In a shocking and raw display of emotion that nearly made Tom Hanks keel over, Mets infielder Wilmer Flores openly wept on the field during a game last July thinking that he had been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Then, the proposed deal fell apart a few hours later, Flores remained a Met, clubbed an unforgettable walkoff home run against the Nationals two days after, and life went on. But the unforgettable sight of a teary-eyed Flores lives on in our minds, and one local memorabilia firm decided to cash in on the striking moment.
Darren Rovell of ESPN.com reported on Friday that Steiner Sports has been selling autographed photos of Flores crying in the dugout that night and the demand has been massive. The company has reportedly sold out of the photos, saying that the 8-by-10s that were selling for $70 and the 16-by-20s for $90 have all been purchased.
The firm’s decision to market the photos received some public backlash but Steiner Sports founder and CEO Brandon Steiner didn’t understand why. “I’m surprised at all the fuss,” Steiner said. “It was an emotional moment and showed how much he cared for playing for the team. We thought it was a magical Met moment that fans would enjoy.”
I could see how exploiting the 24-year-old’s emotional moment for monetary purposes might rub some the wrong way. But it was definitely a powerful snapshot that perfectly encapsulated the passion and the fervor of being a New York Met, one well-deserving of being immortalized.
Ron Swoboda’s diving catch in the World Series for the 1969 Miracle Mets, Mookie Wilson pushing the ball through Bill Buckner’s legs in ’86, Mike Piazza’s go-ahead home run at Shea Stadium after 9/11, and Wilmer Flores crying. Looks like that’s officially our Mount Rushmore of marquee moments in New York Mets history.
H/T Bleacher Report
