Why Mets home run king has more in common with former Rangers star than sharing No. 20
There’s a solid argument to be made that one day No. 20 will be retired by both the New York Rangers and New York Mets. Though that’s a pretty good starting point, it’s not the only thing Chris Kreider and Pete Alonso have in common.
We won’t know for a number of years if the Rangers will retire Kreider’s No. 20 or if the Mets will honor Alonso similarly. Each remains an active and productive player in his respective sport.
However, retirement is likely closer for Kreider, 34, than Alonso, who turns 31 in December and recently stated his plan to play until his age-40 season.
Recent circumstances helped raise speculation about each franchise icon having his number retired. Debate spiked for Kreider after the Rangers traded their longest-tenured player to the Anaheim Ducks in June. The topic was raised with Alonso after the Polar Bear became the Mets all-time home run king earlier this week.
Alonso, who homered again in that same game Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, is the Mets franchise leader with 254 home runs (and counting). Kreider finished his Rangers tenure with 326 goals, third all-time in franchise history. He’s also tied for first with Camille Henry with 116 power-play goals.
It would appear that Alonso is more of a lock than Kreider to have his number retired, based on the sheer numbers. In seven MLB seasons, Alonso is a five-time All-Star and hit 40 or more home runs three times. He holds the Major League record for most homers hit by a rookie (53, in 2019) and won the Home Run Derby twice (2019, 2021). He’s also one away from his fourth 100-RBI season, and led the National League with 131 RBI in 2022.
Each of the three players right behind Alonso on the Mets all-time home run list have their numbers retired at Citi Field: Darryl Strawberry (No. 18; 252 home runs), David Wright (5; 242), and Mike Piazza (31; 220).
Kreider is not in that rarified air with the Rangers, despite where he stands all-time in goals scored. He was pretty darn consistent, though, scoring 20 or more goals in 10 of his final 11 seasons on Broadway. Kreider broke out as a star in the latter stages of his Rangers tenure, beginning with a 52-goal season in 2021-22, when he became the fourth player in franchise history to score 50.
Related: Case for, against Rangers retiring Chris Kreider’s number 20
Many parallels between Chris Kreider, Pete Alonso
There are plenty of similarities between Kreider and Alonso. Each was a hyped prospect who made a big first impression — Kreider in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Alonso in his record-setting rookie season. Each player also eclipsed a special plateau — Kreider with 52 goals one season, Alonso with 53 home runs once.
Though they are completely different personalities — Kreider the cautious, soft-spoken intellectual; Alonso the beer-drinking everyman who coined the salty LFGM slogan — each player built a strong connection with his team’s fan base.
And each established his career-defining moment (so far) in the 2024 postseason. First, Kreider scored a third-period natural hat trick to rally the Rangers past the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the second round and into the Eastern Conference Final. Five months later, Alonso saved the Mets’ season with a ninth-inning, three-run homer off Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams that turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead in the decisive third game of their Wild Card series. The Mets eventually reached the National League Championship Series.
Kreider’s playoff hatty and Alonso’s stunning, season-saving home run are now iconic moments in New York sports history.
Related: Chris Kreider uses Shoulder Check Showcase to say goodbye to Rangers fans
Mets face similar dilemma with Pete Alonso as Rangers did with Chris Kreider
The next parallel is a tricky one. Just as the Rangers navigated the difficult decision to trade Kreider, the Mets must figure out what to do with Alonso moving forward. Their loveable slugger can be a free agent this offseason, when he’s expected to opt out of the second of his two-year contract.
In fact, this will be the second straight offseason the Mets are in that situation. They came under heavy fire last winter for “lowballing” Alonso in free agency. Simply, general manager David Stearns doesn’t believe it’s wise to invest long term in an aging first baseman, no matter how popular Alonso is with the fans nor given his successful track record in New York — no small thing.
Stearns’ counterpart with the Rangers, GM Chris Drury, stuck to his guns and traded Kreider in order to free up much-needed salary-cap space. However, Drury also caused an uproar within the Rangers locker room and fan base when he mishandled the Kreider situation last season, with the forward’s name leaked in a trade memo to other NHL GMs.
Drury took plenty of heat for his heavy-handed approach last season with a trio of veterans — Kreider, Jacob Trouba and Barclay Goodrow. But Rangers fans by and large seem on-board with how he’s juggled the roster to free up cash in order to extend star goalie Igor Shesterkin and sign free-agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.
If Stearns lets Alonso walk after a massive 2025 season, he’ll be eviscerated by fans of the Blue and Orange. That doesn’t mean he, like Drury, doesn’t have the correct long-term vision financially and otherwise. But it’ll get ugly, for sure.
It would be ironic if Kreider and Alonso were sent packing one year after each cemented his legacy in New York. That would strengthen their bond even more. And it would all come full circle should Kreider and Alonso one day have their No. 20s retired in the Big Apple.
