'I'm all in': Michael Mays set to root on Mets at Citi Field

NEW YORK -- The Mets are expecting a packed house at Citi Field on Tuesday evening, when they welcome in the Phillies for Game 3 of the National League Division Series. In attendance will be Michael Mays, the son of the legendary Willie Mays.

Michael Mays has become a fan of the 2024 Mets, flying from Alabama to New York to show loyalty to the team’s owners, Steve and Alex Cohen, who retired his father’s No. 24 on Aug. 27, 2022. Willie Mays was a member of the Mets for more than a year and his impact was felt in Flushing, Queens, starting in 1972. In fact, the team went as far as the World Series the following season.

“I have to tip my hat to Steve and Alex,” Mays said. “The word around New York is, ‘The Yankees are the Yankees, but the party is in Queens.’”

Mays, whose father died at the age of 93 this past summer, told the Mets front office that if the team defeated the Brewers in the NL Wild Card Series, he would be at Citi Field during the next round. The Mets ended up winning the series in three games and now find themselves in a 1-1 tie with Philadelphia in this best-of-five NLDS.

“I’m all in,” Mays said about rooting for the current Mets. “I’m a believer right now. The Mets are having a ball. I love the boxing matches they put on. They are willing to rumble. It seems to inspire them. When it gets tough, [they rise to the occasion]. It’s not easy being a Mets fan, you have to go through some stuff. I’m having a heart attack every day, but I’m loving the battle.”

Mays loves everything about the Mets, from Francisco Lindor’s leadership abilities to Pete Alonso’s heroics in the batter’s box.

“I love the way they are being managed offensively by Carlos Mendoza,” Mays said. “It’s kind of a no-brainer defensively. They have all the tools they need. It’s more of an ensemble than it is any one guy standing out.”

The current Mets brought back memories for Mays. He was up close watching his father play his final games in ‘73. Michael was one of the team’s batboys, and sometimes worked in the clubhouse.

“It was like a daily ritual,” Mays said. “I was the first guy in and the last guy out because I lived close to the stadium.”

The only thing Michael wished for was to see his father get one last at-bat against the Athletics in Game 7 of the 1973 World Series.

Down 5-2 in the ninth inning, the Mets had two runners on with two outs. Wayne Garrett came to the plate as the tying run facing left-hander Darold Knowles. Michael wished that manager Yogi Berra called on Willie to pinch-hit. It never happened, and Garrett, a left-handed hitter, popped up to shortstop Bert Campaneris to end the series.

Mays finished 2-for-7 in that World Series.