David Wright: 2nd Place HR Derby; All-Star Game HR; on Letterman
Published by Haseeb July 13th, 2006 in SportsWhat a past couple of days for the future NL MVP, David Wright. This was his first all-star game (he was elected by fans like yours truly to start at 3B for the NL). But before the all-star game, he was chosen to participate the Home Run Derby.
And while Wright was considered an underdog in the derby, he actually led all of his competitors in the first round in HRs with 16 (3rd most all-time!). While he did go on to make the Finals of the HR derby, it seems like both he and his pitcher (fellow all-star Paul Lo Duca) tired out by the final round as Wright only hit 4 HRs. Ryan Howard from the Phillies went on to win the Derby. Nonetheless, it was quite an impressive HR Derby debut for our MVP.
The following night, he made his All-Star game debut. Wright made an impact in his first at bat, in which he hit a Homerun (the 13th player to hit in history to hit a HR in his all-star game debut). Fellow Mets’ allstar Carlos Beltran scored the 2nd and only other NL run. While the NL led most of the game 2-1, the AL came back in the top of the 9th to win the game 3-2. So basically it was AL All-Stars 3, Mets 2.
And last night, David Wright was on Letterman. They discussed his passion for baseball, players he idolized growing up, the current Mets’ team, his coaches, his “sticking out of his tongue” when playing, the HR Derby, and his amazing one-handed diving catch last year.
Wright: I’ve watched the show, and Ive heard the rips and the digs and everything; so we know that you’re a Yankee fan.
Letterman: Wait a minute. Let me get this straight, I was a Yankee fan as long as they were winning.
David Wright has updated his blog with his thoughts on his first all-star experience. Read about it here Mashallah, its good to know that he’s remaining humble and down to earth amidst his superstardom and successes.
I enjoyed every second of my time in Pittsburgh. It was hectic, but you can’t get caught up in that. You never know how many All-Star Games you’ll get to participate in, so I really tried to make the most of it. I’m young, so hopefully I’ll get to come to a few more of these, but I’ll always have this one. I feel like I was really able to soak it in.
With Wright , Jose Reyes , Carlos Beltran , Mike Pelfrey , Lastings Milledge , Victor Diaz , Anderson Hernandez and other blue chip pitching prospects in the minors… the Mets are starting to feel like the Yankees…(when they were young and hungry i mean :-P)
Wright is already IMO a top 5 ALL around baseball player in the league.
and … he is truly honestly humble… which is unique.
Go Mets!
PS… ill take David Wright and Jose Reyes as they are now(forget few years !) .. over A-ROD and Jeter anyday.
I was actually going for Wright during the HRD. I still think it woulda been pretty sweet if all the Mets players were going to start off the ASG as was supposed to be the case.