Mets Old Timers' Day Game returns on Aug. 27

NEW YORK -- For the first time since 1994, the Mets will have an Old Timers’ Day at Citi Field on Aug. 27. It comes right before they face the Rockies. The Old Timers’ Day player introductions will begin at 5 p.m. ET. Single-game tickets are available on Mets.com/tickets. Gates will open at 4:10 p.m.

“Bringing back Old Timers’ Day was one of the most passionate requests I heard from our fans,” said Mets chairman, CEO and owner Steve Cohen. “As we celebrate our 60th Anniversary season, having these legendary players return to the ballpark to hear cheers from Mets fans once again is the perfect way to honor our past.”

Frank Thomas, Ron Swoboda, Mike Piazza, Jon Matlack, Felix Millán, Mookie Wilson, Howard Johnson, Bobby Ojeda, Robin Ventura, Turk Wendell, Endy Chávez, Cliff Floyd and Daniel Murphy are among more than 40 players scheduled to attend. The Mets will be announcing additional former players who will be participating in the game in the coming months.

Floyd, Ventura and Murphy were on a Zoom call to talk about the special day. All three helped the team reach the postseason over the years. They said they couldn’t wait to attend the event and see old friends.

Murphy, who is 36, could be the youngest old timer that day. He retired after the 2020 season. Murphy is best known for winning the National League Championship Series MVP against the Cubs in 2015. He went 9-for-17 (.529) with four home runs and six RBIs in that series.

“I think it’s really cool Mr. Cohen wanted to start this. It sounds like it was spurred by the fans,” Murphy said. “... It will be a lot of fun. I’m kind of excited to get back in the locker room. I’m not sure what the rules are yet.”

Ventura, now a student assistant at Oklahoma State University, was with the Mets from 1999-2001. During that period, the Mets went to the postseason two out of the three years he was there. He is best known for hitting the game-winning grand slam single in Game 5 of the 1999 National League Championship Series against the Braves.

“I’m excited to be back there,” Ventura said. "… I don’t know about getting in uniform. I have to work on that a little bit and shape up. It’s just fun to be around the guys, see a lot of people that are very familiar and lifelong friends.”

Floyd played with the Mets from 2003-06. His best year in New York was in 2005, when he hit a career-high 34 home runs with 98 RBIs and placed third on the team in Wins Above Replacement with 4.7.

“The fans played a big part in you putting on your big-boy pants and being real and true,” Floyd said. “... You just play the game [differently] in New York. I wish I was a little more healthy. When you look at my four years, I learned a lot about myself playing in New York. It was great. We had some big ups and a few downs. But for the most part, it was tremendous for me.”