A visit to camp
In February 2001, Jerry Grote spent about two weeks at the New York Mets spring training camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida, working with the club’s catchers. The original page was written by his wife, Cheryl, who dated her update February 27, the day before he was due to fly back to Texas. She wrote that he had enjoyed the stay and wished the arrangement could have been longer, so that he could see his advice put into practice once games began. Another former Mets catcher, Gary Carter, was reported to be arriving after him.
Cheryl spent a week at camp herself, from February 16 to 22, and described being struck by how closely the catchers listened to everything her husband said. She said she learned a lot about what makes a winning team and met many committed Mets fans. She gave particular thanks to a booster club in Port St. Lucie for its hospitality, and she highlighted a fan website run by a couple from the city.
What the page showed
The photo section featured the following scenes:
- The St. Lucie County Sports Complex, the home of spring training.
- A hotel in the area where Grote and some other players stayed, nicknamed the “Touch of Texas” because of the Texans staying there.
- John Franco, the team’s trainers and manager Bobby Valentine.
- Catcher Todd Pratt, Grote with Dave Engle, and Grote chatting with Kenny, who worked as Shinjo’s interpreter.
- Mookie Wilson at the mound, Mike Piazza in the batting cage and behind the plate, Robin Ventura in the cage, Bobby Floyd, Randy Niemann and Glendon Rusch pitching.
Why spring training matters
Spring training is where veterans pass on habits to younger players, and the page captures that scene well. Grote was invited as a guest instructor, not as part of the coaching staff, and for two weeks he was surrounded by catchers who wanted to hear what he had learned from a career at the position. The outcome of that work, including a follow-up visit with Piazza a few months later, is covered in the newspaper feature linked below. Cheryl’s account also shows how much the fan community around the Mets in Port St. Lucie, from the booster club to the local photographers, shaped the experience for visitors who came to watch.
Thanks to the fans
The keeper of the site thanked everyone who wrote to wish the couple well during the visit. She said the kind comments about the memories he had given fans were very special, and she wished the 2001 Mets a good season. The note was signed by both Cheryl and Jerry.
Related reading
A July 2001 newspaper feature on the visit is summarized on the Article page. For the broader story, see the home page and the Stat Sheet.