19 Sep Getting to Know NY Mets Captain David Wright
After missing more than two years due to neck and shoulder problems, New York Mets third baseman David Wright announced his retirement from Major League Baseball last Thursday. Wright will be activated from the disabled list on September 25th before making his final start in a Mets uniform on September 29th, the Mets’ second-to-last game of the season.
Full Name – David Allen Wright
Born – December 20, 1982 in Norfolk, Virginia
Height & Weight – 6-0, 210
Drafted: by the Mets as the 38th overall pick in the first round of the 2001 MLB draft.
Hobbies/Interests – Golf, tennis and playing cards. I also like to hang out with my brothers and play sports games; I have three younger brothers.
Favorite Actor – Paul Rudd
Favorite Foods – Pizza and Sushi
Favorite Musician – Dave Matthews Band
Favorite City To Visit – My hometown, Tidewater, Virginia
Player I’d Love to Talk Baseball With – hitting with Tony Gwynn.
Life After Baseball – Coaching little league somewhere.
If Not a Baseball Player – I probably would have been a police officer like my dad or an engineer like my brother.
Players who have helped me at the start of my career – Joe McEwing, Cliff Floyd and Mike Cameron were all great to me when I was called up to the Major Leagues.
What former player did you admire the most? Cal Ripken Jr. My father used to take me every summer on a bus ride to Camden Yards, and those are my first recollections of big-league baseball – sitting in the nosebleeds at Camden Yards, cheering on Cal Ripken Jr.
Influences – My parents who sacrificed much time for me. They took me to little league games and practice. They were great role models.
Advice – To have fun with what you are doing. It seems like just yesterday I was called up and now 7-8 years later, it’s passing by so quickly, so I try to have fun each and every day with what I am doing.
Situation I Thrive In – I love to have the bat in my hands late in the game with runners on base
Favorite Ballpark –Citi Field, this place is awesome. I love playing in New York. The energy, the edge and the excitement that New York has, no one else has. I also enjoyed playing in Dodger Stadium.
Favorite Non Baseball Sports Team – Virginia Tech Hokies
Toughest Pitcher Ever Faced – At the start of my career I hated facing John Smoltz of the Braves later on it was Roy Halladay of the Phillies.
First Job – I worked very briefly at a batting cage in high school, in Chesapeake, VA at age 15.
Biggest Disappointment So Far – To not have accomplished so far what I feel we as a team should have in past seasons.
Biggest Thrill to Date as an Athlete – No question, going to the Playoffs in 2006 and the World Series in 2015.
Best single Mets moment? I would say clinching the NL East at home, or clinching the first round of the (2006) playoffs in L.A. and the 2015 World Series.
Worst single Mets moment? Probably when Yadier Molina hit the home run in Game 7 of the NLCS.
How much do you enjoy being Captain? Love it. Love it. It’s probably, the single biggest individual honor in my career, to be named Captain of this franchise. I grew up a Mets fan, it’s well-documented I was drafted by this team, developed by this team, made a name for myself with this team, and to be Captain of this team, it means the world to me.