Mets reverse course on issuing team legend's famed number to prospect after fan outrage: 'Just seems wrong'

Nick Morabito was issued Gary Carter's famed No. 8. (Randy Litzinger, George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

The New York Mets' younker question continued Tuesday night, but different determination regarding it caused astir contiguous backlash.

The Mets promoted outfield imaginable Nick Morabito up of their crippled against their NL East rival, the Washington Nationals, and helium was issued No. 8, which had not been worn by a Met since 2001.

The crushed the Mets person mostly kept it retired of rotation is successful grant of Gary Carter, who helped pb the 1986 Mets to the World Series, though the fig has ne'er been officially retired. Carter spent 5 seasons with the Mets and was an All-Star successful 4 of them aft starring for the Montreal Expos.

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Nick Morabito was issued Gary Carter's famed No. 8. (Randy Litzinger, George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

With the Mets, the catcher was a instrumentality favourite and an MVP candidate. He played successful Queens from 1985 to 1989, and it's been seldom issued since helium near the team. Three players had worn it aft Carter, with the astir caller being Desi Relaford successful 2001.

That changed Tuesday, and it rapidly irked fans and adjacent longtime Mets play-by-play announcer Howie Rose.

"There’s been a statement implicit whether Gary Carter’s fig should beryllium retired, but to merchandise it this 40th day play of 1986 conscionable seems wrong," Rose posted to X.

New York Mets near fielder Nick Morabito prepares to plaything astatine a transportation against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning astatine Nationals Park successful Washington, D.C., connected May 19, 2026. (Rafael Suanes/Imagn Images)

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The New York Post, however, reported that Morabito volition beryllium fixed No. 55 instead. It was excessively late, though, to marque the alteration Tuesday, truthful Morabito took the tract with No. 8.

The Mets person honored their erstwhile players much since Steve Cohen bought the squad from the Wilpons successful 2020. Before Cohen's ownership, lone the numbers of Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges, Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza were retired, but since Cohen bought the team, six numbers person been retired, with a seventh coming this summer.

But nary person been for Carter, who died successful 2012.

David Wright, Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden, Keith Hernandez, Willie Mays and Jerry Koosman person each had their numbers enactment up successful the Citi Field rafters, and Carlos Beltran volition articulation them this year.

Nick Morabito of the New York Mets jogs to archetypal basal during the 3rd inning of his large league debut against the Washington Nationals astatine Nationals Park successful Washington, D.C., connected May 19, 2026. (Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)

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Morabito astir made a spectacular play successful near field, but a shot ricocheted disconnected his mitt and resulted successful an inside-the-park location tally for Nats slugger James Wood. He did marque a splendid over-the-wall drawback successful foul territory.

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