Tyler Ward explains why Mets fans will treasure David Wright forever

New York Post

Watch Tyler Ward explains why Mets fans will treasure David Wright forever - New York Post on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00It's Wright Day at Citi Field on Saturday, so we're bringing in Tyler Ward,

00:04longtime Mets fan and Mets content creator, with his thoughts on David Wright's legacy

00:09and, of course, number five's top moments in Queens.

00:13All right, Wardy, Wright Day's on Saturday.

00:16We're talking about a guy who spent all 14 of his MLB seasons with the Mets,

00:20was the face of the franchise.

00:22They're honoring him by retiring his iconic number five jersey.

00:26So how do you remember Wright's time in Flushing?

00:30For me personally, especially as someone who grew up just trying to figure out,

00:35OK, what is baseball, you know, at a young age?

00:37And then you come to find out, OK, you get handed a David Wright shirt jersey from your dad

00:42when you're, I don't know, five, six, if I had to assume.

00:46Had no clue who David Wright was at the first time of it being in my possession,

00:49but didn't take me along and figure out just how dominant David Wright was as a player

00:53and ultimately how much I appreciate him and how much he really factored into birthing my fandom.

00:58I know I sound like just one of thousands of Mets fans out there that can relate.

01:03When you think of David Wright, how did my Mets fandom really get started?

01:06It's by the captain leading the way.

01:08And there's no greater way to really explain how much David has impacted my life

01:12than to just tell you everything that I remember personally from all the moments

01:16that I experienced being a David Wright fan and a Mets fan.

01:20You know, we think of obviously those early moments that he made that I appreciate as I got older

01:24and I could look back on because I was only five when it happened for context.

01:28But that gorgeous one handed catch that he made there feels like it was yesterday.

01:32Can't believe it was already 20 years ago.

01:34Then you see in 2006, the Mets team that should have, could have, would have absolutely

01:39done something great in the dance that they could have got there.

01:42But David Wright was not only helping lead the way that season,

01:44but the way that he led the way was by making himself known that he is here to stay in New York.

01:50And Yankees fans weren't going to love that.

01:52As I think of that key moment, let's say the walk-off against Mariano Rivera there, right?

01:57And the 06 subway series, that one stands out right away.

02:00Then you think of fast forward pretty much a decade later to 2015,

02:04when he makes his return to city field there, how much that impacted everybody, including myself.

02:10I was in tears.

02:11I mean, it was a very emotional moment for David dealing with all the back back issues

02:15that unfortunately derailed the remainder of his career there for him to return in August

02:19the way they did.

02:20And then the home run heroic said he had there and the world series that same year.

02:24Those are just some that come to mind, but endless memories of David Wright being the guy,

02:29being the captain.

02:31It's not just about what he did on the field, pretty much being a 300 hitter there, you know,

02:35north of 800, 900 plus OPS every season when at his best, giving you a multi gold glove there.

02:41In the hot corner at third base, it's what you get in the character off the field.

02:46There is very little people that I think of as an athlete that I've been as selfless,

02:51as humble, and as outgoing as the way David Wright has been throughout his entire career.

02:56Ask anyone that's met the man.

02:58They'll have the exact same story.

03:00How kind, how generous, and truly how one-on-one David makes you feel when you interact with him.

03:06He makes sure that he gives you the time.

03:07And he makes sure that regardless on if you're just a fan, a fellow player, that everyone is always

03:12treated the same.

03:13And that is something that I'm reminded of a lot when I think of guys like Francisco Lindor

03:18and Brandon Nimmo on this current Mets team and the similarity in their humbleness, how they go

03:22about their game, how they go about trying to be a leader on and off the field.

03:26There's no doubting that David Wright is truly what paved the way for so many, not only great fans,

03:30but I would even argue players in today's game, knowing how much he was such a great model to look up to.

03:36And there have been a lot of, I guess, greats that have put on that Mets jersey,

03:41but few can say that they were once a Met, always a Met, and only a Met like David Wright.

03:46So where does he rank, I guess, on your list of all-time Mets greats?

03:52Oh, this is tough because there are a lot of great Mets of all time, right?

03:56But I think in my personal fandom growing up, he's right towards the tip of the top of the list.

04:00If he's not number one, then he's easily like a 1A or 1B.

04:04And this is not to slight or take away from any other Mets greats that we've seen over the years,

04:08whether it's former captain Keith Hernandez, whether it's going to be the great pitchers

04:12from Tom Seaver, obviously, to his little stint when he was here, Nolan Ryan,

04:16even though I know he should have never left.

04:18That's a story for another day.

04:19Or you look at the more recent players that we've seen over the past couple of decades,

04:23Wright is right up there, and it has a lot to do with the fact of what he currently holds

04:27and the Mets record books.

04:28You know, Alonzo's well on his way to be leading the charge for the Mets in home runs

04:32all time this year.

04:33We are just waiting for that to happen.

04:35It's not a matter of if, but when.

04:37But outside the home run accolades, David Wright pretty much dominates every offensive statistic

04:41there in Mets history.

04:42He's currently the leader there that we see in hits just under 1,800.

04:46He's currently leading in doubles just under 400.

04:49And he's also leading in RBIs just under 1,000.

04:52And when speaking of home runs, one thing that he has Alonzo beat on is the most go-ahead home

04:57runs in Mets team history, currently with just under 9, yeah, 86 to be exact.

05:02I think that alone is what puts him right at the top of the list.

05:05And then you add in all the other factors I just mentioned and how he carries himself

05:09on and off the field.

05:11For all those reasons, he's right up there, in my humble opinion.

05:14Appreciate you, Wardy.

05:15Enjoy that vacation.

05:16And bring some of them lobsters up here so we can cook those, man.

05:21Absolutely.

05:21Hopefully after a nice Mets series win.

05:23You got it.

05:27why we can cook those there?

05:30What do you want to do?

05:31You got it?

05:32Okay.

05:33Why do you want to do health care?

05:36What do you want to do with every day?

05:39Shire?

05:44괜찮 jacket jacket jacket jacket.

05:45With aries in add something transfer jacket jacket.

05:47Hands, grab a jacket grey jacket jacket jacket.

05:48bring whatever jacket jacket jacket jacket jacket journalist

05:50jacket jacket jacket jacket jacket jacket jacket

05:52See if what you're looking for.

05:53get autographed jacket jacket jacket jacket jacket jacket jacket jacket Ji água

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended