Ray Knight holds similar feelings about the Mets as most fans have over the years.
The 1986 World Series MVP was present at Citi Field on Saturday — a rare occurrence for Knight — as he intended Mets Old-Timers’ Day and was asked about his relationship with the team.
“I love the New York Mets,” Knight said. “I don’t like the Wilpons. I don’t like any of that deal.”
Knight, 69, has had a contentious relationship with the team ever since the Mets decided not to bring him back after winning the World Series in 1986. It left a bitter taste in Knight’s mouth and the Wilpons (Fred was part-owner at the time) never tried to amend that relationship throughout their tenure.
But Knight, who said the only time he’s been invited back was for the 30-year reunion of the 1986 team, sounded optimistic about where he and the Mets stand after speaking to Steve Cohen.
“It’s a special thing for me to be here and feel like maybe I’m back part of this organization because Cohen came in and spoke to me today,” Knight said, per the NY Post. “I hadn’t spoken to Jeff Wilpon in 30 years, period.
“[I was] never invited back, except for the 30-year [World Series reunion]. I was never invited to throw out the first pitch, none of that stuff. And that hurts because you give everything you have and you expect somebody to give a little something back, and that’s what this organization is doing now.”
Knight was part of one of the most iconic moments in Mets history as the player who scored the game-winning run on the infamous Bill Buckner play that forced a Game 7 in the World Series.
He spent three years total with the Mets and hit .391/.440/.565 with a home run and five RBI in the six games he played in the 1986 World Series — the last time the Mets won.
He would leave the Mets to play with the Orioles before eventually retiring with the Tigers after the 1988 season.
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