Mookie Wilson still living the dream 40 years after Mets' astonishing 1986 World Series victory

Everyone knows that play. Mookie Wilson said even 10-year-olds he’s met know it despite not being alive.

That moment, of course, is Wilson’s walk-off poke down the first base line in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. With the bases loaded and two outs, the grounder off Wilson’s bat went between Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner’s legs to force a Game 7 — which the Mets won to capture their second World Series.

“Forty years after the fact,” Wilson said, “and no matter where I go, whether it's in New York, whether it's in Philadelphia, whether it's in Chicago, St. Louis, people still remember that play.”

Wilson, now 70, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Mets’ World Series team and his famous walk-off on Saturday when Citi Field hosts the 1986 World Series Reunion & Celebration. But before reuniting with his former teammates, Wilson connected with fans — signing autographs and taking pictures — at Tesoro Ristorante in Westbury Wednesday night.

Martin Grover, Wilson’s agent and the president of Momentum Sports Management Inc., said around 100 people were in attendance for the charity event. Between now and October, Grover said Wilson will have numerous more similar events throughout New York.

“[Wilson] does a lot of things in the community, and I wanted to pay a tribute to the ‘86 Mets 40th anniversary of the World Series champion team,” Grover said of hosting the charity events. “And Mookie Wilson is just hands down a gem, a guy who just left it on the field. He's a better man off the field.”

On Saturday, Wilson mentioned he’s excited to see Rick Aguilera, Doug Sisk, Rafael Santana and Kevin Mitchell because he doesn’t see them often. He says he keeps in contact with his former teammates individually, but they don’t have a group chat where they all stay in touch.

“Every once in a while, I see one guy here and there on a regular basis, but we don't get the team together,” Wilson said. “It's been a while since we got the team together.”

Nowadays, after notching 1,397 hits across a 12-year career with the Mets and Blue Jays, Wilson resides in South Carolina — where he was born. He says his seven grandchildren take up most of his time, but when they don’t, he and his brothers run a catering company called Legacy.

Even so, Wilson still keeps up with the Mets.

“I watch maybe too much Mets baseball,” he said with a laugh. “I think that's my problem, and I feel really connected with the team. When the Mets struggle, I struggle.”

In the 40 years since Wilson and his teammates won the World Series, the Mets haven’t reached baseball’s pinnacle. Despite a $375 million payroll this season, the second highest in MLB, the Mets have faltered to a 46-62 record.

"Well, you spend X amount of dollars. Dollars don't buy culture,” Wilson said. “Dollars don't buy wins all the time. It can help.

“It's a great thing to have, and I think you have to decide on what kind of organization we want to be, what kind of product we want to put up here. We know we want to put a winning product, but what kind of winning product? And I think we're still in the developing stages. That's just my personal opinion.”

Regardless of how the Mets perform, Wilson will always be an organization legend. That’s why nearly 100 people went to meet him on Wednesday night.

“This is stuff that we remember as kids. That jersey over there,” said Mark Scherer, a 69-year-old from Bellmore, while pointing at a grey Mets jersey with Wilson’s name and No. 1, “I have one of those also. These are things that mean something to us … bring back memories.”