Steve Cohen explains why Mets retired Willie Mays' No. 24
Explore More
The Mets surprised their fans on Saturday during the return of Old-Timers’ Day by announcing the club is retiring Willie Mays’ No. 24.
Mets owner Steve Cohen explained on The Post’s “The Show” podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman why the franchise made the decision.
“It was really my decision,” Cohen said on the podcast. “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.”
The Mets retired Keith Hernandez’s No. 17 last month in an emotional ceremony. Cohen isn’t sure whose number the Mets will retire next, but said more will come.
“We want to celebrate our history,” Cohen said. “I was very clear about that from Day 1, and there will be others. There’s a process. We have a Hall of Fame committee that meets on a regular basis. I can’t tell you who’s gonna be next and how it’s gonna work, but we meet on a quarterly basis and I assume there will be others.”
For more on Cohen’s thoughts on this Mets season and offseason questions, listen to “The Show” podcast above.
ncG1vNJzZmimqaW8tMCNnKamZ2Jlf3N7j3FmbGlfqMGmwsRmmqiglaN6psTPpZiipqNixKnFjKacratdp7K1tdGem2avmaG5qrGMppiyq12jvG5%2Bk2g%3D