Pete Alonso is the New York Mets all-time leading home run hitter.
On Tuesday night, Alonso slugged his 253rd career HR off Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider passing Darryl Strawberry to become the franchise's HR king.
For good measure, Alonso would hit another HR off reliever Austin Cox to extend his lead to 254.
What is truly remarkable about this achievement is that Alonso did this in 144 fewer games played than Strawberry who did it over eight seasons with the Mets between 1983 and 1990.
The record was also a shot in the arm to the Mets who won the game 13-5 snapping a 7-game losing streak and losses in 11 of their last 12 games. Although the Mets are five games back of the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, they still have the third NL Wild Card berth albeit only two games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds.
When I lived in NYC, I did my best to root for the Mets. Alonso made it easy during the 2019 season when he set the MLB single season rookie record with 53 HR. In the years that have followed, Alonso proved 2019 was no fluke having been named to five NL All-Star Teams.
The question now is whether Alonso will be a Met for life like David Wright. Whether he is not, Alonso is certainly among the greatest players to ever wear a Mets uniform.
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