Steve Cohen explains why Mets retired Willie Mays' number

To the delight of fans at Citi Field, the New York Mets unexpectedly retired the No. 24 famously worn by Hall of Famer and legend Willie Mays during a special "Old Timers' Day" ceremony held ahead of this past Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies.

Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post later explained that former New York Giants board member and Mets charter owner Joan Whitney Payson allegedly promised Mays in the spring of 1972 that he'd "be the last Met to ever wear No. 24" if he'd agree to join the Amazins from the San Francisco Giants and finish his career in the Big Apple, where he first nationally became known as the "Say Hey Kid" with the Giants. 

Mays obliged, but Payson passed away before she could keep her word. Current Mets owner Steve Cohen recently told MLB insiders Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of "The Show" podcast that the story was all he needed to retire the all-time great's number. 

"It was really my decision," Cohen remarked, according to Justin Tasch of the New York Post. "When I heard about that there was a promise made to Willie by Joan Payson but there was no follow-through on that, I just felt like there was an obligation by an owner that needed to be kept, and I was gonna follow through on that.

"I just thought that was the right thing to do. I had spoken to Willie. Willie confirmed that, so I was gonna follow through on that. I’m glad I did." 

Others, such as Kelvin Torve, Rickey Henderson and Robinson Cano wore No. 24 with the Mets after Mays retired. That wrong was righted on the final Saturday of August: