Pete Alonso is being careful with his playoff pumpkin.
Wearing a special hoodie featuring his now-famous lucky pumpkin, the New York Mets’ slugger mentioned on Wednesday that the pumpkin is safely stored in his locker at Citi Field.
However, when he’s away from home, he keeps it close.
“What I do, I always take it with me. On the road I’ve taken it back to the hotel because I don’t want any clubbies or anybody messing with it. It’s kept safe every day,” Alonso said before Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He also doesn’t put the small pumpkin in his bags. “Oh no,” the first baseman said. “Like, I carry it with me. Because it could be destroyed in my luggage.”
Alonso refers to this “playoff pumpkin” as one of several quirky good-luck charms that the wild-card Mets and their fans have embraced during this exciting playoff run.
He and his wife found the special Halloween pumpkin at a farm in Wisconsin while the Mets were playing the Brewers in late September.
It was even part of a lively celebration in the clubhouse after Alonso’s crucial homer in the ninth inning helped save New York’s season in the Wild Card Series on October 3.
“I just think it’s really fun. I think this has just been an incredible and magical ride. Every single one of us is having a blast,” said Alonso, wearing an “OMG” knit cap in reference to teammate Jose Iglesias’ hit song.
“So that’s why — whether it’s OMG, whether it’s Grimace or the playoff pumpkin — every team has a thing, whether it be playoff beards or whatever. It’s pretty much unanimous in every sport.”
