NEW YORK (AP) — When Bobby Valentine put on sunglasses and a fake mustache to sneak back into the dugout after getting ejected on June 9, 1999, he was simply trying to keep team morale up — and maybe keep his job with the New York Mets.
That sneaky move became a career-defining moment, possibly the most unforgettable incident in his four decades in professional baseball.
Before his upcoming induction into the Mets Hall of Fame, Valentine celebrated that legendary stunt Friday evening by once again sporting the same disguise while delivering the ceremonial first pitch to an equally disguised Mr. Met.
The 76-year-old former skipper, set to be honored Saturday along with former Mets teammate Lee Mazzilli, walked out from the New York dugout to enthusiastic applause from the Citi Field audience, many already wearing the promotional giveaway items — sunglasses and fake mustaches.
Valentine stepped forward near the pitcher’s mound and delivered his throw to the team mascot, whose cap displayed the words: Not Mr. Met.
Shortly after, local students from John Lewis Childs grammar school on Long Island performed the national anthem — with several sporting fake mustaches. Another group of disguised children then pressed a button to light up the Home Run Apple in center field.
“Great memories for me,” Valentine shared through vice president of alumni public relations and team historian Jay Horwitz. “At the time I did the mustache, we were struggling and I wanted to let the guys know I was behind them.”
Valentine created his disguise — using eye black for the mustache — just three days after general manager Steve Phillips dismissed three New York coaches. Valentine had challenged the organization by declaring the Mets, sitting at 27-28 when the coaches were let go, should dismiss him if the team couldn’t achieve a 40-15 record in their following 55 games.
The team won their next three contests and were tied with Toronto when Valentine was ejected for disputing a catcher’s interference ruling involving Mike Piazza. With encouragement from Orel Hershiser and Robin Ventura, Valentine put on the sunglasses, fashioned his mustache and slipped back into the dugout, where TV cameras quickly caught him.
Valentine’s cover was completely blown when he rushed onto the field to join the celebration of Rey Ordoñez’s walk-off hit in the 14th inning. The league penalized Valentine with a $5,000 fine and a two-game suspension.
“It was made a big thing because things were kind of big at that time,” Valentine explained to ESPN in 2019. “I was supposed to be fired.”
The Mets actually delivered on Valentine’s challenge, going 40-15 over those next 55 games and advancing to the National League Championship Series. Valentine led New York to the World Series against their crosstown rivals the Yankees in 2000 and held the second-highest totals in franchise history for victories and games managed before his dismissal after the 2002 season.
