FLUSHING, NY — “It’s gonna be a lovefest.”
Those were the words said by Mets owner Steve Cohen Monday behind home plate as the Orioles and Mets were in the midst of batting practice and individual warm-up routines at Citi Field.
The lovefest Cohen was referring to while fans waited for potential autographs and photos with players from each side?
Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso. The Polar Bear.
Pete Alonso signing autographs for fans ahead of his return tonight at Citi Field
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A popular nickname Alonso had first gotten attached to in orange and blue during his rookie season in 2019, a historic year where a 24-year-old Alonso, fresh on the big league scene, broke the single season rookie home run record with 53 long balls.
From 2020 until 2025, The Polar Bear’s final year of calling Flushing, Queens home, he had slugged a combined 211 homers.
Two hundred and sixty four total as a Met (264) for his career, the most in franchise history, surpassing franchise greats Darryl Strawberry (252) and David Wright (242) in 2025 and Mike Piazza (220) a year prior.
Pete Alonso hits a home run vs. the Dodgers in Game 5 of the 2024 National League Championship Series at Citi Field, which is what he revealed Monday afternoon is his favorite memory at Citi Field – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
As Alonso’s name proceeded to climb up the franchise home run ranks amongst more all-time stats for those ever to call Queens home—missing 24 games combined from 2019-2025—so did Mets fans’ attachment towards The Polar Bear.
Not just for his majestic swings at the plate, though that definitely helped. But because of the five-time All-Star’s every day attitude of carrying himself as a true professional, his love for New York as his home away from home of Tampa, Florida, and appreciation towards those who helped shape the now 31-year-old Alonso.
Pete Alonso made his return to Queens Monday night with over 35,000 fans in attendance at Citi Field chanting The Polar Bear’s name for a majority of the night – Image Credit: Miguel Maldonado/Latino Sports
That’s why his return to Queens Monday night was one Mets fans, New Yorkers and those in the baseball industry will remain talking about, still questioning Mets’ president of baseball operations David Stearns and the front office’s decision in letting Alonso head to Baltimore last December on a five-year/$155 million deal.
“For the Mets, I respect their decision,” Alonso said pregame to a sea of reporters outside the Orioles’ clubhouse. “The guys running the team, it’s their prerogative to do whatever they think is best. I respect it professionally. And I’m so stoked to be an Oriole and be a part of this organization.”
As the Mets honored Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso with a pregame tribute video on center field’s scoreboard, fans in their seats stood up to give The Polar Bear a standing ovation – Image Credit: Miguel Maldonado/Latino Sports
Stoked to be an O is Alonso. And for him, it was a memorable return Monday including standing ovations from the crowd of 35,800 for each of The Polar Bear’s four plate appearances (0-3 with a walk and strikeout), to go along with constant “PETE” and “Pete Alonso” chants, some shouts of “Fire Stearns” in there too, and a pregame video tribute on center field’s scoreboard.
“I appreciate their sentiment and their support—for just showing appreciation for the years of the effort and performance and doing whatever I could do to help the team win,” he said of the love received from the Amazin’ fanbase throughout the entirety of the O’s defeating the Mets, 2-1.
“I guess that’s kind of how I digest that.”
Francisco Álvarez and Pete Alonso prior to Alonso’s first at-bat of Monday’s game where he tipped his helmet to the crowd as they all stood together to present him with an outpour of love – Image Credit: Miguel Maldonado/Latino Sports
Still tough for a Mets fanbase to digest however is witnessing Alonso in a different uniform compared to the orange and blue, a fan-favorite at the end of it all continuing his charitable work with his wife Haley in Baltimore.
“Honestly, it’s a little weird. But because we’re in the same building, there’s so much familiarity to it. It feels good,” he said. “Obviously, I lived a lot of life here. It’s really exciting to be back, and it’s really good to see all the guys and people over on the other side.”
During their only season as teammates in 2025, Juan Soto (43) and Pete Alonso (38) had combined to hit 81 home runs – Image Credit: Miguel Maldonado/Latino Sports
His first stop upon arriving at the ballpark he once called home early Monday afternoon?
Back to the Mets’ side of the diamond to the indoor batting cage outside the Mets clubhouse to see some former teammates such as catcher Francisco Álvarez, among others.
When it came to actually taking the field in warm-ups with the O’s over an hour later, right before doing so, Alonso’s first three stops before getting loose was to Alex Cohen, then Jose Iglesias, aka Candelita who is having a summer to remember on Broadway, and lastly, Steve Cohen.
Monday’s pregame in Queens for Pete Alonso, his first time back at Citi Field since signing with the O’s last December, started off with The Polar Bear catching up with Alex Cohen, José Iglesias and Steve Cohen – Image Credit: Miguel Maldonado/Latino Sports
“Two things can be true at the same time,” Alonso said. “I’m very happy and appreciative of my time that I spent as a Met, and I’m beyond grateful and appreciative of the Baltimore Orioles.”
Home Run Watch for Lindor and Alonso
The home run watch is on for Alonso and Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, teammates in Queens from 2021-2025, as each superstar is currently at 299 career home runs, seeking their 300th blast.
“I know Paco is chasing down that same milestone, so it’d be really cool if both of us could do it in the same game,” Alonso said. “That’d really be sick.”
The respect between Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso goes way beyond the baseball diamond with the duo playing together in Queens for five seasons from 2021-2025 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Of Alonso’s return and Mets fans giving him all the love he “deserved,” Lindor said:
“I think he got every ounce of love that he deserved. He got it tonight, he’ll probably get it tomorrow too. And the next day too. It was cool to see how they showed out for him, how they gave him love. I think next time we got to give the pitcher (23-year-old Mets rookie Jonah Tong) a little more love too because at the end of the day we’re trying to win the game, but he’s one of the most beloved players that come through here. And even ourselves, we love him, so that was a really cool day to watch how they acknowledged him.”
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