“Here comes Mookie, and the Mets win it!”
The Mets hit a home run when the team sent William “Mookie” Wilson to hang out with soldiers at Fort Hamilton on Aug. 31. The move proved that the franchise from Flushing is the most veteran-friendly in the game, one soldier said.
“It’s hard — being in the military — to have a home team, and coming to New York, you don’t really know what you’re gonna get, but the Mets take such great care of the military,” said Coast Guard warrant officer Warrant officer Kyle Berry. “Now my daughter and middle son are crazy Mets fans.”
Berry’s kids snagged balls signed by the hall-of-fame outfielder — known for batting in the run that won Game Six of the 1986 World Series by hitting a grounder through Boston Red Sox first-baseman Bill Buckner’s legs during extra innings. The win kept the Sox from taking the series and paved the way for a New York win in Game Seven.
Team general manager Sandy Alderson, Mets radio announcer Josh Lewin, and anthropomorphic baseball creature Mr. Met also visited the soldiers on Monday.
After greeting service members and their families, Wilson and crew bowled a few frames with America’s fighting men and women.
The franchise also gave attendees tickets to Monday night’s game. Berry missed the Mets’ 3–1 win over the Phillies — but he had a good reason.
“I had to work — duty called,” he said.
