• Pete Alonso hits his 253rd career home run, breaking Darryl Strawberry’s long-standing Mets record.
• The milestone comes in a 13-5 win over the Braves, with Alonso hitting two homers in the game.
• Fans and former players celebrate the achievement, hailing Alonso as the new face of Mets power.

The roar started the moment the ball left his bat. Pete Alonso didn’t even need to watch it sail into the cool Queens night — the sound of Citi Field told him everything. By the time he rounded the bases, the crowd was on its feet, chanting his name. He tipped his helmet toward the stands, a smile spreading across his face, as the scoreboard lit up with history.

It was only the third inning of Tuesday night’s clash against the Atlanta Braves, but the Mets’ slugger had already delivered the moment fans had been waiting for. His towering shot to right-center off Atlanta ace Spencer Strider wasn’t just another run on the board — it was the swing that made him the franchise’s all-time home run king.

Homer No. 253 pushed Alonso past Darryl Strawberry, a name that has been etched into Mets lore for decades. Strawberry’s record had stood since 1990, a benchmark many thought untouchable. Alonso had tied it just a few days earlier in Milwaukee, but doing it at home, in front of a packed stadium, made the achievement sweeter.

A night to remember

Alonso’s historic homer came after he doubled in the second inning, setting the tone early. When he stepped back to the plate in the third with two outs, Strider tried to challenge him with a first-pitch fastball. Big mistake. Alonso unloaded, sending the ball deep into the seats to give the Mets a 5-1 lead. The fans erupted, knowing they had just witnessed history.

And Alonso wasn’t done. In the sixth inning, with the Mets already in control, he launched another solo blast — his sixth in the past 10 games — extending the lead to 11-5. By the final out, the Mets had trounced the Braves 13-5, but the scoreline was just a footnote. This was Alonso’s night.

The dream he saw coming

For Alonso, the record wasn’t an accident. The 30-year-old first baseman admitted it was a milestone he had envisioned since his rookie season in 2019.

“If the circumstances allowed it, yeah, I thought I could get here,” he said, reflecting on his journey. “It’s always been about staying healthy, playing as many games as possible, and helping the team win. To say you’re the franchise leader in anything — it’s special. Not many players get that chance.”

Seven years in a Mets uniform, Alonso has turned potential into production. Now, he’s talking about the next big mountain: 500 career homers.

“It’s possible,” he said without hesitation. “If I can play until I’m 40, stay healthy, and keep producing, 500 is realistic. It’s not a guarantee, but I believe it’s within reach.”

Beating a legend’s pace

Strawberry’s original mark came over the course of 1,109 games from 1983 to 1990. Alonso broke it in just 965 — a testament to his power and consistency.

But there was a moment last winter when it seemed Mets fans might never see him take another swing in their colors. Alonso had entered free agency after last season, and whispers spread that the team could let him walk. Fans braced for heartbreak.

Then, in late January, the tension broke. Alonso and the Mets struck a two-year, \$54 million deal with an opt-out after this season. For now, he’s staying home, and Tuesday night’s ovation showed just how much the city still loves him.

From milestone to momentum

This season’s record chase has been a series of milestones. Back in June, Alonso passed David Wright’s 242 home runs with a two-homer game in Colorado, cementing his place as one of the greatest power hitters in Mets history.

Now, the only number above him in the record books is his own — and he seems determined to keep rewriting it.

The reaction from the stands

For the fans who packed Citi Field, this was more than a stat line. It was a shared moment of pride, joy, and even relief. Supporters held up homemade signs, some reading “Polar Bear Power” — a nod to Alonso’s nickname — while others simply wrote “253” in giant block letters.

On social media, the celebration exploded. Mets legends and former teammates sent congratulatory messages, while fans posted videos of the home run from every possible angle. One supporter summed it up: “We’re lucky to be living in the Pete Alonso era.”

Even Strawberry himself, the man whose record fell, offered respect. In a brief statement, he praised Alonso’s talent and work ethic, saying, “Records are meant to be broken, and Pete’s done it with class.”

A deeper meaning for the Mets

The Mets have had their share of highs and lows in recent seasons, but Alonso’s record has given fans a reason to believe in the team’s future. His combination of raw power and leadership makes him more than just a stat-chaser — he’s become a symbol of resilience in a franchise that has seen plenty of turnover.

For Alonso, the bond with New York is personal. “The fans have been incredible to me since day one,” he said. “Breaking this record here, in front of them, is something I’ll never forget.”

The question now isn’t whether Alonso can keep hitting home runs — that’s almost a given — but whether the Mets can build around their star to compete for a championship. With his contract allowing him to opt out after this season, there’s still a hint of uncertainty about his long-term future in Queens.

For now, though, Mets fans are content to savor the moment. Alonso is their home run king, and every blast from here on out will only pad his legacy.

A night that will be replayed for years

There will be bigger games, and perhaps bigger stakes, but for Mets fans, this Tuesday night will always stand out. They’ll remember the crack of the bat, the arc of the ball, the eruption of the crowd, and the sight of Alonso tipping his helmet as if to say, This one’s for you.

Records eventually fall, but the feeling of being there — of witnessing history — never fades. And for the Polar Bear, the journey is far from over.