Remembering Mets History (1999) Bobby Valentine Wears A Disguise In the Dugout After Being Ejected

Tuesday June 9th, 1999: The Mets came into this game on a four game win streak, which began in the final game of the subway series where Benny Agbayani drove in three runs & Mike Piazza drove in two including a HR off Roger Clemens. Prior to that game the Mets had a season worst eight game losing streak.

Tonight a Shea crowd of 18,254 came out to see Bobby Valentines second place Mets (31-28) host against Jim Fregosi's third place Toronto Blue Jays (27-34). 

The main event in tonight's game wouldn't happen on the playing field but in the dugout with manager Bobby Valentine taking center stage.

Bobby V sent Rick Reed (3-3) to the mound to face off against the Jays David Wells (6-5). 

In the top of the 2nd, Darrin Fletcher hit a solo HR making it 1-0 Jays. In the top of the 3rd, Craig Grebeck singled & scored on Carlos Delgado's double.  In the top of the 4th, Joe Cruz added a solo HR giving the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead.

In the home 3rd, the Mets put two men on but failed to score. David Wells then retired 18 of the next 19 batters holding the 3-0 lead to the 9th inning.

In the bottom of the 9th, Edgardo Alfonzo singled with one out. John Olerud then was retired on a force play. Mike Piazza singled, bringing up Robin Ventura with runners on the corners. 

The slow-footed Piazza surprised everyone & stole second base. It was his second steal of the season & his third stolen base in the past two years.

Robin Ventura then singled bringing in both Alfonzo & Piazza getting New York to within a run. For Toronto Wells night was thru as Billy Koch came on to pitch.

Bobby Valentine sent Luis Lopez in to run for Ventura. Brian McRae doubled down the left field line, scoring Lopez & tying the game up at three. It was McRae's seventh double & 20th RBI of the season.

The game went to extra innings. In the 10th, Dennis Cook pitched a scoreless inning then John Franco pitched a scoreless 11th inning. Billy Koch got his team to the 12th inning as well.

In the top of the 12th, Shannon Stewart singled off the Mets reliever Pat Mahomes. 

Next with Craig Grebeck at bat, Mike Piazza called for a pitch out.  Shannon Stewart stole the base safely as Rey Ordonez couldn't handle Piazza's throw. 

Home plate umpire Randy Marsh then called catcher interference on Piazza awarding Grebeck first base. It was a strange play with no evidence of interference except Piazza being to far out for the pitch out.

Mets manager, Bobby Valentine came out to argue the call with the umpire Randy Marsh. As soon as things got heated, Marsh ejected Valentine from the game. 

The Mets got out of the inning, as Mahomes got Jacob Brumfield to pop out & then struck out Carlos Delgado swinging.

At the time the Mets had a new coaching staff as Valentine's coaches had been fired a week earlier by GM Steve Phillips. Orel Hershiser told Valentine the coaches weren't familiar with the team & that he would relay Valentines calls.

Robin Ventura took things further, going to his manager throwing him his sunglasses & encouraging him to get back to the dugout undercover. Valentine taped a fake moustache on himself, took off his uniform & made his way up the runway.

In the bottom of the 13th, Bobby Valentine reappeared, he was spotted by television cameras, sitting in the dugout, wearing a fake moustache & sunglasses. Broadcasters Howie Rose & Fran Healy sure got a laugh out of it. It was certainly one of Bobby V's classic moments that is remembered as one of his funnier moments in his his legacy as Mets Manager. 

Quotes: Bobby Valentine: "I wasn't fooling anyone with that disguise. If Randy Marsh saw it, I believe he would have laughed. This had absolutely nothing to do with the umpires. I did it to lighten up the team." 

The league wasn't as amused as the fans were or as amused as the media was. NL President Leonard Coleman wanted to meet with Valentine in person. But Bobby V. said he'd reach out to him by phone. Valentine ended up getting suspended for two games & was fined $5000. 

Trivia: In 1989 while managing the Texas Rangers Valentine had been suspended for a game & attempted to sit in the left field stands in disguise but was spotted by fans then retreated.

Pat Mahomes gave the Mets three scoreless innings, allowing two hits & striking out three along the way.

In the bottom of the 14th inning, the Jays new pitcher Tom Davey gave up back-to-back walks to Luis Lopez & Brian McRae. Veteran Dan Plesac relieved him. First Roger Cedeno sacrificed the runner over a base, with Lopez ninety feet away. Rey Ordonez then singled to drive Lopez in with the walk off game winning run.

In the four hour & thirty five minute game, that took 14 innings, the two team collected a combined 26 hits, 11 for New York, 15 for Toronto. Both teams used five pitchers & twelve position players each.

Bobby V may have motivated his team as he hoped, as the Mets went on to win 12 of their next 15 games. 

That year they tied for a playoff spot, won the tie breaker for the wild card & beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS, before getting eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS.

Bobby V Disguise Night: On May 29th 2026, a full 27 years after the incident, the Mets will have a Bobby Valentine Disguise Night, issuing a glasses & mustache kit to the first 15,000 fans in attendance.

Quotes- Bobby Valentine: "I love it. I'll be there, can't wait".