CAPTAIN AMERICA RIDES THE FIVE TRAIN THE WRIGHT WAY TO IMMORTALITY.

It was Five to the Nines at Citi Field on Saturday, as the Mets formally retired David Wright’s uniform number 5 as he entered the team’s Hall of Fame, joining only Tom Seaver as the only Mets to have their number retired and officially be enshrined with a plaque in the Mets Hall of Fame on the same day.

Wright became the eighth Mets player – and the only one to have played his entire career with the organization – to see his number hung on the left field rafters, the 11th number retired by the team.

And the 35th member of the Mets Hall of Fame, an honor that was first initiated in 1981, with the Inductions of Mrs. Joan Payson (the team’s first owner), and Casey Stengel (the team’s first and most colorful manager).

Has any Met ever received such revered adulation for his humble persona and dedicated devotion to the Mets than David Wright? The level of reverence and respect he receives from literally everyone – absolutely everyone! – who has ever met him or watched his play is on a level all its own.

“This is a special day,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza pregame, “about a special person, one of the best players, about a special human, the humble quality of the person, really incredible. Really proud of him.”

Friends and foes alike admire Wright for his diligence and dedication to the game and the people that make it happen.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone described Wright as a “really good dude” when the team was visiting Queens recently. And when Boone happened to play his last game as a player in Citi Field in 2009 as a member of the Astros, it was Wright who made sure Boonie was gifted with the third base from the field.

Paul Goldschmidt was a teammate at the 2013 All-Star Game held at Citi Field. “He was the face of that All-Star Game,” Goldie noted to the media. “He was like the host, and just to see how he handled that in such a professional way, I remember noticing that’s a really high-quality person.”

Perhaps it was just fortuitous, a convenience of fate, that Wright grew up in a community that featured a Mets minor league club in Norfolk, Virgina – The Tidewater Tides, the club’s Triple-A franchise for many decades - that led him and his family to being Mets fans from the time he could walk. And Mets fans have embraced that loyalty with a fandom rarely matched.

“To me,” said Wright in a pregame presser, “the Mets fan base is a blue collar, bring your lunch pail to work-type fan base, and that’s how I played, that’s how I was raised, and that’s how I tried to approach the game every day. And that’s why that relationship with the Mets fan base has become so special.”

Wright admitted pre-game it was “uncomfortable for me to be the center of the spotlight,” but you’d never know it how comfortable he is around everyone, and how he can make you feel like you’re a life-long friend the moment you meet him.

But even more so to go with that ebullience and ever-present infectious smile is that he was a great ballplayer, a Cooperstown-level Hall of Famer whose immortality to that level was curtailed late in his career by a degenerative back condition known as spinal stenosis, a condition Wright admits he still treats and underwent a procedure as late as about a year and half ago.

You know the Wright highlights, moments that have been recalled in special edition features in the dailies, a two-hour special on SNY, and appearances on the radio and MLB network.

There was the over-the-shoulder barehanded catch in San Diego in 2005; the dive into the stands in Seattle to snare a Raul Ibanez popup earlier that year; the walk-off single against the great Mariano Rivera to beat the Yankees in 2006; the home run off Kenny Rogers in the 2006 All Star Game; the home run that enrolled Wright in the 30-30 Club in 2007; the two run single that beat Puerto Rico in the WBC for Team USA in 2009; the first Met to homer in Citi Field in 2009; the base hit in 2012 that allowed Wright to surpass Ed Kranepool for the franchise’s all-time hit total; the Grand Slam in 2013 for Team USA to beat Team Italy and solidify his nickname as “Captain America;” his home run against the Phillies in his first game back from treatment for his back condition; his electrifying home run against the Royals in the 2105 World Series; and countless others.

His Mets 14-year legacy includes being the all-time franchise leader in hits (1,777), doubles (272) RBI (970), walks (762), extra-base hits (658), and multi-hit games (495), plus third in average (.296), and homers (242) – having recently being eclipsed by Pete Alonso, who is on his way to top Darryl Strawberry’s home run total of 252.

The ballpark was filled with literally, not hundreds, but thousands of Wright jerseys. The Mets prepared a special logo and covered home plate with a large tarp festooned with that logo. The number 5 was on the Home Run Apple in centerfield and mowed into the centerfield lawn. A specially prepared game day program featuring Wright on the cover quickly sold out throughout the ballpark.

When Wright was first introduced to the ceremony, he entered from a gate on the left side of the field, and first went to his old position and stood on a commemorative gold-plated base at third where he bowed to the fans and soaked in the admiration of the 42,000-plus on hand. Wright was presented with the base after the ceremony.

Further testimony to his respect was how many teammates set aside their lives to be at the ceremony, including: his infield mate, Jose Reyes (“I love David. He’s like my brother. He was good for his community, good for this team, not a better human being, awesome human being.”); two of his managers, Terry Collins, and Willie Randolph (wearing a baseball cap inscribed with the message, “Good Day For This”); Cliff Floyd (who is now doing pre and post-game shows for the Cubs in Chicago and is a frequent contributor to the MLB Network); “Super” Joe McEwing (now working with the Cardinals); Daniel Murphy (now an occasional member of the SNY broadcast team); Howard Johnson; boyhood Virginia friend and former teammate Michael Cuddyer; Keith Miller (the former Met who found success as an agent and was David’s career representative); and Josh Satin (the former Met who became a close friend to Wright).

