Mets news: Pete Alonso to honor Sept. 11 first responders during game

Mets slugger Pete Alonso has long pushed to honor September 11 first responders by donning hats for the FDNY and more, and he'll get his wish on Friday.

The tragedy of the September 11 attacks on U.S. soil has long directly impacted the on-field play for two MLB teams: the New York Mets and Yankees. On the 19th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, the Mets will don baseball caps during their Friday night game against the Toronto Blue Jays that honor several factions of World Trade Center first responders.

According to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo, those caps include representation for the FDNY, NYPD, and more—all departments that heeded the call to help and save lives of the thousands of victims of the September 11 attack on the Twin Towers.

In the past, the Mets had only been permitted to wear special hats during pre-game batting practice and warmups, a longtime contention for fans and observers criticizing Major League Baseball for failing to allow players and teams to honor the lives of the people lost now 19 years and counting.

Pete Alonso, a first-time All-Star last season in his debut year and the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year, holds a special place in his heart for the first responders. In tonight's pre-game presser, Alonso was seen wearing a hat to honor the New York City Department of Sanitation. “Every single organization played a tremendous part,” Alonso added, per DiComo.

Pete Alonso wore a NYC Department of Sanitation cap during his pregame press conference today. He plans to switch caps if possible to represent multiple additional agencies during the game.

"Every single organization played a tremendous part," he said. pic.twitter.com/tTH2n53QuR

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) September 11, 2020

Alonso has made philanthropic strides despite only 203 games through his major league career. After winning the 2019 Home Run Derby and its $1 million prize money, Alonso pledged $50,000 to the Wounded Warriors Foundation and another $50,000 to Tunnel to Towers, the latter of which is a charitable nonprofit to aid first responders and their families.

A Florida native and former first-round pick by the Mets, Alonso, at 25 years old, has emerged as a defining face of the franchise and leader for the clubhouse to honor the victims and first responders who perished on September 11.

The Mets are away for Friday night's game; however, it just so happens that they play the Blue Jays in Buffalo, so they will still play in New York State.