'An experience that I'll never forget.' Long Islander takes to the mound at Mets' Old Timers' Day event

Former Mets pitcher Steve Dillon had an "Amazin'" day with the team Saturday as he returned to the mound for the Old Timers' Day at Citi Field.

News 12 Staff

Aug 29, 2022, 3:33 AM

Updated 817 days ago

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One Long Islander got to relive his glory days with the Mets this past weekend.
Former Mets pitcher Steve Dillon had an "Amazin'" day with the team Saturday as he returned to the mound for the Old Timers' Day at Citi Field.
The 79-year-old from Baldwin was one of the 65 honorees to play in the first Old Timers' Day hosted by the Mets since 1994.
Dillon proudly showed off his swag from the game when he spoke with News 12 Long Island on Sunday.

RELATED: Mets’ Old Timers Day: Baldwin’s Steve Dillon, 79, ready for the mound again
"I couldn't wait to get it on this morning, first time I'm wearing it, part of the mementos that I will treasure," Dillon enthused.
The lefty pitched in three games for the 1963 and 1964 Mets and practiced hard to return to the mound almost 60 years later.
"[Former Mets coach] Willie Randolph told me that I had to go in to pitch, and I got to the mound, and everything came back to me," Dillon said.
Dillon's performance was a "hit" on social media
"My grandchildren were saying, 'Grandpa, it's exploding!' I don't know what they were talking about because it's not what I do. I am not a tweeter," Dillon added.
One social media user enthused that his favorite part of Old Timers' Day was to see Dillon pitching at 79 years old.
"Well, I will have to agree with him because I prepared myself for this," Dillon reacted. "And that's the last thing I wanted to do was embarrass the Mets, and embarrass myself, and embarrass my family."
Dillon said he also found himself just as excited as the fans.
"Meeting the new players and having them embrace me was an experience that I'll never forget," Dillon added.
After his time in the major leagues, Dillon served as an NYPD officer for over 20 years.