PORT ST. LUCIE — Attention, Mets: This is your captain speaking.
“This is probably one of the proudest days of my career so far,” David Wright said yesterday after the Mets named him the fourth captain in franchise history. “For me, it’s a dream come true to say the least.”
Not that anyone has questioned the identity of the Mets’ true leader over the last several years, but the team finally got around to making it official.
Wright joined Keith Hernandez (1987-89), Gary Carter (1988-89) and John Franco (2001-04) as the only Mets to hold the captain’s title.
But forget about Wright wearing a “C” on his uniform to billboard his status: After consulting with manager Terry Collins, general manager Sandy Alderson and COO Jeff Wilpon, he’s decided against such a measure.
“We’re all in agreement that it will be without,” Wright said. “Part of it is just my personality where I don’t like to stick out too much. I think the uniform is uniform for a reason. Everybody is kind of in agreement that we’re going to do without.”
Derek Jeter (Yankees) and Paul Konerko (White Sox) are the only other active players with the title of captain. Jeter received his designation in 2003 and Konerko in 2006.
Wilpon, who attended a press conference at Tradition Field with Alderson to announce the appointment, said it became obvious Wright would be named captain after he agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth $138 million in December.
”The decision was made when we gave him the contract,” Wilpon said. “Did we announce it then? No we didn’t announce it then. But I believe the decision was made at that point in time, when you commit that kind of money and resources that you have to a guy like this, you want to make sure that he’s the leader, and he’s proven to be that.”
Alderson called leadership a product of “professional expertise” and “personal character” and said Wright combines both elements. Asked to provide an example of Wright’s qualities, Alderson cited a late-night meeting last season when team brass was deciding if struggling Ike Davis should be demoted to Triple-A.
“What’s memorable about that night is not that Ike stayed and performed well thereafter,” Alderson said. “But the fact David hung around to make sure if the decision was otherwise that [Davis] would have somebody there to help him through his disappointment.
“There’s stuff that is visible to every fan. There’s stuff that isn’t seen by most people, but is just as critical in terms of how both the credibility and respect factors are developed.”
Wright indicated he polled players on the team to ensure a potential captaincy would be well-received. After getting positive feedback, he accepted the title.
Just don’t expect the 30-year-old Wright to let the captaincy go to his head.
”I never have been and don’t plan on being the guy that yells and screams,” Wright said. “I’m a guy that likes to do things more privately and handle things in a different way than kind of yelling and screaming, but ultimately it’s by example I think that is the way to get things done.”
Collins called Wright the personification of professional.
“Great work ethic, along with great character,” Collins said. “And he is certainly both of those.”