September 29, 2018
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David Wright played his final game for the New York Mets.
Starting at third base, hitting in his traditional 3-spot in the batting order, he returned to the majors for the first time since May 2016 after having been diagnosed with
spinal stenosis in 2015 and suffering neck, back and
shoulder injuries that required multiple surgeries and grueling, constant rehab.
Watching were many friends and family members that included Wright’s
daughters, 2-year-old Olivia Shea, who threw out the first pitch to her
father, and 4-month-old Madison, both of whom he cited repeatedly as primary motivators for returning to the field. Before this series, neither were alive to watch their father play baseball professionally.
Wright ends his career as captain and unequivocal leader of the only team he ever played for, leading the team all-time in hits, runs and RBIs. Likely only Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver ranks above him on a list of greatest players to ever wear blue and orange. But as impressive as his baseball achievements are, they will pale in comparison to the impact he had and the legacy he leaves behind as being an exceptional person.
“If you’re not a person like David Wright is, you don’t get to get
honored like this,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “The others, they’re going to understand that we’re doing something special for
David not because of the numbers, but because of the person he is.
That’s probably the biggest lesson. These guys are going to play
baseball for a small part of their life, then they have to go be human
beings the rest of it. They should all look up to David in that regard.”
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