The crowd behind the third-base dugout roared and later chanted, “Thanks, Steve,” on several occasions. Steve Cohen was treated like a hero as the Mets welcomed back some of their greatest players in franchise history for an event they last hosted in 1994. Steve Cohen, Corey Shipkin “It’s their day, it’s not my day, OK,” Cohen said Saturday before the Mets’ 3-0 win over the Rockies. “I’m happy that I was able to bring them together. Better late than never. We have such a long history with the Mets, it’s important to celebrate that.” It’s just one of many changes under Cohen’s watch around the Mets. From their high payroll near the top of the game to his interactions with fans on Twitter to the Tom Seaver statue that was completed and unveiled in May, so much about the Mets has changed under new ownership. The current team is 35 games over .500 in the NL East, their best record at this point in the season since the 1986 World Series champions. “He’s brought a sense of hope, that’s probably the best way to put it,” former Met analyst and current YES and ESPN analyst David Cone said. “The whole fan base has a sense of hope now that this is viable. Year after year, that whatever is needed, will be done. That’s just a great feeling as a fan. He seems to understand the modern way of doing things and what the fan base responds to.” A Mets fan growing up, Cohen said he didn’t find it strange that the Mets didn’t have an Old Timer’s Day every year like the rival Yankees. But once he took over from the Wilpons, and the idea was proposed, he was all for it. Current manager Buck Showalter praised Cohen for being willing to spend the money necessary to put on such a spectacular event. “Trust me, it doesn’t go unnoticed,” Showalter said. “I told him, ‘Thank you.’ He didn’t want to hear it.” Cohen was excited about the turnout and the opportunity to hear so many stories from former players he grew up watching, sitting in the locker room with players from every era of Mets baseball. Those players in turn raved about him and his passion for the Mets. “It definitely changes things,” Gooden said. “He knows, he understands. … Nothing against the Wilpons, they were great, too, but it takes it to a whole ‘nother level. What I mean by that is getting the alumni involved again, putting the fans and the organization first, putting a competitive team back on the field.” Both Cone and Gooden believe the Mets can be consistent winners like they were in the 1980s. There is excitement for the team, for this season and beyond. There’s also a sense of pride in the Mets’ history under Cohen. Saturday’s Old Timer’s Day was one to remember, with Pedro Martinez, Cleon Jones, Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden, Mike Piazza and Jose Reyes and many more. Before the actual game began, the Mets retired Willie Mays’ No. 24. “These are simple things. I think the fans just want to know that you care and they want to know that ownership is listening. That’s all I’m trying to do,” Cohen said. “I do this for the fans so I hear what they have to say. I don’t always have to agree, right, but it’s important to me to know what they think and it’s important to me that they know I care.”
