Mamdani receives harsh criticism from a former MLB pitcher known for controversy.

John Rocker Critiques NYC Ahead of Mayoral Election

Former MLB pitcher John Rocker has stirred up controversy with his remarks about New York City as the upcoming mayoral election nears.

In a social media post, Rocker referenced comments he made to Sports Illustrated following a playoff game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets in December 1999. He expressed his belief that the city hasn’t seen much improvement since then.

“Twenty-five years ago, I criticized New York’s rapid decline into a Third World country,” Rocker stated. “I was forced into psychological counseling, as if I were crazy. Now, 25 years later, the city is about to elect a Muslim socialist as mayor. F–New York.”

This pointed reference was directed at Zoran Mamdani, who is favored to win against former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

Rocker’s inflammatory comments were made during a time when the Braves and Mets had a heated rivalry. It’s worth noting that the Mets ultimately defeated the Braves in the 2000 NLCS, advancing to the World Series that year.

Reflecting on his past experiences, Rocker had said, “I would like to retire first. This city is just too busy and stressful.” He recalled a particularly daunting image of what it would be like to travel to the ballpark in New York, describing it in an extremely negative light.

“The thing I hate most about New York are foreigners. You could walk just one block through Times Square and barely hear English spoken,” he remarked, listing various nationalities he feels contribute to the city’s atmosphere. These sentiments led to his suspension and mandatory counseling at the time, and he certainly faced backlash from the fans when he visited the city the following season.

Despite his challenges, Rocker has had a long career in baseball, but left the majors after playing a couple of games for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. Although he never played in New York City, he came close by participating in games for the Long Island Ducks in 2005.