Hi there! Long-suffering New York Mets fan here, who has written many timesabout the misfortunes of the MLB franchise everyone loves to laugh at.
I'm here to guide you through a very strange situation this week that some might find weird: Mets fans at Citi Field have been rooting HARD for an opposing player to hit a home run AGAINST them (full disclosure: I was there on Monday and it was quite the scene). That's right, Pete Alonso -- the Polar Bear who has the franchise record for most home runs in a Mets uniform -- returned with the Baltimore Orioles for a series as they try to make a run to an AL Wild Card spot.
And with one swing of the bat, fans went nuts -- Alonso hit a game-tying home run in an eventual 7-5 win in extra innings. But why
would Mets fans do it, especially when current players like Sean Manaea thinks it's weird (see below)? Let's discuss some reasons:
Pete Alonso is one of the most beloved Mets in franchise history
This is the obvious one. The homegrown Met was a player who became an instant star: Rookie of the Year in 2019 with 53 dingers. A league-leading 131 RBI in 2022. A couple of Home Run Derby wins. And some clutch moments like his ninth-inning homer against the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2024 playoffs. He adopted the "LFGM" thing, he was passionate and hard-working. He's up there with names like David Wright, Mike Piazza, Keith Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden as all-time favorites among fans.
So of course they want to see Alonso succeed even if it's in a different uniform.
Pete Alonso is the only player in MLB history to:
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 16, 2026
hit a milestone HR (any multiple of 100)
tie the game in the 9th or later
go deep against his former team
...all on one swing of the bat. pic.twitter.com/i46e5KHHaL
Mets fans are VERY unhappy with management and this is a way to express it
“FIRE STEARNS” chants rain down at Citi Field during Pete Alonso’s return game pic.twitter.com/MYHB3hdB4u
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 14, 2026
On Monday, I heard fans chanting for GM David Stearns to be fired as a lost 2026 season starts to come to a close. Stearns, of course, let Alonso walk in free agency and he signed a five-year, $155 million contract the past offseason. We have the benefit of hindsight when it comes to the Mets letting him go -- Alonso has 36 home runs and 101 RBI this year, some stats New York needed BADLY with their woeful first base production.
But it was a long-term play: Will Alonso's stats decline as he hits age 32 next season? If so, it may have been the right move. Short term? It's rough.
Maybe it's motivational for players to hear what a legend they could become in New York
That was something manager Andy Green spoke about on Monday night. Via The Athletic:
“I think it’s a message to our players that you sell out to win in the city and do impressive things, they’ll love you forever. That’s a powerful message.”
That's perhaps helpful to some of the young talent with the Mets.
Mets fans need something to cheer for
Like I said: Rough year. Alonso getting to No. 300 was something to get on their feet for.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 4 big reasons Mets fans rooted for Pete Alonso to hit a HR against them
