There are some moments in Mets history that you always remember where you were: between Buckner's legs, Mike Piazza after 9/11, the Endy Chavez catch and, of course, Bartolo Colon's home run.
It was May 7, 2016 when the 42-year-old Colon accomplished a feat he had never done before — and no one expected him to ever do — when he took James Shields of the San Diego Padres deep at Petco Park.
Colon, like many pitchers in the majors, was not a great hitter. He entered the 2016 season 10-for-216 in his career – which was mostly spent in the American League – and was 0-for-9 heading into the May 7 game against the Padres.
His old age and rotund build did not do him any favors at the plate either, but he would still take big swings, with his helmet often falling off his head, endearing him to Mets fans. Whenever Colon would get a hit, Citi Field would erupt and Colon would stand on first base with a giant grin on his face knowing those moments are few and far between.
But a home run? That would just be asking for too much.
Yet, with a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning against Shields and the Padres, Colon stepped into the batter's box with a runner on second and two outs – eliminating a bunt and forcing Colon to swing.
Shields' first pitch was a high fastball called for a ball. He fired another fastball that caught the inside of the plate to even the count at 1-1.
Then, Shields threw a third straight fastball to Colon — 90 mph over the inside-middle of the plate — and Colon took one of his big hacks, but this time he put the barrel of the bat on the ball.
The ball soared into the air in deep left field and landed in front of the Western Metal Supply Co. building.
"Bartolo has done it! The impossible has happened," was SNY play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen's call.
Of course, it was a special moment for Colon's teammates, too. They all left the dugout and went inside the clubhouse to give him the silent treatment after hitting his first career home run before returning to the dugout to mob him.
To put the icing on the cake, Colon got the win as well, pitching 6.2 innings allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five.
In fact, Colon had a bit of a renaissance in 2016, earning his fourth All-Star Game appearance while finishing the season 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 191.2 innings pitched.
Despite his success on the mound that season, everyone will remember it as the year Bartolo went yard.
