Latest news with #Mets-themed
New York Times
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Tom Seaver, David Wright formed a bond that transcended the field
After the first home game of every season, the New York Mets host the franchise's annual Welcome Home Dinner. Heading into his second season in the big leagues, David Wright had attended once before and generally knew what to expect: a cocktail hour, a live Mets-themed game show as entertainment, and a formal dinner at an upscale venue alongside current and former players and their families. Advertisement What Wright didn't expect to see that night was one of the greatest players to ever wear a Mets uniform, Tom Seaver. Growing up outside of Norfolk, Va., home of the then-Mets Triple-A affiliate Norfolk Tides and with a father who was a huge Mets fan, Wright knew of all the legends in team history. Maybe none of them, though, were more synonymous with the Mets than the man whose literal nickname was The Franchise. 'I can remember just being incredibly nervous and excited,' Wright said recently. 'But too nervous to go up and introduce myself.' Eventually, the two were introduced and they spoke for 20 minutes. But rather than talking about the upcoming season or the pitcher's storied past, Seaver asked Wright a simple question. What are your interests outside of baseball? 'I was thinking to myself, like I don't have any interest outside of baseball,' Wright said. 'I'm 22 years old. It's baseball for me all the time. And he goes 'Well that could be a problem because then you start taking your success and your failures home with you, and it starts to eat at you even more.'' Although Wright didn't know it then, that one unexpected interaction would be the start of a bond that would go beyond the confines of the game, blur the line between mentor and friend and endure long after Seaver's passing. And on July 19, when Wright's number is retired and he's inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame, that link will be etched even deeper. Many of Wright and Seaver's early interactions took place at Shea Stadium. Whenever Seaver came to town, Wright would make sure he blocked off 30 minutes where the two could grab lunch or have a cup of coffee together. They would usually start off talking about the game itself. Wright asked question after question, soaking up all of the knowledge that Seaver had to offer. And because Wright was so eager to learn and ask questions, Seaver began to embrace being a mentor. Advertisement 'Tom was not someone who threw around praise widely or easily,' said Art Zaske, Seaver's son-in-law. 'He was a big proponent and really respected people who were, I'm gonna call it, a bit old school in their respect for the game, how they handled themselves on the field, their level of leadership.' 'But David was one of those. So he thought quite highly of David. And it's sort of obvious when I saw the two of them together that Tom thought a lot of David. They got along well because they were two birds of a feather in that way.' Seaver always made sure to ask about what Wright was doing to keep his mind fresh when he wasn't focused on the game. Those conversations, Wright said, were especially helpful during low points in his career. Moments like those also helped Wright learn more about Seaver and his passions in life. 'He knew everything about wine,' Wright said. 'And I knew nothing about wine.' Seaver founded his own winery, Seaver Vineyards, in California. Over time, Wright began to do research on wine culture to understand it better for his conversations with Seaver. If the topic was brought up, which it often was, he didn't want to embarrass himself. That effort only heightened the relationship. That bond was also evident to those around them as well. Whenever Seaver saw Wright around his teammates or others around the organization, he had a one-liner that he used that always caught Wright's attention. 'You know David, between the two of us, we have 311 wins,' Wright, a third baseman, recalled Seaver saying. 'I knew it was coming and I still laughed. That's kind of what attracted me to him, his sense of humor and his ability to make people laugh. The fact that the guy, the franchise, is going out of his way to remember my name and remembers my parents' names or that I got three younger brothers. But also takes a genuine interest in, probably not watching the games, but checking to see how I'm doing on a consistent basis.' In 2013, Wright was honored as an All-Star for the seventh and final time of his career. At Citi Field, he represented the Mets at his home stadium. He got to participate in the Home Run Derby and got a hit during the All-Star game. But for Wright, one of the moments that stood out the most was catching the first pitch from Seaver. Advertisement When Seaver emerged from the dugout, he was showered with applause by the Met faithful and fans of the sport alike. After he made it to the mound and threw the pitch, he and Wright met halfway and embraced. Wright made sure to give Seaver the ball. 