The New York Mets’ Secret Weapon: The Return of Grimace

As the playoff race heats up, the New York Mets are pulling out all the stops. Currently in a neck-and-neck battle for the final wild-card spot in the National League, the Mets are embracing any sign of good luck. With only 13 games left in the regular season, a familiar face from earlier this year is making a comeback at Citi Field.

The Unexpected Mascot’s First Appearance

Back in June, when the Mets were floundering with a 29-37 record and a mere eight victories in their last 20 games, an unlikely mascot made an appearance. McDonald’s very own Grimace was invited to throw the first pitch at a game against the Miami Marlins. This match was expected to be an inconsequential midweek game between the fourth and fifth-place teams of the NL East. However, Grimace had a different idea.

A Winning Streak Post-Grimace

Following Grimace’s first pitch, the Mets experienced a sudden turn of fortune, racking up seven straight wins. Their performance in June improved dramatically, with a 12-4 record after Grimace’s appearance. They carried this winning momentum into July, ending the month with a 17-10 record. The Mets weren’t just back on track, they were now serious contenders in the National League postseason race.

Grimace: The Lucky Charm Returns

As the season’s end approaches, Grimace is making a reappearance at Citi Field to hopefully ignite one final winning streak. The Mets made a pre-game announcement before their match against the Washington Nationals that their lucky charm would be present at the ballpark.

A Tribute to Their Mascot

Additionally, a special purple seat will be installed at Citi Field in honor of Grimace. This seat will be located at Row 6, Seat 12 in Section 302, symbolizing the date of Grimace’s lucky first pitch, June 12 (or 6/12). The team also celebrated Grimace with an intermission game where a fan had to name three Mets players with the prefix “Mc”. This led to a delightful surprise appearance of Grimace on the stadium videoboard, accompanied by Stone Cold Steve Austin’s iconic “I Won’t Do What You Tell Me” theme song.

As the Mets kick off their seven-game homestand, their final regular-season games at Citi Field, all eyes will be on Grimace to help lead them to a successful end to the season.