David singled out HoJo as a mentor very early in his career.

“You know how good you have it as a 17/18-year-old to have HoJo to mentor you.” HoJo, himself a great Mets third baseman and a member of the 1986 World Champs, made the journey despite recently undergoing a medical procedure on his left foot and was in a walking boot. “I didn’t steal bases until I was helped out by HoJo,” said Wright. “ The time he spent with me was special. The first guy to greet me in the dugout when I got 30-30 was HoJo. He was a good mentor and a good friend.”

Regarding his infield “brother.” “If I was going to create a baseball player in a video game, I would create Jose Reyes. He made me better offensively and defensively.”

Wright gave heartfelt tributes pre-game to long-time Mets employees PR exec Shannon Forde and Marc Levine, the team photographer for decades, who passed away in recent years. “Everytime I walk into this building, I am reminded how special Shannon was,” said Wright. “Feels like yesterday at the All-Star Game with Shannon, laughing, having a good time.” Shannon was known to always be on top of everything anyone ever needed. “No matter what she had going on (as she endured treatment for cancer).”

“And I still have photos hanging in my home that Marc Levine took.”

The story of how Wright ended up with number 5 on his back was rather random, but it did have a purpose. Wright wanted number 4 when he became a professional. He wore number 44 in Double-A. For his first spring training with the big club, he had 72 on his back. “I would have been just as happy with 72 when I got to the Mets.” But long-time equipment manager Charlie Samuels knew his baseball history, and placed number 5 in Wright’s first locker at Shea. “Cause of Brooks Robinson and George Brett.”

A legacy was hatched.

Wright even named his now 4-year-old son after the legendary third baseman.

Brooks Wright was a beaming presence on the field at the ceremony, along with his nine and seven-year-old sisters, Madison, and Olivia, and their Mom, Molly. When Molly helped David put on his new Mets Hall of Fame blazer, they prepared a special kid-sized version for Brooks.

Wright’s parents, Elisa and Rhon, proudly were on hand, as well as David’s three brothers, Steven, Matthew, and Daniel, and their families.

“We were always competing,” said David, “in baseball, ping pong, wrestling, pizza-eating…”

The entire family participated in the First Pitch ceremony, with David tossing to his long time friend, bullpen catcher Dave Racanello.

Another great Mets third baseman wore number 5 at Shea, Ed Charles, an important contributor to the team’s first World Championship in 1969. Wright noted he and Charles also shared a few moments talking baseball when the elder stateman made frequent visits to the ballpark. “Oh, yes, we did.”

And a beloved Mets manager also bore the number 5, skipper Davey Johnson, who led the club to their second title in 1986.

“You’re going to make me cry,” Wright said as he began his acceptance speech to the loving crowd. He congratulated Tony Carullo, the team’s longtime Visiting Clubhouse Manager, who also was being honored with the Mets Lifetime Achievement Award. Carullo was with the club for 51 years.

“I promise you I gave everything I had and wanted (to win) just as much as you did,” Wright said. “This fan base was willing to recognize that and support me unconditionally and for that I will always be thankful.”

METS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Mrs. Joan Payson (1981); Casey Stengel (1981); Gil Hodges (1982); George M. Weiss (1982); William A. Shea (1983); Johnny Murphy (1983); Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy, Ralph Kiner (1984); Bud Harrelson (1986); Rusty Staub (1986); Tom Seaver (1988); Jerry Koosman (1989); Ed Kranepool (1990); Cleon Jones (1991); Jerry Grote (1992); Tug McGraw (1993); Mookie Wilson (1996); Keith Hernandez (1997); Gary Carter (2001); Tommie Agee (2002); Frank Cashen (2010); Dwight Gooden (2010); Darryl Strawberry (2010); Davey Johnson (2010); John Franco (2012); Mike Piazza (2013); Jon Matlack (2021); Ron Darling (2021); Edgardo Alfonzo (2021); Howard Johnson (2023); Al Leiter (2023); Howie Rose (2023); Gary Cohen (2023); David Wright (2025)

METS WHO HAVE WORN #5

Hobie Landrith (1962); Joe Pignatano (1962); Norm Sherry (1963); Chris Cannizzaro (1965); Shawn Fitzmaurice (1966); Sandy Alomar Sr. (1967); Ed Charles (1967-69); Joe Foy (1970); Francisco Estrada (1971); Jim Beauchamp (1972-73); Jim Gosger (1974); Jerry Moses (1975); Mike Phillips (1976-77); Steve Henderson (1976-77); Mike Howard (1981); Davey Johnson (1984-90); Charlie O’Brien (1991); Jeff McKnight (1992); Jeromy Burnitz (1993-94); Brook Fordyce (1995); Chris Jones (1995-96); John Olerud (1997-99); Mark Johnson (2000- 02); Tsuyoshi Shinjo (2001-2003); David Wright (2004-2018)