The Curious Case of the New York Mets’ OMG Sign: A Dugout Mystery Unveiled
In the sweltering heat of a New York summer, as the Mets’ season teetered on the brink of disaster, an unlikely hero emerged. Not a star pitcher or a slugging outfielder, but a simple sign—three letters that would become a rallying cry for a team in desperate need of a spark.
The Birth of a Phenomenon
It was late June when the Mets’ fortunes began to turn. The team that had stumbled through spring was finding its footing, and at the heart of this renaissance was an unlikely catalyst: José Iglesias, a 34-year-old journeyman infielder with a secret.
Iglesias wasn’t just a ballplayer. He was Candelita, a Latin pop sensation whose song “OMG” was climbing the charts. On June 28, as the Mets rode a hot streak, Iglesias took to the field at Citi Field. But he wasn’t there to field grounders. He was there to perform.
The stadium erupted as Iglesias belted out “OMG,” his teammates joining him in a surreal moment that blurred the lines between baseball and pop culture. It was a turning point. From that day forward, the Mets played with a newfound energy, as if Iglesias’ performance had exorcised the demons of their early-season struggles.
The Sign Appears
As July wore on, something strange began appearing in the Mets’ dugout. A sign, bright orange and blue, bearing those same three letters: OMG. At first, it was a curiosity. Then, it became a tradition.
Every time a Met sent a ball sailing over the outfield fence, the sign would appear. The home run hero would pose with it, grinning widely, as if those three letters held some mystical power.
But where had it come from? The players were as baffled as the fans. Iglesias himself was puzzled, assuming his teammates had commissioned it as a tribute to his chart-topping hit.
The Artist Behind the Mystery
The truth, as it often does, lay hidden in plain sight. The sign was the creation of Jerome McCroy, an artist from Ridgewood, Queens, who goes by the name Jaymaccustoms.
McCroy, a lifelong Mets fan, had watched his team’s early-season struggles with growing despair. But as the tide began to turn, he felt compelled to act. Inspired by Iglesias’ song and the energy it had injected into the team, McCroy set to work.
He crafted the sign based on a t-shirt design he’d seen on social media, posted by none other than Alex Cohen, wife of Mets owner Steve Cohen. It was a labor of love, a fan’s tribute to a team that refused to give up.
A Chance Encounter
Fate, it seems, has a sense of humor. On the day McCroy finished the sign, he found himself face to face with Alex Cohen herself. In a moment of boldness, he asked her to pass the sign along to Iglesias
Cohen agreed, on one condition: McCroy had to include a note. And so, the sign made its way into the Mets’ clubhouse, left at Iglesias’ locker like a gift from a secret admirer.
The Sign Takes Center Stage
The OMG sign quickly became a fixture in the Mets’ dugout. It was more than just a celebration prop—it was a symbol of the team’s resilience, a tangible reminder of their midseason turnaround.
Players posed with it after home runs, brandishing it like a trophy. Fans began to look for it, their eyes drawn to the dugout after every long ball, waiting for that flash of orange and blue.
The Artist Revealed
For weeks, McCroy watched in amazement as his creation became a part of Mets lore. He hadn’t expected this level of reception, hadn’t dreamed that his simple gesture of gratitude would take on such significance.
When the truth finally came out, McCroy was overwhelmed. His social media following exploded overnight. Suddenly, he wasn’t just a fan—he was a part of the Mets’ story.
More Than Just a Sign
As the season wore on, the OMG sign became more than just a celebration prop. It became a symbol of the Mets’ resilience, a tangible reminder of their midseason turnaround.
In a sport often dominated by statistics and strategy, the OMG sign represented something different. It was a testament to the power of joy, of music, of fan devotion. It was a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful motivators come from the most unexpected places.
The Legacy of OMG
As the Mets head into the postseason, the OMG sign remains a fixture in their dugout. It’s a reminder of the long, strange journey that brought them here—from the depths of early-season despair to the heights of playoff contention.
But it’s more than that. It’s a symbol of the unique spirit that defines the Mets—a team that embraces the quirky, the unexpected, the joyful. A team that can turn a journeyman infielder into a pop sensation, and a fan’s homemade sign into a rallying cry.
The Power of Belief
In the end, the story of the OMG sign is a story about belief. Belief in a team that refused to give up. Belief in the power of music to inspire. Belief in the ability of a simple gesture to make a difference.
As the Mets prepare for their playoff run, they carry with them more than just bats and gloves. They carry the spirit of OMG—of surprise, of joy, of the unexpected magic that can turn a season around.
And somewhere in Queens, Jerome McCroy watches, marveling at how three simple letters could come to mean so much. In the curious case of the Mets’ OMG sign, he found more than just artistic inspiration. He found a connection to the team he loves, a way to be part of something bigger than himself.
As the autumn chill settles over New York, the Mets’ season hangs in the balance. But win or lose, the legacy of OMG will live on—a reminder that in baseball, as in life, sometimes the most powerful magic comes from the most unexpected places.
