NEW YORK -- The flashbulbs have been popping on every pitch here at Citi Field when Gary Sheffield has walked up to the plate.
They finally got to catch some thing: a piece of baseball history.
Sheffield's home run in the bottom of the seventh inning off of Milwaukee Brewers reliever Mitch Stetter not only tied the game at 4-4, but it was also the 500th home run of his career, making him the 25th player to accomplish the feat.The ball was hit out in typical Sheffield fashion -- a bullet to the left field seats, traveling 385 feet.
As he rounded the bases for home, the entire Mets dugout was waiting by the on-deck circle to congratulate him. Then after a minute of standing ovation cheers, Sheffield was given a curtain call.
He is the first player in major league history to have his 500th home run be his first home run with a new team. Plus, in a strange twist, Sheffield's 500th came against the very team that he hit his first for -- the Brewers. His first home run came against the Seattle Mariners Mark Langston on Sept. 9, 1988.