why is pete alonso called the polar bear

Pete Alonso is called “the Polar Bear” because former Mets teammate Todd Frazier reportedly gave him the nickname during spring training in 2019 after saying Alonso looked like “a big polar bear.” The name stuck, and Alonso embraced it.

Why it fit

• Alonso is a big, powerful first baseman , so the image matched his size and strength.

• The nickname also became part of his Mets identity, with the team and fans using it widely.

How it spread

• Noah Syndergaard also helped popularize it by calling him “Pete the Polar Bear.”

• The Mets even leaned into the nickname with polar bear-themed promotions and bobbleheads.

If you want, I can also give you a 1-sentence version for a caption or social post.