LI dad to be honored at Citi Field
The sun sets during the game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Citi Field. (June 17, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
When Jimmy Raynor saw a news item from Major League Baseball asking fans to submit essays about their dads for a Father's Day contest, he didn't hesitate to draft his own version. To drum up support, he posted the link on Facebook and asked friends to vote.
Major League Baseball initiated its "My Dad, My MVP" contest this year to allow fans to share short stories about their father figures.
One winner was selected from each of baseball's 30 teams by a celebrity panel of judges -- including former Yankees manager Joe Torre, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz and Mets outfielder Jason Bay -- and nearly 270,000 online fan votes.
Raynor's father, Mark, was a longtime member of the Southampton Police Department, an ex-chief of the Westhampton Beach Volunteer Fire Department and a well-known community figure in Suffolk County. And since January, he has been battling pancreatic cancer.
"I thought, 'You know, Dad's got a good story. Might as well throw him in the mix and see what happens,' " said Jimmy Raynor, 28.
The word certainly spread. On Wednesday, Mark Raynor, 57, was notified by the Mets that he won the contest. The Westhampton Beach resident will be celebrated in an on-field ceremony at Citi Field Sunday.
"It's a great honor," said Raynor, a lifelong Mets fan.
Raynor is no stranger to recognition. He served as a member of the Southampton Police Department for 18 years until 1995 and has been with the Westhampton Beach Volunteer Fire Department for more than 30 years. He was elected deputy mayor of the Village of Westhampton Beach in 2004.
In the early hours of Nov. 30, 1992, Raynor rushed into a burning home to try to rescue an 8-month-old boy in Flanders. Though the child did not survive, Raynor was honored as the New York State Police Officer of the Year for his efforts.
Still, Sunday's recognition will be tough to beat.
"I think this is higher -- my kids did it for me," Raynor said. "With what I'm going through, that they thought so much to do this for me, it tops everything."
