It was an emotional and tasteful farewell
Saturday night, as
David Wright lowered the curtain on his playing days. Years of injuries, a spinal condition and several difficult surgeries cut short a career that might have been on a Coopertown track.
For one final night, the Mets captain returned to Citi Field, batting third, playing 3rd base and feeling the love from a sellout crowd of more than 43,000.
Below, it's his final at-bat, in fact, his final swing as he lifts a Trevor Richards pitch into foul territory down the right field line.
Wright follows its path, hoping it will reach the seats. Instead, Miami 1st baseman Peter O'Brien grabs a few feet from the seats.
And the frustration of knowing that there would be no storybook ending as a batter.
Back in the field one final time, standing next to Jose Reyes, who came to the majors at virtually the same time as Wright. They went onto start the most games of any pair of Mets players ever -- a run ended when Reyes left for the Marlins as a free agent.
With manager Mickey Callaway telling the umpires he was lifting Wright in the 5th inning, one final hug between Wright and Reyes -- captured by in-house video.
Time to wave goodbye, as Wright leaves a game for the final time and receives a thundering ovation.
Back at the dugout, a round of hugs begins with coaches and teammates before he walks down the tunnel toward the clubhouse -- and minutes later, visits with team's TV and radio teams.
After Austin Jackson's 13th inning double drives in the only run of the night, Wright takes a microphone to thank the fans who stayed to the conclusion.
A post-game press conference to share some thoughts on this emotional occasion,
Including a proclamation from the Mayor of New York who declared it David Wright Day.
And a sweet moment with his two-year old daughter, who got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for her father's farewell game and joined him at the podium at its conclusion.
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