I think after this weekend, it is clear nobody could ever wear 5 again.
The Mets have a good rule for numbers, Hall Of Fame Or Bust, as it stops us from going down the rabbit hole of how do you do 17 but not 8, how do you do 16 not 18 etc. (Here’s a full discussion for you!)
However, in this case, it’s time to break the rule. Can you imagine some neo-Charlie Samuels giving 5 to Jason Anderson and Wilson Delgado (both wore 17!!!!). No.
Even if “the next David Wright” comes along, I warn you that maybe Harvey 41 would be a massive mistake, and even deGrom 41 wouldn’t be right.
So, no, nobody wears 5 again.
Oh, and Jeff said as much during the press announcement in September, everyone just glossed over it.
Where do we go from here?
Nowhere for two years. We all have to play along that David hasn’t “retired” so that the insurance pays the Mets who pay the Wilpons.
We have 1969 to give us something to do in 2019 so they don’t need it.
2020 may have to fend for itself. Although there is a sweet nostalgia point of bringing out the 2000 club. Nostalgia at twenty years is perfect. Don’t worry about Yankee fans making fun of us, they will make fun of us anyway. Have the 2000s over for lunch Metsies.
But David Wright Day during the 2021 Rebuild (check your pitcher contracts) – yep that will happen, and a 5 will go up on the stadium’s upper ring.