HoJo Draws Fans from Around Area

Norwalk Mayor Richard A. Moccia (r) today stopped by Westport’s Legends of the Game sports memorabilia shop, 1765 Post Road East (across from Stop & Shop), to welcome former New York Mets player Howard Johnson. Johnson said that he and Moccia met earlier this year when they both participated in a charity golf event in the Norwalk area. Moccia watched along with Trumbull resident Rob Vieux and sons Cole, 10, and Tyler, 13, as Johnson showed his World Series championship ring to Anthony Barallon, 6, of Newtown. Johnson, nicknamed HoJo, is a former switch hitting third baseman who, in addition to the Mets, also played for the Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, and Chicago Cubs from 1982 to 1995. He is third on the Mets’ all-time lists for home runs, runs batted in, doubles, and stolen bases. On July 13, 2007, he was promoted from his position as the Mets’ first base coach to their hitting coach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com