Mets player Pete Alonso shows his helmet to fans at Citi Field after the home plate umpire asked him to do so

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso stepped up to bat in the first inning of what could be his last home game at Citi Field to a huge applause.

“Do you want to take your hat off or something?” Alonso recalled home plate umpire John Libka saying. “I can give you time here and now.”

“Oh yes,” Alonso told him. “I was really glad John reminded me.”

Alonso waved his helmet in front of the sell-out crowd of 43,139 spectators and then tapped his helmet to his heart after the first of several standing ovations.

“It’s wild. It’s something you just hear about, read about or see in movies,” Alonso said.

Alonso went 0-of-4 with three strikeouts in the Mets’ 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday night. With one week to go before the end of the season, New York has a chance at the second NL wild card and is two games ahead of Atlanta for the last postseason spot.

“That’s our identity,” Alonso said. “We fight and scratch for every pitch, every out. A game like today really shows our character and who we are, who the 2024 Mets are.”

Alonso has a batting average of .244 with 31 home runs and 86 RBIs. The 29-year-old has a one-year, $20.5 million contract, is eligible to become a free agent after the World Series and is represented by Scott Boras, an agent known for testing the market.

“POLAR BEAR, PLEASE STAY” and “SAVE THE POLAR BEAR” were written on two hand signs, referring to Alonso’s nickname.

“That’s what makes this city such a special city,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “I had goosebumps when that happened.”

Alonso, a four-time All-Star who has been a fan favorite since hitting his 53rd home run in 2019 and winning NL Rookie of the Year honors, says he is not thinking about free agency and is focused on winning his first World Series title, the Mets’ first since 1986.

“We still have some meat on the bone,” he said. “We still have work to do and we need to finish it.”

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