Keith Hernandez was disappointed to discover that Wilson might not “like the Mook”
Thursday afternoon’s New York Mets game provided perhaps the most comical Keith Hernandez-related case of mistaken identity since a certain postman sarcastically wished him a “nice game“.
The humorous incident involved New York Jets franchise quarterback Zach Wilson, who, fortunately, was no victim of a “magic loogie”. Wilson was on hand in Queens to witness the Mets’ dramatic 7-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, a win earned via Pete Alonso’s walk-off two-run home run in the extra 10th inning. The quarterback’s prescience was noted during the early stages of action by the Mets’ flagship television station SNY.
Zach Wilson is at today's Mets game rocking a custom Wilson Mets jersey pic.twitter.com/jhu8keHc98
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) May 19, 2022
After joking that Wilson probably wouldn’t take kindly to an interview from field reporter Steve Gelbs (the host of SNY’s in-season Jets coverage on Sundays), Hernandez was pleased to see that the quarterback’s white pinstriped Mets replica home jersey bore the surname Wilson. An enthused Hernandez was under the impression that Wilson was repping a former teammate and fellow World Series champion.
“Ahh! He likes The Mook!” Hernandez declares, referring to renowned Mets outfielder Mookie Wilson.
Stifling laughter, Hernandez’s booth partner and longtime Mets play-by-play man Gary Cohen reminds him that “Either that, or it’s his own name”. A playfully flustered Hernandez remarks that he couldn’t see the number on Wilson’s garment, that numeral presumably being the No. 2 he reps with the Jets (and worn by Dominic Smith on the current Mets roster).
With the Jets’ OTAs looming, Wilson has used his final days away from football to check out some of the tri-state area’s alternative athletic offerings. He and receiver Braxton Berrios were previously on hand at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night to witness the New York Rangers’ 4-3 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Mets, current leaders of the NL East, return to action on Friday night in Denver against the Colorado Rockies (8:40 p.m. ET, SNY).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
