Mets’ Pete Alonso pumped over return of alternate black jerseys

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen revealed this week that the team will roll out black alternate jerseys for “a few games” this upcoming season.

The expectation is that the Mets will don the iconic black alternates for select Friday home games at Citi Field in 2021, and Pete Alonso is pretty pumped about it.

“Friday night blacks at home, that is going to be fun,” Alonso said this week, per the New York Post. “So mark it in your calendars.”

The black alternates were in the Mets’ jersey rotation from 1998-2012, a run that included the team’s appearance in the 2000 World Series, but the team has gone away from the tradition for years now.

Alonso, the Mets’ resident firebrand and eminently quotable first baseman, was asked about the reaction in the clubhouse after the team confirmed the black alternate jerseys will make their long-awaited return. In trademark Alonso manner, the superstar made it clear excitement over the alternates is widespread.

“Everyone was like, ‘Let’s f—–g go,’ ” Alonso said. “It was awesome. Everybody is fired up and I hope Mets fans are fired up, too. It’s going to be special.”

Unfortunately for the Mets, Opening Day brought some bad news, as Thursday’s tilt with the Washington Nationals has been postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. Washington announced that the game had to be postponed “because of ongoing contact tracing involving members of Nationals organization.” The Mets retweeted the Nats’ announcement Thursday morning.