Mets celebrate Pete Alonso's home run record with pregame ceremony

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Aug 14, 2025

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — The party continues for Pete Alonso.

The Mets celebrated their new all-time home run king on Thursday with a pregame ceremony at Citi Field, two days after Alonso passed Darryl Strawberry with the 253rd homer of his career.

Steve and Alex Cohen gifted the fan-favorite first baseman with a painting made from 253 official MLB baseballs that depicts Alonso’s record-breaking home run trot.

“It’s really difficult to think of the New York Mets without thinking of Darryl Strawberry being one of the major pillars of this organization,” Alonso said during the on-field ceremony. “It’s really just such a privilege.”

The 10-minute celebration also featured a tribute video narrated by Strawberry that showed highlights from Alonso’s career, including his first home run; his 53rd homer in 2019 to set the MLB rookie record; and Tuesday’s historic blast.

Alonso set the Mets’ all-time record in the third inning of Tuesday night’s 13-5 win in Queens with a two-run homer against Atlanta’s Spencer Strider. He added another home run three innings later off of reliever Austin Cox for No. 254.

The record had belonged to Strawberry since May 3, 1988, when he hit his 155th homer to pass Dave Kingman’s prior franchise best.

“I just want to say congratulations on breaking the home run record,” Strawberry said in a video message that aired on the Citi Field jumbotron. “You have worked hard. You have stood up in the pressure of New York City, and you have played well. It is well-deserved.”

Alonso, a homegrown Met in his seventh MLB season, endured a prolonged free agency last winter before re-signing on a two-year, $54 million contract. The second year of the deal is a player option, meaning Alonso could test the open market again this offseason.

He was asked Tuesday by moderator Howie Rose how it would feel to spend his entire career with the Mets.

“I’ve grown up in this organization. It’s been a real treat. I have nothing but love and respect because ever since I was a young, 21-year-old kid, this organization has believed in me,” Alonso said, earning cheers from the Citi Field crowd.

“They’ve continued to believe in me every single day. I have nothing but gratitude for the fans, this ownership, my teammates. It’s just been such a treat, and to finish with one club, that’s really incredible. That would be really incredible.”

Thursday’s ceremony was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but rain prompted the Mets to move it back by a day.

The artwork from the Cohens is one of several mementos Alonso can take away from Tuesday’s feat.

Ford, a sponsor of the Mets, gifted Alonso with a truck, while the Mets retrieved the record-setting ball that Alonso hit into the visitors bullpen for home run No. 253.

“It’s gonna go right in the man cave,” Alonso said on Tuesday night.

A photo shared by the Mets shows Alonso autographed the ball and added inscriptions that read, “Mets Franchise HR King” and “Down Goes Straw!”

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