Let’s be honest, nobody expected Mr. and Mrs. Met to get a warm welcome at Citizens Bank Park. But the pure hatred the crowd served up Tuesday night? That was something else.
Before the 2026 MLB All-Star Game even started, Philadelphia fans made it crystal clear where their loyalties lie. When the Mets’ beloved (by Mets fans, anyway) mascot duo hit the field for pregame introductions, the place erupted in boos. Loud, sustained, the kind of noise you’d expect for a division rival in October, not a midsummer exhibition game.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale was on the scene and posted on X about the moment. His description was straightforward: the loudest negative reaction of the entire pregame show belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Met. Which, honestly, is saying something at an event where everyone’s technically supposed to be on the same team.
National League East hatred never sleeps
This isn’t just about a couple of big-headed mascots getting heckled. It’s the latest chapter in the Philly-New York rivalry that’s been simmering for decades. Phillies fans have a reputation for being merciless to opponents, and they don’t make exceptions for mascots. If anything, the Mets’ furry representatives made for an easier target than some of the actual players.
The All-Star Game is supposed to be a celebration of the sport, a showcase where rivalries get set aside for one night. But Philadelphia doesn’t really do “setting things aside.” The crowd turned what was supposed to be a neutral event into a very pro-Phillies, anti-Mets atmosphere. And honestly? That’s exactly what you’d expect from this fanbase.
It’s worth noting that Mr. and Mrs. Met have been through worse. But getting booed in front of a national TV audience at an All-Star Game? That’s a special kind of disrespect Philly specializes in.
The reactions online were predictably split. Mets fans called it classless. Phillies fans wore it like a badge of honor. Everyone else probably just thought it was funny.
The All-Star Game itself went on, and the NL East’s finest eventually shared a field without incident. But for a few seconds during pregame introductions, the only thing that mattered was making sure a couple of foam-headed mascots knew they weren’t welcome. Mission accomplished.
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