'It's like a pinch-me moment saying, yeah, Tom Seaver is my friend,' Wright said. On Aug. 31, 2020, Seaver died peacefully in his sleep due to complications of Lewy Body Dementia and COVID-19. Wright was especially hit hard after the news. To this day, he lives with a singular regret when it comes to their relationship. Every offseason, Seaver would invite Wright to his winery in Napa, Calif. Considering his limited knowledge of wine early in his career, Wright always declined and put it off for another time. 'One of my biggest regrets is never taking him up on that,' Wright said. 'I think that would have been a magical experience to spend a day or two with The Franchise and to talk wine and baseball and just get to know him face to face on a more personal level.' While Wright never got to visit the vineyard, he has since bought some of the Seaver family's wine. His variety of choice is always the GTS Cabernet Sauvignon. He only opens a bottle for special occasions, and when he does, he always takes a moment to remember Seaver and their time together. 'It's kind of a full circle moment of being a 21-, 22-year-old kid not knowing anything about wine,' Wright said, 'but getting a chance to meet one of my baseball heroes and then fast forward 20 years and now I'm getting a chance to enjoy his wine.' Wright has maintained a relationship with the Seaver family as well, whether it was talking with Seaver's daughter and Zaske's wife, Sarah, or signing baseballs and other memorabilia for their kids. When Wright found out that Sarah had died of lung cancer last February, he was one of the first people to reach out to Zaske to give his condolences. Advertisement 'That's not something typically that celebrities of any stripe, much less ballplayers, would necessarily think to do,' Zaske said. 'But that sort of speaks to his character and the kind of person he is.' For Wright, that was intentional, a declaration of the relationship he hoped to keep with the family going forward. 'I wanted to make it known that just because Mr. Seaver isn't around anymore, the Seaver name, for me, still means a lot,' Wright said. 'I'm still a tremendous fan of his legacy and the family that he left behind.' That legacy was encapsulated by a singular Seaver saying: 'Do things to the best of your ability,' Zaske recalled. 'Whatever's in your heart, do it as best you can. That's the Seaver way.' Next month, Zaske, along with his three sons, will be in attendance to support Wright at his number retirement and induction. For Wright the honor still hasn't quite sunk in. 'I think when it sinks in and I see my number up there in close proximity to Mr. Seaver's, it's probably going to hit me like a ton of bricks just because I know how important Tom Seaver was to baseball, how important Tom Seaver was to the city of New York, the Mets organization,' Wright said. 'I don't take that honor lightly, and it's something that is going to be one of the proudest moments in my career.' It's certainly an occasion worth popping open a bottle of GTS Cabernet Sauvignon.
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Tiffany Stratton had tragic surrender cobra after horrible first pitch
Tiffany Stratton had tragic surrender cobra after horrible first pitch WWE star Tiffany Stratton threw out a first pitch at a New York Mets game, and it was so painfully terrible. At this rate, we might need to update the list of the worst first pitches ever because it's the second throw in as much as a week that's been thrown everywhere but to the player waiting at home plate. First, former NFL lineman Taylor Lewan had his throw go wide left during a Cardinals game, invoking shades of 50 Cent's horrific throw from years past. Now, Stratton has entered the chat, and she might have let Lewan off the hook for his efforts. Stratton arrived at Citi Field, looking happy as a clam, and even showed off her Mets-themed wrestling belt. Pretty cool stuff, right? However, things went south quickly. As the WWE women's world champion stepped to the mound, she yelled her signature phrase, 'It's Tiffy Time,' before she launched the baseball. Sadly, she hurled that poor ball so far that it went over outfielder Jared Young's head and into the dirt. Realizing the error of her ways, Stratton immediately went full surrender cobra and moments later, put her hands on her head again in utter disbelief. Fortunately, Stratton might have taken the whole thing in stride. She made several posts to her social media accounts on Thursday celebrating her day, including a TikTok video and an Instagram post. 'Put me in, Mets,' she said. You'll nail it next time, Tiffany Stratton. You were just a bit — not really even close at all — outside.
