New York Mets rookie slugger Pete Alonso breaks the club’s all-time home run record with his 42nd moonshot of the season.
Forty-two remains a significant number in New York baseball history.
The immortal Jackie Robinson sported the iconic number for so many years in Brooklyn, now retired by the entire bigs. The great Mariano Rivera mowed down opponents with his filthy cutter while wearing the very same number.
Now, New York Mets rookie slugger Pete Alonso has helped push the importance of No. 42.
On Tuesday night in Flushing, the rookie broke the Mets single-season home run record with an opposite-field shot off of Yu Darvish.
Forty-two is a significant number in New York baseball history. Pete Alonso is now at No. 42. He stands alone in Mets history. #LGM pic.twitter.com/laUyMS3pNg
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) August 28, 2019
Alonso, 24, has rapidly become the face of the Mets organization. From late-season-callup snub to starting the 2019 season at the behest of Brodie Van Wagenen sticking his middle finger up at the service time rule, the Home Run Derby champ has surpassed every expectation.
Heading into the crucial set with the Chicago Cubs, Alonso had tallied 41 home runs to go along with 100 runs batted in and a .265 clip at the plate over the course of 129 games this season.
In addition to the statistical output, the kid seems to produce at the greatest moments, most crucial moments of the game. He did it yet again on Tuesday night with the Mets needing a victory in the worst way (after succumbing to a sweep at the hands of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves).
Addison Russell quickly responded with a two-run shot of his own the very next half-frame, and that’s where the two teams stand at the moment, in the top of the sixth, with the Cubbies leading 2-1.
