Or maybe it’s mostly about the vibes. You see, much like the Mets this season, Rutgers entered the year with middling expectations and has all the non-believers changing their tune in October.
The Mets are in the National League Championship Series for the first time 2015. Rutgers is 4-1 for the first time since 2014. Things are really happening for New York/New Jersey fans at the moment and it was only fair to mash them all together.
Which is how you end up with Rutgers inviting Grimace to dance in the end zone to Jose Iglesias’ single “OMG” during a Week 7 game against Wisconsin.
Thanks to the New York Mets, today is not a normal day in New York City.
Thanks to the New York Mets, today is not a normal day in New York City.
For the first time in over 3,000 days, the Mets are set to host a playoff game beyond a wild card appearance in the MLB postseason. As many fans made their way to Citi Field in Queens, one very special guest joined a few of them on the train.
It was the McDonald’s character Grimace, who has served as a good luck charm for the team during the magical 2024 season. Fans seemed beyond excited to see the large purple mascot.
The McDonald’s character Grimace somehow became an unexpected but incredibly important part of the New York Mets season.
Grimace became more than just a face that a baseball player makes when he is hit by a fastball before he takes his base. It is now integral to the DNA of what makes this season special to the New York fanbase.
While you may know about the “OMG” sign and you recently learned about the playoff pumpkin, the McDonald’s mascot is another layer to the Mets lore in 2024.
So here is what you need to know about what is happening and why this is such a thing for this MLB team.
When did the Grimace era start?
(Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
It was June 12 and the season was not going well for the Mets.
Grimace was celebrating his birthday, which is apparently a thing that happens with characters in the McDonald’s universe. As part of the unique celebration, the purple mascot was tasked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field.
Before the team had any affiliation with Grimace, they were 28-37 (.430) and the playoffs seemed like a pipe dream. But since then, the Mets went 61-38 (.628) and were one of the hottest and most dominant teams in the MLB.
What do fans and players think of Grimace?
Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
Needless to say, fans have fallen in love with the Grimace era of the Mets.
Some have worn costumes of Grimace while chugging beer and others have gotten spotted in the background of home runs, like this amazing shot of an absolute dinger from Brandon Nimmo.
The outfielder has said that Grimace has played a role in why New York has had so much success this season (via SNY):
“I don’t know about coincidences. He definitely correlates with us going on this run. So if that’s what you want to attribute it to, I am all for it.”
During an in-game interview, first baseman Pete Alonso added that if the Mets can keep Grimace around then “good things” would happen.
New York star Francisco Lindor, meanwhile, told USA TODAY’s Mackenzie Salmon that “it’s great” if fans feel this is what is helping them win.
As a tribute to commemorate everything that Grimace has done for the franchise this season, the Mets installed a purple seat at Citi Field.
The team revealed this installation before the game on September 16, and he attended that game as well. New York added the purple seat for Section 302, Row 6, Seat 12. The “6” and “12” signify the June 12 birthday and first pitch anniversary.
Fans can sit in that seat to honor Grimace, as silly as that sounds, to feel the special connection to the McDonald’s mascot.
Now, with Grimace becoming increasingly popular around the Mets’ home stadium, even New York’s broadcasters are letting their somewhat intrusive thoughts fly. Take Keith Hernandez, for example.
During the Mets’ matchup with the Houston Astros on Sunday afternoon, an off-the-cuff conversation with play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen about an inflatable Grimace went off the rails quickly.
It turned into Hernandez sharing his most honest thoughts — he’d love to pop it with an ice pick. Oh man, that is hilarious:
Honestly, since Hernandez poses the question, I can’t lie.
I would love to take even a needle and pop that Grimace costume. Can you just imagine how satisfying that would be? Oops! Then again, that is also me expanding on a thought I probably wouldn’t otherwise share, especially on live TV.
