alongside players Jackie Robinson, Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Willie Mays, Keith Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight
Gooden, and Mike Piazza and managers Casey Stengel and Gil Hodges - retired by the Mets.
Former teammates (Daniel Murphy, Jose Reyes, Cliff Floyd, Michael Cuddyer, Josh Satin, and Joe McEwing), coaches (Howard Johnson), managers (Willie Randolph and Terry Collins), staff (Dave Racinello, Jay Horwitz and others), as well as family and friends gathered on the infield for the ceremony. Howie Rose assumed his normal role as the master of ceremonies, and reminded the crowd of just why Wright belongs in the pantheon of great Mets.
For just the second time Wright’s number retirement coincided with his induction into the Mets Hall of Fame. Only Tom Seaver’s number retirement and Hall of Fame induction happened concurrently. Long time Mets employee/clubhouse manager Tony Carullo was also inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame this afternoon, and was honored with a tribute video.
Through the raindrops - or tears of joy and gratitude, as Howie Rose said - Wright was Wright: classy, heartfelt, honest, self-deprecating, and charming. Wright thanked his family, former teammates, coaches, and friends. But one message kept returning: his gratefulness and appreciation for the Mets’ fanbase. He ended his speech with a message to the fans: “I love you so much. Let’s go Mets.”
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