On the eve of his induction into the Mets Hall of Fame, former manager Bobby Valentine was seemingly everywhere on Friday night -- at least we think it was him.
Valentine was one of the more popular managers in team history, steering the Mets to the 2000 National League pennant and embracing his role in helping New York City heal after September 11. But his signature moment was almost certainly when he donned a fake mustache to return to the dugout after being ejected from a game in 1999.
Bobby V was suspended for two games and fined $5,000, but the relative slap on the wrist was worth it: His notorious and hilarious disguise was widely beloved, and it helped keep things light for a team that would fall just two games short of the World Series.
As such, the lead-up to the Mets' walk-off win over the Marlins on Friday was all about the 'stache. The first 15,000 fans at the gate received a Bobby V disguise, and Valentine -- clad in his famous getup -- threw out the first pitch to a similarly incognito Mr. Met.
But the festivities began before Valentine even arrived at the stadium. As the Mets posted on social media, Bobby V -- a true man of the people -- donned his disguise on the subway on the way to the game. And he didn't need to ride alone, as he had a host of similarly disguised fans to escort him to Citi Field a la Eminem at the 2000 MTV Awards. Other Bobby V clones rode bikes to the game.
It's clear that more than two decades after his tenure as Mets skipper, Valentine remains beloved for his success, sense of humor and work in the community.
“[It] was a spectacular part of my life,” Valentine told Mets reporter Anthony DiComo earlier this month, “and I’m glad that it hasn’t been forgotten."