Can’t Cool Down the Polar Bear in Historic Home Run Season

Pete Alonso said he wanted to win the Home Run Derby and he did. And on Saturday night, the 24-year old first baseman they call the Polar Bear made more home run history in a Mets uniform.

Alonso tied Aaron Judge's record for most home runs by a rookie on Friday and in his postgame comments, Alonso made reference to a little "friendly competition" between crosstown slugging rivals.

On Saturday night at Citi Field, Alonso went deep again, number 53 and the record for a rookie. The Mets first baseman also leads all of baseball this season in home runs and soon enough he will be named National League Rookie of the Year.

As the home crowd stood and cheered in a third straight season without a playoff appearance, Alonso has buoyed hope for 2020 and beyond at a cornerstone position.