Bader Looks to Lead Mets to World Series Title

Back in February, during his first spring training with the New York Mets, centerfielder Harrison Bader was gifted the “Bring Them Home” dog tag necklace that advocates for the return of Israeli hostages held in Hamas captivity by a Jewish fan. Bader, whose father, Louis, is Jewish, was slated to play for Team Israel during the 2023 World Baseball Classic before ultimately opting out following an injury-plagued 2022 MLB season, and graciously accepted the present. Throughout this past regular season, the 30-year-old Bronxville, N.Y., native took the field with the necklace draped around his neck – and a Jewish Star of David embroidered into his waistband.

But it wasn’t until earlier this month, amidst the Mets’ stunning and most improbable postseason run, which happened to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Oct. 7, that Bader’s sartorial support of Israel really garnered widespread recognition among sports fans outside of the Tri-State Area. It was, in fact, on Oct. 6, during Bader’s press conference at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park before Game 2 of the National League Division Series, that he was asked if he had taken time to reflect on his show of support for Israel, what it has meant to Jewish fans, and interactions he’s had with them throughout the season.

Bader, before going into his lengthy, thoughtful answer, told the reporter, “Yeah, I appreciate you mentioning that, for sure.” Then, the veteran outfielder, who was a postseason hero for the cross-town Yankees in autumn 2022 with his barrage of clutch homers before getting dealt to the Cincinnati Reds the following season, provided some further insight.

“I’ve done my best just to play baseball, keep to myself. Anything related to my beliefs, if you will, off the field, I’ve just shown up every day with one intention, that’s playing baseball.

“But, you know, I think it is just important regardless of whatever might be going on as it relates to Israel and Jewish families and everybody involved in the situation, I mean, it’s just important to just be grateful for every single day as it does come, regardless of your religious beliefs or anything off the field as it is for me. I’m just thankful for the opportunity.

“I’ve definitely welcomed a lot more love and gratitude into my life as a result of just listening to countless stories and experiences. That goes for both sides involved here.”

The former Gold Glove winner and impending free agent inked a $10.5 million deal with the Mets in January. In 143 regular season games, he slammed 12 homers and drove in 51 runs while playing his traditional stellar defense. In the Mets’ magical postseason journey, which continues this week against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, he’s contributed mostly in a reserve capacity, whether it be coming off the bench in the late innings to serve as a defensive replacement or entering as a pinch-runner, as he did in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies when he scored a pair of runs. But for the Mets, a franchise with such a far-reaching and passionate Jewish fanbase (not to mention, a principal owner who is Jewish, Steve Cohen), a Jewish player’s outward support of Israel has really resonated deeply.

But, you know, I think it is just important regardless of whatever might be going on as it relates to Israel and Jewish families and everybody involved in the situation, I mean, it’s just important to just be grateful for every single day as it does come, regardless of your religious beliefs or anything off the field as it is for me. I’m just thankful for the opportunity.

“I really do want to keep it just related to baseball, but again, I will just say I think it’s important to just be grateful for every opportunity,” Bader, who attended Horace Mann High School in The Bronx before starring for the University of Florida Gators, reiterated during his Game 2 presser. “This has been an absolute blessing to be a part of this game. To be given an opportunity as a free agent this offseason, I never imagined I would have as much fun as I have this year.
“Again, I just think it’s important to again just be grateful and just take things as they come, because you just never know how they might change up.”

On the field this month, Bader’s contributions to the surging Mets have been relatively limited – at least compared to his breakout performance during the Yankees’ march to the ALCS two years ago. After not getting any at-bats in the Wild Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Bader went 1-6 with three runs and a pair of stolen bases against the Phils in the next round. But the MLB postseason can be rather fickle, chock-full of heroics from unexpected contributors, and there’s no telling if Bader – whether it be as a late-inning defensive replacement or pinch-hitter against a flamethrowing lefty reliever — could make his mark again for another one of his hometown teams.

“I think there’s a lot of power in being free,” added Bader. “The postseason presents players with the opportunity to do just that, which is to be free, to play for something bigger than themselves. To celebrate everything as it comes with respect and within reason. But when you really do feel like you’re helping a bigger entity, if you will, it builds you up and anything is possible.”

Should the Mets advance to the World Series – a seemingly impossible outcome merely several months ago – their widely expected opponent in the Fall Classic would be none other than the team Bader grew up so feverishly rooting for, the New York Yankees.