Dickey promotes literacy at Manhattan school
On Tuesday, Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets spent his morning in school as he discussed the importance of reading with about 100 fourth and fifth graders at the Dream Charter School on East 103rd Street in Manhattan.
Dickey, who has taken on the role of promoting literacy through the Capital One Bank Book by Book program, explained to his audience that his career was made possible because he loved to read, according to The New York Times. The knuckleballer explained that reading created an environment where he could learn to dream and have patience.
The latter might become essential as Dickey remains in the middle of slow-moving negotiations with the Mets, who he won 20 games with last season. While the 38-year-old donned a Mets jersey during the event on Tuesday, he did not go to the school through an arrangement with the team. The possibility remains that the Mets could decided to trade Dickey for prospects who could help fill other holes in the Mets roster.
Dickey’s personal story and love of baseball, as well as his willingness to participate in events such as the one at the Dream Charter School, however, have made him a fan favorite. If the Mets trade him, it could create an even bigger rift between the team’s front office and an already frustrated fan base.
During the event, Dickey put trade talks aside as he focused on the present. He asked the students how many were Mets fans, and after only 30 percent of them raised their hands, he asked how many Yankee fans were in the room.
“Y’all get out of here,” Dickey said jokingly to the fans of the cross-town rivals.
The children laughed at Dickey’s joke as the pitcher added to the reasons of why he has become a fan favorite not just in New York, but across the baseball world.
