Celebrity Korner : Faith, Funk & Flushing: Clyde Lawrence’s Mets Fandom

There’s a certain beauty to being a Mets fan—it’s part passion, part patience, and part irrational belief that this year might just be the one. And that devotion doesn’t stop at the bleachers. From Oscar winners to indie rockers, late-night hosts to Broadway stars, Mets fans pop up in the unlikeliest (and sometimes most glamorous)places. So, from time to time, we’ll be taking a closer look at the famous faces who’ve joined us on the rollercoaster in Flushing—celebs who cheer, suffer, and believe just like the rest of us. Because being a Mets fan isn’t just a hobby—it’s a lifestyle, a personality trait, and, in some cases, a beautifully shared delusion. These profiles may not pop up on a set schedule, but when they do, we promise they’ll be worth the wait.

Let’s face it—when you think of lifelong Mets fans, your mind probably jumps to the usual suspects: the guy in Section 131 who’s been yelling “Let’s go, Lenny!” since 1987, or maybe the lady who sells orange-and-blue scarves out of her tote bag like she’s running a secret Etsy shop.

But every once in a while, a new name steps up to join the ranks of the Flushing Faithful—and this time, it comes with a horn section. Meet our very first Celebrity Korner subject, a Mets fan whose love for the game hits all the right notes.

Meet Clyde Lawrence: singer, songwriter, keyboard wizard, and the musical architect behind the pop-soul band Lawrence. Yes, that Lawrence—the band that’s been lighting up Coachella stages, popping up on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and, oh yeah, opened for the Rolling Stones at MetLife. (That’s not a typo. The actual Rolling Stones.)

But before Clyde was leading an eight-piece funk machine across international stages, he was a Mets fan. The kind who understands that baseball is a little like music—sometimes it hits an off-key note, sometimes it soars with a high one, and every once in a while, it delivers a performance so transcendent it gives you goosebumps.

Clyde and his sister Gracie have been making music together since they were kids growing up in New York City—back when their biggest gig was probably a family living room and not Madison Square Garden. Clyde started writing songs at the age when most kids were still trying to figure out where to stick the Capri Sun straw. In fact, at the age of six (yes, six), he wrote a song that made it into Miss Congeniality. That’s right—while the rest of us were eating paste in kindergarten, Clyde was earning film credits.

The band, now simply known as Lawrence, includes eight supernaturally talented musicians—most of whom met at Brown University, which proves at least two things: 1) Ivy League tuition can pay off in funky ways, and 2) group projects don’t always end in tragedy.

Their latest album, Family Business, dropped in June 2024 and promptly blew up like a Pete Alonso fastball in the zone. They’ve toured with the Jonas Brothers, collaborated with Jon Bellion, and showed up at just about every major music festival short of Woodstock (and I’m convinced they’d crush that too, if someone could only resurrect it).

But here’s the real kicker: through all the tours, television spots, and transatlantic travel, Clyde Lawrence never wavered in his Mets fandom. He's still that New York kid with orange-and-blue blood and a knack for believing, no matter how improbable the season gets.

So, how did a soul-pop bandleader with a Ivy League education and a knack for writing bangers end up throwing out the first pitch at Citi Field and squeezing Mets highlights in between soundcheck and stage time? 

Somehow, in between rocking festival stages and squeezing in band rehearsals tighter than an Edwin Díaz bases-loaded, nobody-out jam, Clyde Lawrence found time to talk Mets. He shared his fandom roots with me, his ballpark rituals, and his belief that music and baseball are a match made in Queens—like hot dogs and mustard, with Shake Shack fries on the side and Endy Chavez in center.

Clyde Lawrence’s Mets fandom isn’t just tradition—it’s a hereditary condition. “My dad is a life-long die-hard Mets fan, so I was born into it,” he says, like someone explaining a family curse. His dad came of age during the 1969 Miracle Mets season, which, for most fans, was a dream. For Clyde’s dad? More like a Twilight Zone episode.

That year, the Mets were dominant at home, racking up a 52-30 record at Shea Stadium. But somehow, out of those 82 games, Clyde’s dad managed to attend 11 of them. And the Mets lost… all 11. Every. Single. One. Not even a pity win. “If my math is correct,” Clyde says, “the odds of that happening is about 1 in 44,000. But at least they’ve won two World Series in his lifetime, while I’m still at none.”

Turns out the actual odds are closer to 1 in 256,329. Statistically speaking, his dad had a better chance of getting struck by lightning while winning a scratch-off. He wasn’t just unlucky—he was a walking bad omen with a scorecard and a soft pretzel.

Clyde's first live Mets experience came during the 2000 season, a year he followed closely, even though he didn’t step foot in the ballpark until the final game of the regular season. “It was a totally meaningless game because they’d already clinched the wild card,” Clyde recalls. “But it was a great game – they won on a walk-off in 13 innings, and Benny Agbayani scored the winning run. I also distinctly remember Jay Payton throwing someone out at home from centerfield.”

