Mets Community Insider

On Saturday, September 21, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation honored the Louisville Slugger Warriors Amputee Baseball Team as the second Amazin’ Mets Foundation Legacy Award winner.

Mets Owner and President of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, Alex Cohen, created this Legacy Award to celebrate the people and organizations in the baseball community that are making a difference and driving impactful change.

The Warriors are a nationally sponsored and competitive amputee baseball team that consists of U.S. Military Veterans, Active Duty personnel, Wounded Warriors and current and former amputee college baseball players. The Warriors are coached by former Major League Baseball players who donate their time and expertise, with the current team being coached by Curtis Pride, a deaf former MLB player and advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing in sports. Mr. Pride was originally drafted by the Mets in 1986 and previously coached the Gallaudet University baseball team.

During a pregame ceremony, Alex Cohen presented representatives from the Warriors with the award and a $5,000 donation funded by the Amazin’ Mets Foundation.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the Mets are proud to stand with children and families in the fight against pediatric cancer.

Earlier in September, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation and Major League Baseball (MLB) teamed up with the Jessie Rees Foundation to stuff 500 JoyJars. JoyJars are packed for hospitals and care centers to help spread joy to children fighting cancer. Mets Owner and President of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, Alex Cohen, along with former Met Todd Zeile and his wife, Kristin, joined volunteers from both the Mets and MLB to pack jars, which brighten the days of those who need it most.

On Saturday, September 7, the Mets hosted pediatric cancer patients from Cohen Children’s Medical Center for a special Quintana’s Crew baseball clinic. The children, along with their siblings and families, took part in exciting games and simplified baseball drills on the outfield grass alongside Todd Zeile and Mr. Met. Each participant was announced by name over the stadium PA system and received lunch and tickets to a future Mets game.

On Friday, September 20, the Mets wives and girlfriends joined Mrs. Met in visiting Elmhurst Hospital to volunteer for their Reach Out & Read program. The wives and girlfriends read books to pediatric cancer patients at the hospital and donated a collection of books to the hospital's waiting rooms.

Elmhurst’s Reach Out & Read program distributes more than 10,000 books to pediatric patients and their families at well-child visits up to age five. Elmhurst’s pediatricians provide one new age-appropriate appropriate book to each family, coupled with strategies for reading and learning together. The goal of the program is to encourage families to read 20 minutes each day with their children to instill healthy habits, promote literacy, and lifelong learning.

The Mets continued their long-standing tradition of firehouse visits every September – this year in honor of the 23^rd anniversary of 9/11.

Mets Legend David Wright and Buddy, the Mets Vet Dog, visited Engine 39 / Ladder 16 in Manhattan.

David received a tour of the firehouse and had the opportunity to connect with firefighters and New York Police Department police officers from the nearby 19th Precinct. As another way to say ‘thank you’, the Mets donated lunch for members of the firehouse, as well as tickets to a future Mets game.

The eighth annual Mets Military Softball Classic, presented by Fiserv, took place on September 12 in the outfield at Citi Field. Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard faced off in a round-robin softball tournament.

Mr. Met cheered on the participants and watched Army win first place in the 2024 tournament.

All participants received an official t-shirt, lunch, and tickets to a future Mets game.

The Mets hosted the third annual ‘Battle of the Badges’ charity baseball game at Citi Field, presented by your local Ford stores.

Members of the New York Police Department and Fire Department of New York’s baseball teams battled for city supremacy in front of more than 3,000 fans. Each team consisted of former high school, college, and minor league baseball players now members of the NYPD and FDNY.

Mets legend David Wright was on hand to host the event. In addition to honoring a member of the FDNY and NYPD for doing “the Wright Thing”, he visited each dugout, signed autographs, and took photos with players and fans during the game.

The FDNY defeated the NYPD, 5-1. The win gave New York’s Bravest a 14-12 advantage in the series.

Francisco Lindor invited children from the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau’s Youth Strategies Division as part of his Smile Tuesdays program. The Bureau’s Youth Strategies Division provides programs for young people to reduce youth violence, prevent drug use, promote child safety, and improve relationships between police and young people, with a special emphasis on at-risk individuals.

Children watched batting practice and later met with Francisco to learn about his career. As part of the program, the participants also received dental hygiene tips from Dr. Howard Livers, DDS, and took home Mets swag and dental kits.