Two Orioles legends welcomed Pete Alonso to “Charm City.”
Alonso bolted Queens for Baltimore on a five-year deal worth $155 million that left legendary shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. and pitcher Jim Palmer elated to have the superstar slugger joining the Orioles.
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“Welcome to Baltimore Pete. I’m glad the Mets passed on giving Pete a 5 year deal,” Palmer wrote on X on Wednesday. “272,38, 126 rbi, 309 risp not impressive enough. Now do the O’s move the left field wall in again and call it the Alonso-Ward splash zone… ??”
New York Mets’ Pete Alonso (20) hits a two-run home run scoring Juan Soto in the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Queens, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
When one fan pushed back on Palmer’s excitement, he continued to espouse positivity about the acquisition.
“Frank Robinson, who hit 49 homers, triple crown, WS champ with 2 more homers… Pete Alonso is more like the Lee May acquisition. Has more power than Lee. Lee was a great clubhouse guy , the same rep Alonso has,” he posted.
Ripken Jr., in his post on Thursday, looked forward to sharing a well-known Maryland delicacy with Alonso.
Cal Ripken Jr addresses the crowd during the 2131 30th anniversary ceremony prior to an interleague game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park on September 5, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland Diamond Images/Getty Images
“Welcome to Baltimore Pete! Let’s grab some crabs,” the Baseball Hall of Famer wrote along with a crab emoji.
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Alonso had his entire career with the Mets before leaving this free agency.
He was one of two high-profile players to depart the Mets organization in as many days as Edwin Diaz agreed to a deal with the Dodgers on Tuesday.
Former Baltimore Oriole Jim Palmer watches batting practice before the game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 20, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland Getty Images
The moves have left Mets fans frustrated, and a franchise legend, Keith Hernandez, was left “speechless” by the drastic changes.
“I’m a little bit speechless,” he said. “This is very explosive. In the years that I’ve been with the Mets, I have not seen this kind of moving in a new direction, I guess. It is definite — it is profound.”
Alonso will get a chance to say goodbye to Mets fans in September 2026 when the Orioles travel to Citi Field for a three-game set against the organization where he made a name for himself.