Bobby Valentine in disguise throws Hall of Fame pitch
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- Bobby Valentine was ejected from a Mets‑Blue Jays game on June 9 1999, then returned to the dugout wearing sunglasses and a fake mustache he fashioned with eye black.
- Mets went 40‑15 over the next 55 games after the coaching changes, a stretch that culminated in a National League Championship Series appearance.
- Steve Phillips fired three New York coaches three days before Valentine’s disguise, prompting Valentine to say the Mets should fire him if the team didn’t achieve the 40‑15 run.
- Mike Piazza was involved in the catcher’s‑interference call that led to Valentine’s ejection, after which Valentine re‑entered the dugout in disguise.
- Rey Ordoñez delivered a game‑winning single in the 14th inning, after which Valentine led the charge onto the field, resulting in a $5,000 fine and a two‑game suspension.
- Hall of Fame ceremony saw Valentine, now 76, throw a ceremonial first pitch to a similarly disguised Mr. Met, with fans also wearing sunglasses and fake mustaches.
Why it matters: Valentine’s theatrical stunt, credited with igniting a 40‑15 surge that propelled the Mets to the 2000 World Series, now reinforces his legacy as he joins the Mets Hall of Fame, boosting his personal brand and deepening fan appreciation of the franchise’s historic narrative.
