Former Mets Greats Set to Take the Field in Alumni Classic
The Mets will be hosting their Alumni Classic game today at Citi Field, with first pitch scheduled for 2:40 p.m. ET. However, fans attending are encouraged to be in their seats by 2:00 p.m. for pregame festivities. Coverage will begin locally on SNY at approximately 1:30 p.m. The exhibition features Team Shea Stadium pitted against Team Citi Field in a three-inning game. Former Mets skippers Willie Randolph and Bobby Valentine will manage on one side, with Terry Collins and Jerry Manuel leading the other.
In the infield for Team Shea will be Edgardo Alfonzo, Todd Zeile, José Reyes, Rey Ordóñez, and Carlos Delgado. Team Citi Field will trot out Asdrúbal Cabrera, Josh Satin, Rubén Tejada, Ike Davis, and Kelly Johnson.
Out of this group, Alfonzo, now 51, was notably selected to the Mets’ Latin American Hall of Fame on Saturday. He spent eight years in the Mets organization, slashing .292/.367/.445 while collecting 212 doubles and 120 homers.
Reyes, 42, has a personal reason to suit up.
“My youngest daughter has never seen me play,” Reyes told the Mets’ Jay Horwitz. “I want to do well in front of her and the rest of my family. I think I will have 10 close relatives there on Saturday.”
In the outfield for Team Shea are Endy Chávez, Carlos Beltrán, Benny Agbayani, and Jay Payton. For Team Citi, fans will get to see Juan Lagares, Mike Baxter, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and Curtis Granderson. Notably, Team Citi’s outfield includes three members of the 2015 pennant-winning club in Lagares, Nieuwenhuis, and Granderson.
Catchers for Team Shea include Mike Piazza and Paul Lo Duca, while Team Citi will feature Kevin Plawecki and Josh Thole.
Piazza has reportedly been taking batting practice to shake off some rust.
“I don’t expect to hit homers,” Piazza told Horwitz. “I just want to make contact and drive some balls to the outfield.”
On the pitching side, Team Shea boasts names such as John Franco, Mike Hampton, Al Leiter, John Maine, Rick Reed, Turk Wendell, and, in a late addition, Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez. Team Citi counters with Bartolo Colón, R.A. Dickey, Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey, Jon Niese, Mike Pelfrey, and Johan Santana.
“I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see my Mets family again,” Martínez said to Horwitz. “It will be great to see the fans again.”
Dickey, speaking to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, expressed his excitement to return.
“I’m ecstatic to get to do something like this,” Dickey said. “I can’t wait to get back and just reconnect with guys and see guys I haven’t seen in a while. Players, yes. But even clubhouse guys, the film guy, the security people underneath the stadium. … Getting to go back and see those guys, give them a hug, just talk to them for a minute, it’s going to be awesome.”
Asked whether he’ll throw his trademark knuckleball, Dickey laughed and said he hopes to “throw a few knuckleballs up there for people to see, if I can still get it to the plate.”
The Alumni Classic could also potentially showcase some special connections off the field. Darryl Strawberry and Mookie Wilson will appear as special guests and ambassadors, while Al Leiter could share the day with his son Jack, who might be in the Rangers’ dugout or bullpen for the regular game. Together, they help make the event a celebration of Mets history and a fun reunion for fans and players alike.
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