Home Run Apple, Mechanical sculpture at Citi Field, Queens, US
The Home Run Apple is a bright red mechanical fruit at Citi Field that rises from its base when Mets players hit home runs. The sculpture stands approximately 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall and 16 feet (4.9 meters) wide, serving as a striking visual feature within the stadium.
The original sculpture debuted in 1980 at Shea Stadium as a 9-foot (2.7-meter) mechanical device that lifted with each home run. When the team moved to Citi Field in 2009, a larger version replaced it to enhance the fan experience in the new ballpark.
The red fruit references New York City's popular nickname while connecting the stadium experience to local identity during Mets games. Fans see it as part of the team's tradition and the city's broader culture.
Visitors get the best views from locations near the home plate entrance or behind center field in the stadium. The mechanism operates automatically during games, so fans can see it without needing special timing or advance planning.
A hidden hydraulic system beneath the stadium controls the apple's movement from an operator's room rather than relying on visible mechanisms. The performance includes the song Theme from New York, New York, creating a celebratory moment that blends the sculpture with an iconic local tune.
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