David Wright To Have No. 5 Retired By Mets, Be Inducted Into Team HOF
Uncle Steve comes through again, honoring the 2004-2018 third baseman and most recent Captain
Get ready for the 2006-2008 and 2015 New York Mets to assemble for a very special occasion. To say the last week was big for the Mets would be an understatement. Signing Juan Soto to a 15 year, $765 million dollar contract is the biggest in Major League Baseball history. Even as the Mets look to the future with their slugger, just one day after his introductory press conference, team owner Steve Cohen is set to once again honor the team’s history and truly high five one of its greatest players.
Third baseman and kid from Virginia David Wright, who largely played for the Mets from 2004 to 2016, is set to be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame with his #5 retired during a July 19 ceremony at Citi Field before a 4:10 PM home game against the Cincinnati Reds. Wright will become the tenth individual to have his number retired by the Mets and the second, after Tom Seaver, to enter the team’s Hall of Fame on the same day. He follows Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden, whose numbers were retired last season, Willie Mays, Keith Hernandez, Jerry Koosman, Mike Piazza, Gil Hodges, Casey Stengel and the league-wide Jackie Robinson. Being only 5 seasons since his retirement, no one had worn #5 and now no one ever will.
Drafted by the Mets in 2001 using a supplemental pick obtained from the Colorado Rockies after pitcher Mike Hampton signed there, Wright is considered the most accomplished position player in Mets history, with 242 home runs, 970 runs batted in, and a compiled 49.2 Wins Above Replacement over his career. His trajectory was considered on path to the Hall of Fame until back, neck and shoulder injuries, including spinal stenosis ended his career. Wright spent much of 2015-17 rehabbing, playing in only 75 games, missing most of 2016 and all of 2017. He was only activated for the final homestand of 2018 before his retirement, appearing in two games. He is a lifetime .296 hitter, seven-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner and franchise record holder for hits, doubles, walks, RBIs and runs scored, dominating those stats by quite a bit. Only Darryl Strawberry has more home runs. Wright had six seasons of 20+ home runs and had a career-high 33 dingers back in 2008. He also stole 20 or more bases in three different seasons, going 30/30 back the previous season. He’s also at third base and was one of the most popular New York athletes of his generation, spending his entire career in Queens.
Wright had been known as Captain America in the final leg of his career, being named the Mets’ fourth captain just weeks following a strong 2013 World Baseball Classic for Team USA. Yeah, he was getting the Marvel-inspired love before Noah Syndergaard. While the Captain’s number retirement and Hall of Fame ceremony will not be an all day affair, you’ll probably wish it was, to some extent.
Source: Major League Baseball