Pete Alonso continued to win the hearts of Mets fans with his tribute on the 18th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
The Mets’ star rookie bought custom 9/11-themed cleats for all his teammates to wear, during Wednesday’s game with the Diamondbacks, so they could pay tribute to the victims of the attacks and to the heroic first responders. Alonso organized the tribute without asking Major League Baseball, as the league might have turned down his request.
Thankfully, MLB has apparently decided not to discipline Alonso or the Mets in anyway for the gesture of remembrance, according to a report from SNY’s Andy Martino.
Alonso would’ve been just six-years-old when the attacks took place in 2001, but he recognizes the importance of the event and still came through with a tribute that has touched Mets fans, and New Yorkers in general.
“Boomer and Gio” praised Alonso on their show Thursday, wondering if he could be any more perfect or understand the team and city he plays in any better.
Kathy Willens/AP "I think it's kind of sad that first game back, they've kind of shot it down every single year since," Alonso said to the media after the game. "It's real unfortunate. So a way to kind of get around that was the cleats. I feel like if Major League Baseball kind of got their hands on it, it may not have been approved. But I'm really happy that we kind of banded together here in the clubhouse and made something cool happen."
Alonso also made a splash for a good cause back in July. After he won the All-Star Home Run Derby, he donated $50,000 to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, which helps 9/11 first responders.
Prior to the first pitch Wednesday night, children who lost parents or grandparents to 9/11-related illnesses ran to each position before being joined by the Mets' starters. Alonso gave autographed baseballs to the two children at first base.
"It's not just the victims, it's the scars left behind, like someone missing their mom or missing their dad," Alonso said. "For me, I can't imagine what that's like. The toll isn't necessarily all taken on that day, it's progressively after because there's not someone there in their family. It's different from then on."
Both the Mets and Diamondbacks wore first responder hats during batting practice, then lined up on their respective baselines alongside firefighters, police and EMTs prior to the national anthem.
The Mets ended the game with nine runs on 11 hits.