The ironic part about all of this about the number retirement, about the Mets Hall of Fame induction, about The Captain, the No. 5 becoming immortalized in the left field corner at Citi Field, the entire celebration that unfolded is that David Wright doesnt want to be the center of attention. Its an uncomfortable feeling, he said. He wants to share it with others. He has never been one to want the spotlight, his mother, Elisa, told The Post after Wright spent 35 minutes reminiscing about his 14 seasons with the Mets and about the ceremony that gave him a permanent place in their history. But Saturday was all about Wright. About the homegrown third baseman, who spent his entire career in Queens before back and neck injuries forced him to retire after the 2018 season, becoming the eighth player in franchise history to have his number retired. David Wright waves to the fans after his speech on the field at Citi Field for his number retirement on July 19, 2025. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST David Wright was honored on July 19, 2025. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST If his final game drew the label of David Wright Day, then this was the sequel, the encore random sun-shower and all that preceded the Mets 5-2 lo s to the Reds. Wright was joined on the field by his wife, his three children, his parents and plenty of former teammates and members of the Mets organization who shaped his career from a first-round pick to one of the most memorable players in franchise history. Explore More Wright traded his burnt orange jacket for a blue Mets Hall of Fame one, matching with his son, Brooks. As he strolled onto the field for the ceremony, he stopped at third base one covered in gold and took in the thunderous roar greeting him. He watched as his No. 5 joined No. 41 (Tom Seaver), No. 31 (Mike Piazza), No. 36 (Jerry Koosman), No. 17 (Keith Hernandez), No. 24 (Willie Mays), No. 16 (Dwight Gooden) and No. 18 (Darryl Strawberry) atop the ballpark. He took a lap around the field in a golf cart afterward, acknowledging fans along the way. I never accomplished my goal of bringing a World Series back to Queens, Wright told the crowd during the ceremony, but I promise you, I gave it everything I had and wanted it just as badly as you did. And I think this fan base recognized that and was willing to genuinely have my back and support support me unconditionally through the good and the bad, and for that, I will Deividas Sirvydis Jersey always be thankful. The Mets hung No. 5 in the rafters on July 19, 2025. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST This was the intersection of the Mets history with someone still linked to the current roster as a former teammate of Brandon Nimmos and a regular presence at spring training. This was a return home to celebrate a career that seemed like it ended yesterday, Wright said creating the feeling you get when you come home from like a long trip. Still, le s than two hours before the ceremony, Elisa Wright wasnt certain. Her son had just talked about wanting to keep it together better than he did in 2018, when his final game his sendoff at Citi Field turned emotional, but with what was going to unfold Saturday, how could he not be, she said. The emotion, in Wrights voice and through others wiping their eyes, ended up being palpable during the ceremony. David Wright and his family threw out the first pitch on July 19, 2025. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST It capped a week that featured the premier of a documentary about his career and plenty of nostalgic moments, from both Wright and those who witne sed his career. There was the homer against the Phillies after a monthslong absence in 2015. The sprint to the World Series later that year. The run of 2006 and the chance that got away in 2007, which Wright said still stings to this day. He joked with former teammates Jos Reyes during his news conference and remembered the Port St. Lucie conversation when a coach predicted theyd form the left side of the infield for the next decade. David Wright with his family, friends and various members of the Mets after they retired his No. 5. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST Those moments all strung together as Wright finished first in Mets history for hits (1,777), RBIs (970) and plenty of other categories. Injuries derailed the final stage of his career, and the back remains an unknown wrinkle of his life. A procedure Wright underwent a year and a half ago helped with lingering i sues. Sometimes, even doing the recommended exercises doesnt correlate to a pain-free day, and that can make it challenging. He feels pretty solid, though, and didnt want to jinx it. David Wrights pre s conference before the game when the New York Mets played the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at Citi Field in Queens, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post But seven years after that contributed directly to the end, Wright is at peace with the conclusion. That, then, turned Saturday into a celebration of his legacy. It took a while for my brain and my heart to kinda match up with that, Wright said in his news conference, but I think that very few athletes get the ending that they want, that storybook ending. And I certainly wouldnt call mine a storybook ending, but its better than 99 percent of what athletes get and Ill forever be grateful for getting that opportunity. Ben Wallace Jersey