David Wright will play his first game with the Mets in over two years this Saturday at Citi Field.
Wright is a Mets legend, as I explained here in a post last week.However, to most Mets fans, David is more than a bunch of stats. He was our rock. In good times he made us smile and feel a sense of pride only experienced from a great, passionate, homegrown player. And in bad times, he always stood out front, answering difficult questions, and convincing us to stay loyal.
In my 15 years writing MetsBlog, I have done one-on-one interviews with David by phone or in person more than 20 times. The following Q&A, which we did in January of 2016 in advance of him writing the foreword to my book, The Mets Fans Bucket List, Wright speaks about his family and memories of Shea Stadium.
More than anything, though, it's his comments about having a similar respect and appreciation for Mets fans that stick out most...
Matthew Cerrone...
It's been more than 14 years, nearly 6,000 at bats, close to 1,800 hits, and more than 1,500 games ago that you made your debut for the Mets at Shea Stadium in July, 2004. What do you remember from that morning when you got the call that you'd finally be promoted and joining the big-league team?
David Wright...
Well, it's funny because that morning I woke up in Virginia -- in my home town -- because I was playing for the Norfolk Tides, and I don't even think I slept the night before because I was told by our manager, John Stearns, that I was going to the big leagues the next night.
So, the friends I grew up with and I celebrated a little and then I celebrated with my parents and family that lived there and by the time I got packed up and in bed it couldn't have been before 2:00, 3:00 a.m. and I had to catch a flight first thing the next morning. I woke up in Virginia with an incredible amount of adrenaline, getting on an hour-long flight and going straight to the field, where I spent the first couple of hours sitting in my locker just staring at my jersey.
Matthew Cerrone...
I know you grew up rooting mostly for the Mets because you would see guys coming up and playing with the Tides in Virginia. So, had you ever attended a game at Shea Stadium prior to setting foot on it as a player?
David Wright...
The only game I had been to at Shea was after I was drafted and signed. I was 18 years old. It was my first time in New York. The Mets were kind enough to fly out my family -- my three brothers, my mom and my dad.
At the time, they let their draft picks take a round of batting practice before the game. I took batting practice and then went in to the dugout, sat and watched everybody else. Then I hear Bobby Valentine yelling at me, saying, "Hey, what are you doing?"
And I'm like, "Uh oh, what?" I was scared to death. He said, "You think you're going to hit without taking ground balls? Get your glove and get out to third base."
So, I went out and took ground balls. I coudn't believe I was playing catch right next to Mike Piazza. I was so nervous that a throw would get away from me and hit Mike. I've never been that nervous to play a game of catch in my life. I was 18 years old, I had just signed my contract to start my career in the minor leagues and there I am playing catch next to Mike Piazza after my brothers had annoyed him on the field to get his autograph. It was surreal.
Matthew Cerrone...
I remember talking to you by phone when you were a rookie. It was probably a month after you were called up -- it was actually one of the first ever interviews, for what it's worth -- and you were still in awe of where you were in your career and that you were able to realize your goal and all of the hard work needed to get to the major leagues. Now, after all of these years, do you view it the same way? Do you still see it as unique and something most fans can only dream of and never experience?
David Wright...
Yes, 100 percent. My father was a police officer; my mom worked in the school system; I have a brother that's an engineer, another brother that is a business major, and my youngest brother is about to graduate college. And on a consistent basis they tell me how lucky I am to play baseball for a living. So, I think it always really hits home.
I really don't know what my life would be like without baseball. Sure, there are some days when it's a rough day at the office. But, you look back on it and I think, 'I get to play baseball for a living.' And I remember being a kid going out to games and yelling and screaming for autographs and telling my dad how cool it was that these guys got to play baseball every day, and so I try to remember that as often as possible.
I know every day there's a kid out there in the stands that's watching me for the first time and so I'm going to do whatever I can to play the game the way I think it's meant to be played, which is to have fun, enjoy it and play hard because this kid could look at me and say to himself, 'I'd like to grow up to be the next Mets third baseman,' and I don't want to let him down when he comes to the games and watches me for the first time.
