1️⃣ Exhibit Name
“OMG” Sign (New York Mets)
2️⃣ Collection & Image
Figure 1. “OMG Sign in the Dugout” (Realistic Sports Photography)
A vibrant blue‑and‑orange sign reading “OMG,” held by a Mets player celebrating a home run.
3️⃣ Gallery Location
Fan Culture Wing › Signs Hall › United States
4️⃣ Exhibit Background
The “OMG” sign is a bright blue‑and‑orange sign that reads “OMG.” It became the New York Mets’ unofficial home‑run celebration symbol during their remarkable 2024 season. The sign is a direct reference to the hit song “OMG” by Mets infielder José Iglesias, performed under his stage name Candelita. Iglesias began using the song as his walk‑up music after being called up from Triple‑A Syracuse on May 31, 2024. The song quickly became a rallying cry for both the team and its fans, transforming a struggling season into one of the most surprising playoff runs in recent MLB history.
The physical sign was created by Jerome McCroy, a lifelong Mets fan and artist from Ridgewood, Queens who works under the name Jaymaccustoms. The inspiration came from an Instagram post by Alex Cohen, wife of Mets owner Steve Cohen, who was wearing an “OMG” T‑shirt. McCroy created the sign as a gift, hoping it would lift the team’s spirits. After a chance encounter with Alex Cohen at Citi Field, she agreed to pass the sign to the players. It made its dugout debut on June 28, 2024, and has been a fixture of Mets celebrations ever since.
5️⃣ Period & Location
- Period: June 2024 – present
- Location: Citi Field, Queens, New York, and on the road with the Mets
6️⃣ Material & Dimensions
- Material: Painted wood or foam board with bold blue and orange lettering
- Dimensions: Approximately 2’ × 3’ (60 cm × 90 cm) – sized for easy hoisting in the dugout
- Style: Mets team colors – blue background, orange letters, or orange background with blue letters
7️⃣ Narrative Story
From Cellar to Celebration: The 2024 Mets Turnaround
At the end of May 2024, the New York Mets were 24–33, 11 games under .500, and their season seemed all but over. On May 31, veteran infielder José Iglesias was called up from Triple‑A Syracuse. Few could have predicted that this low‑key roster move would spark one of the most memorable turnarounds in baseball history.
Iglesias brought more than his glove and bat. He brought a song.
“OMG”: The Song That Changed a Season
Iglesias, a lifelong music enthusiast, had written and recorded a Latin pop song called “OMG” under his stage name Candelita. He began using it as his walk‑up song immediately after his call‑up. The lyrics, which include “Oh my God, thank You, He’s always there,” reflect Iglesias’s gratitude for family, faith, and opportunity. On June 28, Iglesias performed the song live at Citi Field after a Mets victory, with the stadium lights dimmed and his teammates dancing around him on the field. The moment became instantly iconic. The song debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Digital Song Sales chart and has since garnered millions of streams.
Figure 2. Shell Mosaic of the “OMG” Sign
The Artist and His Gift
As the Mets began to climb back into contention, artist Jerome McCroy felt inspired. A lifelong Mets fan, McCroy wanted to do something to celebrate Iglesias and the positive energy sweeping through the team. He noticed an Instagram post by Alex Cohen, wife of Mets owner Steve Cohen, wearing an “OMG” T‑shirt. McCroy created a custom sign – blue with orange letters – based on that design.
He brought the sign to Citi Field and, by chance, ran into Alex Cohen. He asked if she could give it to Iglesias. She agreed, and the sign was placed in Iglesias’s locker. When Iglesias saw it, his teammates assumed he had made it himself. Before long, the sign made its way to the dugout, where players began hoisting it after every home run.
From Dugout Prop to Cultural Phenomenon
What began as a single artist’s gesture quickly became the signature image of the Mets’ 2024 playoff run. Players like pitcher Luis Severino and outfielder Brandon Nimmo eagerly hoisted the sign after every home run. Fans at Citi Field began making their own “OMG” signs. The team distributed “OMG” T‑shirts to the first 15,000 fans at select games. Chants of “Let’s Go Mets!” mixed with “OMG” calls echoed through the stadium.
The Mets finished the season 67–40 after May 29 – the best record in MLB over that span. They clinched a playoff berth, defeated the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies, and advanced to the National League Championship Series. Throughout the postseason, the “OMG” sign was visible in every dugout celebration.
Hall of Fame Recognition
In November 2024, the Mets donated one of the “OMG” signs to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. It will remain in the Museum’s permanent collection, displayed in the “Your Team Today” exhibit to mark the excitement of the Mets’ 2024 season. Jerome McCroy told reporters, “It was really meant to be a token of gratitude for a team that I just didn’t want to see give up.”
Figure 3. “OMG” Sign (New York Mets) – Paper Sculpture Style
Think About It
- How can a simple three‑letter sign capture the spirit of an entire baseball season?
- What does the “OMG” sign tell us about how modern fan‑created symbols can become part of team identity?
- Why do you think a song written by a player – not a professional musician – resonated so deeply with both his teammates and fans?
8️⃣ Current Status & Applications
- Status: The “OMG” sign remains a beloved symbol of the 2024 Mets season. One sign is now permanently displayed at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
- Applications: The sign appears on fan merchandise, social media campaigns, and game broadcasts. The “OMG” song continues to be played at Citi Field.
- Suggested companion exhibits: Display alongside other dugout celebration props (e.g., Seattle’s trident, Miami’s home‑run sculpture) and the “OMG” song’s Billboard chart recognition.
9️⃣ Significance & Educational Value
- Significance: The “OMG” sign represents the intersection of sports, music, and grassroots fan creativity. It shows how a single act of artistic generosity can ignite a team’s spirit and become woven into baseball history.
- Educational value: Encourages visitors to consider how sports symbols emerge from unexpected places – a player’s walk‑up song, an artist’s gift, a social media post – and how they take on meaning far beyond their original intent.
🔟 References
- MLB.com. OMG! Mets celebrate a win with a postgame concert by one of their players. June 29, 2024.
- AP News. OMG hits Cooperstown as Mets’ home run sign will get Hall of Fame display. November 2024.
- USA Today / FTW. The Mets‘ OMG sign, explained: The unlikely origin story of team’s 2024 rallying cry. September 30, 2024.
- Yahoo Sports. The story behind Mets’ new OMG sign used in home run celebrations. June 30, 2024.
- ABC7 NY. Mets fan inspired ‘OMG’ sign taken on cult‑like status as team’s playoff run continues. October 10, 2024.
- AM New York. Meet the man behind Mets’ famous ‘OMG’ celebration sign. July 9, 2024.
- Artnet News. OMG! Was This Artist’s Gift the Key to the New York Mets’ Remarkable Resurgence?. October 2, 2024.
- Sporting News. Mets ’OMG‘ sign, explained: How Jose Iglesias started New York’s rallying cry for 2024 playoffs. October 2024.