It might be weird if you’re a professional athlete and you get a package in the mail that contains a large package of black licorice whips, a toothbrush, and a shark-tooth necklace.
Weird, unless you’re new Mets pitched Taijuan Walker, and the package came from ex-Mets pitcher Turk Wendell, the only other player in franchise history to wear No. 99.
Indeed, Wendell, who wore the highest two-digit number from 1997-2001, sent the package as a sign of good juju for the righty who will become New York’s other No. 99 when games kick off this season.
"It's awesome. I mean, let's be honest. My number is not retired, I wasn't some superstar player. I sure as hell ain't a Hall-of-Famer," a chuckling Wendell told SNY on Tuesday. "As a token of passing the torch, I actually made him a necklace and sent it to him yesterday."
Wendell, as you may remember, chewed black licorice instead of bubble gum or tobacco, and would brush his teeth between innings so as to not look like vampire when he smiled. The necklace, too, was an homage to the one Wendell wore, which featured the teeth of various animals the avid hunter had taken down in his travails.
As seen above, Walker took a photo wearing the necklace while holding the licorice and the toothbrush, but it remains to be seen if any of the three become part of his routine (assuming he, as is recommended, brushes twice a day anyway) – but if Walker slams down the rosin bag before facing his first batter as a Met, we’ll consider the tribute closed!
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