Bartolo Colón honored by New York State Senate

ALBANY, NY (NEWS10) — Bartolo Colón played for 11 Major League Baseball teams, leaving a lasting impression on each fanbase, including both New York squads. But Colón, or as Met fans so affectionately called him, “Big Sexy”, made some of his most special memories with the Mets in Queens.

For that, Colón’s retirement was honored on the State Senate Floor on Tuesday with a resolution by Senator Luis Sepúlveda. The former Cy Young winner spent three of his 23 seasons with the Mets, including the 2015 season in which they went to the World Series. He won 42 games with the Mets, but it was the plays he made, along side his jovial attitude, that endeared him to the Mets fanbase. Both his home run in San Diego and his behind the back flip in Miami come to mind as examples.

Mets fans loved it every step of the way. Bartolo says that love is mutual. “All teams were supportive to me and I’m honored for all of my career, but I have to say the fans of the Mets were the best of my career,” Colón told NEWS10 ABC through a translator.

Colón was on the Hall of Fame ballot, and the voting results were revealed Tuesday night. Colón received five votes, therefore falling off the ballot. Before he heard the results, Colón told NEWS10 ABC what being included on the ballot meant to him. “It is an honor to me to be there on the list,” said Colón. “I appreciate it, my family appreciates it, but I always tell my fans and my family, my biggest honor was playing, being able to play. I know that I probably will not make it but I’m honored to be on the list and my biggest honor was to play on the Mets.”