The defending National League Champion New York Mets returned to Citi Field on Thursday to host their home opener and to claim the spoils of their unlikely run to the 2015 World Series — impressive white gold rings featuring 110 diamonds and 42 blue sapphires.
Even though they eventually fell to the Kansas City Royals in five games, the Mets were proud of a season that saw the team go on a late-season surge to overtake the Washington Nationals to win the East Division, and then knock out the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs in the playoffs.
Created by Jostens, the 10-karat white gold National League Championship rings feature the team's iconic NY logo fashioned from 42 round sapphires. The logo is set atop an infield base path surrounded by a field of pavé-set diamonds. The words "NATIONAL LEAGUE" and "CHAMPIONS" surround the top and bottom of the ring in raised white gold against a black ground. In all, the ring has a total gem weight of 2.75 carats.
"[The] guys were excited to get the rings," manager Terry Collins said. "That's what you play for. I know these guys are getting paid and they're getting paid a lot of money, but when you can win a ring, that means it's extra special."
Mets team captain David Wright noted that although a second-place ring is nice, the real goal is capturing a World Series ring. "I think all of us will wear that proudly,” Wright said. “At the same time, it’s time to move on. We want that first place ring, so I think it kind of reminds you that there is still work to be done."
Adorning both sides of the players' rings are the iconic arches of Citi Field, which are patterned after the brick exterior of historic Ebbets Field, where the Brooklyn Dodgers played from 1913 to 1957.
One side of the ring features the player's name above a silhouette of the New York skyline, overlaid with the Mets script logo that sits atop an image of the Brooklyn Bridge. The player's number is featured below the bridge.
The other side features the National League Championship Series (NLCS) logo and the Major League Baseball logo surrounded by the words "NEW YORK" and the championship year 2015.
The inside of the ring is inscribed with the years of the Mets' five National League championships (1969, 1973, 1986, 2000 and 2015) set next to a silhouette of the Warren C. Giles National League Trophy with NEW YORK etched above the trophy.
About 750 people in the Mets organization received a National League Championship ring. Notably absent from that group was Steven Boldis, the long-time Mets mascot, Mr. Met. Boldis, who has worn the mascot costume for 15 years, was publicly miffed by the snub. The New York Daily News reported that the Mets organization denied the ring because the mascot worked only half of the minimum number of hours to qualify.
On May 29, the first 15,000 fans to arrive at Citi Field will receive a replica of the Mets' 1986 World Series ring.
Credits: Ring photos courtesy of Jostens. Mr. Met photo via Facebook/New York Mets.
