Tribute to the Immortal #42

I was fortunate enough to finally visit CitiField and the enormous vestibule, and was enormously moved by the giant #42 in shiny gigantic blue numerals beneath the escalators.

I grew up watching the man who wore that number had his heyday, playing practically every day, underappreciated by the world but beloved by his teammates.

My eyes choked with emotion when I realized that the Mets finally showed they cared incredibly about every one of their players, all the men who toiled in a Mets uniform for so many years, and so many of those years displaying ludicrously bad records and daily humiliation before the rest of the league.

By commemorating the man who wore #42, the Mets pay homage to every one of their players since their first year in 1962, the man who represents everything that it means to be a Met.

#42, the unforgettable, hard-working, and long-suffering legend:

#42. Ron Hodges. Mets backup catcher. For his entire frikkin' career.

Nobody else in Mets history wore #42 more proudly or made more of an impact than #42, Ron Hodges.

Tears run freely down my face, drip off of my chin, and stain hot little salty droplets upon my tee shirt when I realize that every team in baseball also understands how important backup catchers like Mets #42, Ron Hodges, is to the very foundation of baseball.

We salute you, Mets #42, Ron Hodges, backup catcher for nearly the worst Met teams in history. And we salute you, Fred Wilpon and CitiField and everyone involved in building the new Mets baseball stadium, for ensuring that Mets history is paid proper respect in the brand new ballpark.

Keisuke Hoashi
Mets Fan since 1974