As the playoff-hopeful Mets began a crucial final homestand, a supersized hero returned.
Grimace, the oblong McDonald’s mascot whose June 12 appearance at Citi Field coincided with the Mets’ season turnaround, was back at the ballpark Monday in all of his purple glory.
The character earned cheers as he appeared on the jumbotron in the middle of the second inning of Monday night’s game against the Nationals after a fan competed in a McDonald’s-themed version of Mets trivia. His return came on the same day the Mets unveiled a special purple seat in the right-field stands in honor of Grimace.
Located in Section 302, Row 6, Seat 12, the seat is available for Mets fans to purchase for each of this season’s remaining home games. “Grimace” is printed in cursive on the seat, which was intentionally placed in the sixth row and as the 12th chair in a nod to June 12.
“As we explored how to further capture the magic of this moment and celebrate our new celebrity fan, installing a commemorative seat ahead of fan appreciation weekend felt like the perfect way to give something back to the fans in a fun and unique way,” Brenden Mallette, the Mets’ SVP of partnerships, said in a statement.
Originally introduced by McDonald’s in 1971 as a milkshake-stealing menace, Grimace became an unlikely folk hero in Flushing after the mascot threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Mets’ June 12 home game against the Marlins.
The Mets were 28-37 at the time but immediately went on a seven-game win streak, with fans crediting Grimace for the sudden surge.
The goofy phenomenon reached such extreme heights that fans showed up at Mets home games wearing full-blown Grimace costumes during the Subway Series.
“Grimace is our god,” one of those fans, Amanda Indart, told the Daily News on June 25. “He’s our winning mascot.”
During a June 26 rain delay, a fan went viral for chugging a beer in a Grimace suit while surrounded by a massive crowd on the Shea Bridge.
Grimace previously returned to Citi Field on June 28 and appeared on the jumbotron from Alex Cohen’s suite.
The mascot’s visit Monday helped kick off a seven-game homestand, which the Mets began with an 81-68 record and in a tie with the Braves for the third and final National League Wild Card spot.
The homestand includes three games against the Nationals and four against the Phillies. The Mets then finish the regular season with a six-game road, beginning with a potentially pivotal three-game series in Atlanta and followed by a three-game set in Milwaukee.
“Enjoy it. Embrace it. That’s what you signed up for,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of his message to his players before the 13-game stretch run. “This is what you dreamed [of]. Before the year, we said, ‘We’re gonna compete. We’ve got a good team.’ Here we are. We’ve got a special opportunity.”