Remembering Mets History (2016) Bartolo Colon Becomes the Oldest Player In MLB History To Hit His First Career HR

Saturday May 7th, 2016: A good crowd of 41,028 attended Petco Park in San Diego to see Terry Collins second place Mets (17-11) take on Andy Green's San Diego Padres (13-17). 

After an eight game win streak, the Mets had lost four of six & were trying to avoid a series sweep. At this early point in the season, the rigning NL Champs were 1.5 games behid the Washington Nationals who had just lost their third straight game.

Tonight would be a memorable night for the Mets & the ageless Bartolo Colon.

In the top of the 1st, David Wright drew a walk & Yoenis Cespedes hit a two run HR, for his tenth HR of the year. Cespedes drove in his 29th run, putting him among the NL leaders. It was a 2-0 lead for the Mets & Bartolo Colon.

In the top of the 2nd, with two outs, Kevin Plawecki doubled to center field. Bartolo Colon stepped in & hit a HR down the left field line off pitcher James Shields. The Mets players, the fans & the broadcasters were all stunned with amazement.

Quotes- Broadcaster Gary Cohen: “This is one of the great moments in the history of baseball! Bartolo Colon has gone deep!”

MLB Trivia: Bartolo Colon became the oldest player (at age 42) in MLB history to hit his first career HR. He was also the fifth oldest pitcher in MLB history to ever hit a HR.

Mets Trivia: As for Mets franchise history, Bartolo is the second oldest Met behind the 48 year old Julio Franco to hit a HR.

He also joins Franco & the great Willie Mays as the only Mets to hit HRs at the age of 42 or older.

This was Colon's third extra base hit of his career & his first hit of the 2016 season. 

It took him 30.6 seconds to round the base, which may be another record in itself.

Quotes- Ron Darling: "I wanna say that's the longest HR trot I've ever seen, but I think that's just how fast he runs."

When Colon got to the dugout all the Mets players had hid in the runway & no one was there to greet him. But quickly, they all came running in to mob him with nothing but laughs & smiles.

Bartolo At the Bat: In his career Colon hit .084 with 25 hits in 299 at bats. He collected one HR, four doubles & eleven RBIs.

Colon the slugger, also pitched a fine game that night as well, going 6.2 innings, allowing three runs, on six hits with just one walk & six strike outs. He went to 3-1 on the year with a 2.82 ERA.

In the 9th inning, the Mets went back-to-back as David Wright hit his fourth HR of the year, then
Michael Conforto added another with his fifth HR of the year. 

The Mets went on to a 6-3 win, bringing them to within a half game of the first place National.

Quotes-Bartolo Colon: I don't even know how to explain it. I'm very thankful, I thank God & am very grateful. It means a lot."

Bartolo said he knew it was gone because the ball in San Diego carries very well. He also said he felt it was the biggest moment of his career.

Quotes- Terry Collins: "You're just so happy for him, he's such a pro, he's such a good guy. The time he's been here he's such a leader for everybody. We all know he's an entertaining guy at home plate."

Bart Trivia: In 2014 when the Mets signed 40 year old Bartolo Colon for $20 million, he was the highest paid pitcher on the Mets staff & the third highest paid member of the team. Everyone thought the Mets were crazy, but his Mets career became legendary. He became a folk hero & helped the Mets win the 2015 NL Pennant.