I literally grew up with my dad telling me -- not in a negative way -- that chances are I was never going to play baseball for a living. I've had elementary school teachers that have come up to me or my parents and given me papers and stories from when I was kid saying, 'I'm going to play major league baseball.' And the teachers were like, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm sure you will.'
My parents were the same way, saying, 'You need to get your education.' To this day my dad is harping on me because -- when I'm done with baseball -- he wants me to go back to school and get a college degree. There's not one time where I visit my parents does that not get brought up. He's always trying to convince me that it is the way to go. That type of upbringing certainly gives you an outlook and a foundation where I hope I never become the salty, bitter kind of older guy. I want to always view the game like when I played Little League on Saturday mornings.
Baseball has given me so much more than I could have ever dreamed. Getting the chance to call Citi Field and Shea Stadium my office is about as cool as it can get...
Matthew Cerrone...
In case you forgot, which I doubt you have, you popped out to the catcher against John Patterson and the Expos in your first big league at bat. Jae Weong Seo started for you guys. Jose Reyes was at second base because Kaz Matsui was at shortstop. Of course, your boy, Cliff Floyd, was in left field. Ultimately, you went 0-for-4, but you did hit .294 the next two weeks. Aside from those top line moments, what do you remember about your first big-league at bat?
David Wright...
Not much, seriously. It's still a bit of a blur. I remember stepping out of the on-deck circle and just wanting to look at the scoreboard to see my face on it. I'll never forget it. I then started walking to the plate trying to be cool and soak it all in and realize that this is my first major league at-bat. But, again, all I kept doing was looking up at the scoreboard and looking at myself in a Mets uniform on the Jumbotron. I think seeing myself up there helped me get out of the moment and see that this was real.
Matthew Cerrone...
As you know, Mets fans are a lot of things. Obviously, we're passionate and pumped up when the team is playing well. But, we can also be irrational and emotional and angry at times because we expect all-out hustle and max effort and, unfortunately, that doesn't always happen. We're a wild ride. So, after more than a decade of listening to us, what have you learned most about Mets fans that you'll always remember?
David Wright...
Loyalty. The loyalty that this fan base has shown to me has been off the charts and something I will never forget when things are all said and done. I respect that and I think Mets fans know that I truly appreciate it.
Also, for them, it's not just about coming to the ballpark and watching a baseball game. Mets fans really know the game. They know when a guy does something well that may not show up in the box score, and they also know when you didn't get the job done. I mean, it's pretty special when fans cheer for you after hitting a ground ball to the second baseman with a guy on second and nobody out just so you can get a runner to third. I think there's more of an appreciation for that type of baseball -- when you do the small things correctly -- than anywhere else.
I truly appreciate that they don't just come to the ballpark, watch a game, have a beer, have a hot dog, go home and never think about it again. Our fan base is a lot more rabid that that. Their knowledge level is high that their expectations are always high, too. And when that happens, it's a lot more fun to come to the ballpark; not just for the fans, but also for us as players.
Matthew Cerrone...
Well, now I know you're not lying when you say you don't have a Twitter account! In all seriousness, though, I tend to agree with you, especially about our affinity for the little things, the pitching-and-defense, situational-hitting type of baseball. Why do you think that is? Where do you think that comes from?
David Wright...
The fans I encounter on the streets -- in a casual setting -- all seemed to grow up playing baseball. In New York, for whatever reason, it seems like everybody's played the game. Whether it's an older guy that played stickball in Brooklyn or a younger guy that played Little League or is playing college or high school ball or in an adult league, it doesn't matter what level, it could be Wiffle Ball, I think they just love talking about the game.
They love interacting and talking shop. It's not just, 'Hey, nice win last night.'
For instance, when I'm struggling at the plate, in New York, I suddenly meet thousands of hitting coaches I'm walking down the street to get a sandwich... and, to me, that's a good thing, that's cool, because it means they're into the game. It's more than just wins and loses. They want to get to know you as a person, but as a player they want to offer advice. To some guys I think that's intimidating, but to me it's cool that there's so much intensity you can get stopped on the street and they feel like they can genuinely help you out because they played high school baseball or they went to fantasy camp last year or they've been watching you since you were 18 years old and they think they can fix your swing. That's awesome and it speaks to the passion and intensity there is for baseball in New York.