On Thursday, Pete Alonso signed his first professional baseball contract to play for a team other than the New York Mets.

After seven years in a Mets uniform and a tenure that included a franchise-record 264 home runs, Alonso officially became a member of the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. His five-year, $155 million contract is the second-largest in total value for a free agent in franchise history and the highest-ever annual salary.

It wasn't wholly unpredictable to see Alonso leave, as the Mets famously weren't willing to commit to him long-term last offseason. But Mets fans could be forgiven for feeling the shock as moments passed to commemorate each of Alonso's firsts since leaving the franchise he's always known.

On Thursday, Alonso sent his parting message to Mets fans on Insta

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