Jun 13 2008 09:55 AM
Mets at Richards: One Terrific Evening
Mets Charity Event in Town Raises $580K
By Scott Ferrari
The Mets came to town Monday smarting from a West Coast trip which concluded with a four-game sweep courtesy of the San Diego Padres. That ending gave back whatever momentum the team had gathered in winning five of seven games following the firestorm two weeks ago when team brass met with manager Willie Randolph and GM Omar Minaya to discuss the Amazins lackluster play.
But an affair with about 400 well-heeled friends in the name of giving back was all that mattered when many of the teams stars - past and present - got together for a big charity event at Richards clothing store on Greenwich Avenue.
It was the second annual Teammates in the Community fundraiser run through the Mets Foundation and sponsored by NetJets. Patrons,
 Hall-of-Fame pitcher and former Met Tom Seaver, left, shares a moment, and maybe a pointer or two, with Mets ace Johan Santana. The two were among many on hand at Richards of Greenwich for the Mets Foundation s Teammates in the Community fund-raiser which raised some $580,000 for numerous charities. (GREENWICH CITIZEN photo / Dave Choate) |
Teenage girls wore smiles as wide as the Grand Canyon coseying up to the younger Mets like Mike Pelfrey, Reyes and Wright, the latter who had crowds 20 deep swarming along with his every move. Dads and boys clamored for autographs and then whipped around together, craning in the search of their next target. Adult men - and women - got to act like kids again. Really, it seemed like a win for all.
The many Mets on hand, most of whom had arrived home past 2 a.m. following the flight back from California, chatted it up and smiled along with their fans. It looked like the kind of break they needed having played 20 consecutive days.
After the meet and greet, everyone got down to business at the auction where people bid for chances to race around the bases with Reyes, get batting tips from Delgado and other interesting experiences.
"We're hoping to make this an annual event," said Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, a Greenwich resident. "We thought only the players that lived in the area would come, but last year Jose (Reyes) and Carlos (Beltran) approached us about doing it. That shows the level which these guys will go to to help raise money for our foundation."
Besides their employers, several Mets now live in Greenwich, including Pedro Martinez, Scott Schoenwiess, Delgado and Billy Wagner.
While many of the players have their own charities, Pelfrey, in really, his first full-time year in the big leagues, came just because he was asked to.
"I don't even have a charity yet," the 24-year-old right-handed pitcher said. "They asked me two days ago and I told them I would come."
Of course, Monday's event with hundreds of people dressed to the nines weaving their way in and around clothing racks with 10s of 1000s of dollars worth of merchandise hanging off them is a far cry from visiting elementary schools as a minor leaguer for Pelfrey. The bottom line is the same, though.
"It's great to do these things and help others to make a difference," Pelfrey said. "Any time you can give back and help, it's a great thing to do."
Mets reliever Aaron Heilman was among the veterans who does have his own charity. Heilman works with Canine Companions for Independence.
"The service dogs are great, they do so much for people," he said. "But they're also companions to most of these people and they help them their independence. The Wilpons are always looking for ways to give back and this is a great way for us to help them give back."
You get the feeling everyone in attendance Monday appreciated all the giving back the Mets did. And they all probably hope it's the last giving back they do when it comes to the games.