If Clyde could pick one Mets team to play with, it’d be tough to choose. “The 2006 Mets were just such a great team. I must’ve gone to over 30 games that year,” he says. But the 2024 team, with all its highs and lows, also holds a special place in his heart. “Those last few weeks of the season and the playoffs were some of the most fun I’ve ever had as a fan.”

But of course, not every Mets moment has been fun. The 2006 NLCS loss to the Cardinals still stings. “It felt like such a magical team that was destined to win, especially after that Endy Chavez catch,” Clyde remembers. That play, which remains etched in Mets history, was extra meaningful for Clyde, who already loved Chavez as a defense-first role player. It wasn’t just the heartbreak of that game—it was that it felt like everything was set up for a happy ending that didn’t arrive. “I was also at the 2015 World Series, when they lost to the Royals. The Harvey situation stung too. My younger brother Linus, who’s a budding sportswriter, was the only one in the stadium arguing that Harvey shouldn’t come back out for the ninth. It crushed him when they lost, and I felt so bad for him.”

Of all his surreal Mets moments, throwing out the first pitch at Citi Field stands at the top. “It’s the most nervous I’ve ever been for anything,” Clyde admits, comparing it to performing in front of a packed crowd. “I’d played high school varsity baseball, and I take pride in being a decent athlete, so I really didn’t want to embarrass myself. I even went to the park the day before to practice with my dad, measuring out exactly 60 feet.” And yet, the unexpected still happened. “I’d never thrown off a mound before—I was an infielder—and I wish I had practiced that. The pitch itself wasn’t my best, but I didn’t make it onto any anti-highlight reels, so I’ll take that as a win. But playing catch with my dad on the field next to Lindor and Alonso? That’s something I’ll cherish forever.”

Clyde’s musical career has given him the chance to sing the National Anthem at various events, including for the Mets. “It’s a funny experience,” he says. “You can’t really hear yourself, and there’s a time limit. It can be a little stressful, even for someone like me who doesn’t get anxious about performances.” As for the best rendition of the Anthem? “Whitney Houston’s comes to mind as a top one.”

When it comes to forgotten Mets, Clyde has a soft spot for defense-first role players like Endy Chavez, Juan Lagares, and Luis Guillorme. “I love guys who are smooth in the field and just get the job done,” he says. “It’s fun to support those guys, especially when they have stretches where they’re also productive at the plate.” He even draws parallels to Tyrone Taylor on the current squad. “He’s one of my favorites to watch now, and he was the one who caught my first pitch!”

Even while touring, Clyde keeps a close eye on the Mets. “I’m always aware of what’s going on with the team,” he says. “I sneak peeks at the gamecast, and I love watching the Condensed Games on mlb.com. If it’s a big game, I’ll check the score even during a show.” In fact, during a critical playoff game against the Brewers, he insisted on delaying a show to watch the Mets’ season hang in the balance. “Of course, that ended up being the night Pete Alonso hit that huge home run, so I’m glad I delayed the show!”

As for his celebrity Mets fan encounters, Jimmy Kimmel stands out. “When we appeared on his show, Jimmy gave me a book about the Mets that he’d written the foreword for, with a handwritten note. We talked about the Mets for a little while backstage, and that was a really cool interaction.”

If Clyde could pick one Mets fan to watch a game with, he wouldn’t choose another celebrity. “Honestly, there’s no one I’d rather watch with than Gary, Keith, and Ron,” he says. “We’re so spoiled with them, and if they’re not calling the game, it feels like we’re getting short-changed.” As for his favorite call, it’s got to be Bartolo’s home run, but Clyde’s real enjoyment comes from the lighthearted moments. “My favorite moments are when the game’s a blowout and they go off on random tangents.”

Finally, when asked to name the one Met he’d want to have dinner with, Clyde has a few choices in mind. “Wilmer Flores would be fun,” he says. “Maybe Noah Syndergaard. Or Jose Iglesias, my fellow pop musician!” And to sum it all up: “Being a Mets fan has taught me how thin the line is between comedy and tragedy, and how the really magical thing usually doesn’t happen, but once in a while it does.”

As I wrap up this deep dive into Clyde Lawrence’s Mets fandom, I can’t help but reflect on how I was introduced to him—through his band’s incredible rendition of the National Anthem at a Mets game. I was so impressed by their performance that I couldn’t help but become a Lawrence fan on the spot. It wasn’t long before I found myself at their show at Radio City Music Hall, and let me tell you, I was completely blown away. It’s rare to see someone other than Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band blend such energy, talent, and genuine passion like Clyde and Gracie do. Clyde's love for both music and the Mets shines through in everything he does. From his first pitch at Citi Field to his unforgettable anthem performance, Clyde proves that you don’t have to be a lifelong baseball player to truly understand the game’s magic. In a way, he’s a perfect addition to the pantheon of Mets Celebrity fans—a place where music, memories, and the love for the team come together in perfect harmony.