Mets to honor Willie Mays, Jerry Grote with patches on jersey



The Mets will honor two former players with patches on their uniforms for the remainder of this season.

The team announced Saturday that it will add the patches containing the numbers of Willie Mays (24) and Jerry Grote (15) to commemorate their recent deaths.

Willie Mays spent the final year-plus of his career with the Mets. AP

Mays, who played the final two seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Mets in 1972-73, died on June 18.

The Mets retired his number in 2022.

The Mets added a patch to their jersey to honor Willie Mays. Screengrab via X/@SNY_Mets
The Mets also added a No. 15 patch to honor Jerry Grote. Screengrab via X/@SNY_Mets

Grote, a two-time All-Star catcher with the Mets from 1966-77 and a member of the franchise’s Hall of Fame, died in April.

He won the 1969 World Series with the team.

The Mets already had a No.3 patch on their uniforms this season to honor former player and manager Bud Harrelson, who died in January.

Jerry Grote, who died in April, will be honored by the Mets with a patch on their jersey. AP

“It has been a tough year for our Mets family,” owner Steve Cohen said in a statement.  “We’ve lost two Mets Hall of Famers in Buddy Harrelson and Jerry Grote and the great Willie Mays.

“Jerry was the best defensive catcher in the history of our organization and guided the incredible 1969 pitching staff. We were honored to fulfill [former owner] Joan Payson’s promise to retire Willie’s number on Old Timers’ Day a few years ago and make sure he has a permanent home in New York.”





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