BY STEVE BRADLEY
A Penfield man’s perfect Father’s Day weekend got even better, thanks to New York Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo.
Andrew Solomon and his son Jordan, 25, left town to see comedian Tom Segura perform at Turning Stone Casino on Friday night and drove to Albany after the show. The two avid Mets fans woke up on Saturday morning and drove to Citi Field in Queens for a 4 p.m. game against the San Diego Padres.
Things were relatively quiet for the first three innings, but that all changed in the top of the fourth when Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. lofted a fly ball toward left field. The Solomons, who were seated in the first row just beyond the screen on the third-base line, stood in hopes of catching their first major-league foul ball.
Nimmo had other ideas. As the ball continued to tail away from him, he reached his glove into the stands and made the catch just above the outstretched hand of Andrew Solomon.
“I didn’t think that it was coming anywhere near us, but it just kept drifting in our direction,” said Andrew, 53, a long-time physical education teacher at Penfield’s Harris Hill Elementary School and the women’s volleyball coach at Finger Lakes Community College.
“We were looking up and I did not see Nimmo coming, I had no idea. Nimmo’s glove was literally on top of my hand. I thought that I was going to catch it and ‘whoop,’ Nimmo was right there.”
Andrew Solomon fell after making contact with Nimmo and the nine-year veteran extended a hand, prompting Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen to comment “that’s teamwork right there” on the WPIX telecast.
“He instantly reached to help me up,” Solomon said. “He kind of shook my hand, but he was helping me up.”
Solomon was also concerned that he had pulled a “Bartman,” referring to Chicago Cubs fan Steve Bartman who interfered with Moises Alou’s effort to catch a fly ball during Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series.
After asking the usher, who assured him that he did not enter the field of play, and checking the reactions on his phone – which started blowing up about 30 seconds later – he knew he was fine.
“You are so focused on the ball that I didn’t see anything else going on,” Solomon said.
Nimmo, who hit an RBI double to break a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth, confirmed that feeling when he returned to the left field line before the top of the fifth and presented Solomon with an autographed ball with a special message beneath his signature.
“Thanks 4 not catching that!”
Jordan Solomon captured the exchange on video and created a memorable Instagram post that SportsNet New York, which broadcasts Mets games, repurposed into a post of its own. The SNY post has received nearly 2,500 likes.
“Nimmo, you’re the man,” Jordan said as his camera was rolling. “You’re the man, Nimmo. Thank you so much, thank you.”
“Glad I could help with a memorable day,” Nimmo responded to the post.
Jordan, an NYU graduate who runs a vintage online clothing business (Solo Vintage) that features a Mets’ item prior to every home game, is often recognized at Mets games because of his business and his long curly hair. Several fans asked to have their pictures taken with the Solomons throughout the rest of the game.
Awesome to be a part of 🙌🏼 https://t.co/t80Y4DTM0j
— Brandon Nimmo (@You_Found_Nimmo) June 17, 2024
Andrew Solomon credits his father, Bruce, for making him a Mets’ fan. Bruce was born in Brooklyn and grew up on Long Island. He followed the Dodgers before they moved to Los Angeles and has been a Mets fan since 1962.
Andrew Solomon’s fandom runs deep as well. He has attended hundreds of Met games, including the last game at Shea Stadium in 2008, the first game at Citi Field in 2009 and the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi with Jordan and younger son, Justin. He and his wife, Jen, gave a nod to the Mets’ former home by naming their daughter Olivia Shea.
Andrew lists his favorite current Mets as Pete Alonso and Francisco Alvarez, but “Nimmo has really moved up the ladder.” While many Mets’ fans are crediting the team’s recent hot streak to Grimace throwing out the first pitch before a game against the Marlins on June 12, Solomon has another theory.
“Since the catch, Nimmo is 8-for-12 with 7 RBI, 5 runs scored, a double and a home run,” he texted Tuesday night. “Who knows?”
One thing Andrew Solomon, who estimates that he has received well over 100 text and Facebook messages, does know is where Saturday’s game ranks on his list of Met moments.
“It tops them all,” he said. “It was already a great weekend and that just topped it all off. The last 72 hours have been surreal.”
That is a nice story. My Son and I spent Fathers Day watching The Yankees and the US Open. A great day.