You remember that summer. The purple mascot, the home run signs, and that one song that seemed to play on a loop from Queens to the Jersey Shore. Honestly, it was a vibe. But most folks think the "Oh My God" craze was just a lucky marketing stunt by the New York Mets.
It wasn't.
Basically, the story of Oh My God Candelita is about a 34-year-old infielder named José Iglesias who refused to let his career die in the minor leagues. He didn't just bring a glove to Citi Field; he brought a literal anthem.
The Birth of Candelita
Before we talk about the charts, we have to talk about the name. "Candelita" isn't some corporate-manufactured stage name. It means "Firecracker." In his hometown in Cuba, people started calling him that when he was eight years old because he played with way too much energy.
Fast forward to the 2023-2024 offseason. Iglesias was at a crossroads. He spent the previous year bouncing around, eventually signing a minor league deal with the Mets. He was sitting at a table at his ranch west of Miami, looking out at the stars and his family.
He felt a surge of gratitude.
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He grabbed a pen. The lyrics started as a prayer: “Oh My God, todo lo malo échalo pa' allá” (Everything that's bad, push it to the side). It was about clearing out the negative energy. He wasn't even sure he’d be back in the Big Leagues, but he was making music anyway.
How a Walk-Up Song Changed a Season
The Mets were a mess in May 2024. They were losing games, the energy was low, and fans were checking out. Then, on May 31, they called up Iglesias from Triple-A Syracuse.
He didn't just walk to the plate; he walked up to "OMG."
It was catchy. Kinda infectious, actually. His teammate J.D. Martinez—a veteran who knows a hit when he hears one—basically forced Iglesias to play the full track for the team in the clubhouse.
The players loved it.
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The Mets started winning. They went 15-4 shortly after his arrival. Suddenly, "OMG" wasn't just a song; it was the soundtrack to a miracle. The team even started a ritual where they’d hold up a custom "OMG" sign in the dugout after every home run. Blue and orange, obviously.
Billboard Success and the Pitbull Connection
Usually, when athletes release music, it's... well, it's not great. We've all heard the cringey rap verses. But Oh My God Candelita was different because it was actual, high-quality Latin pop.
The numbers don't lie.
- It hit #1 on the Billboard Latin Digital Song Sales chart.
- The music video racked up over 5 million views on YouTube.
- Even Pitbull—Mr. 305 himself—jumped on the remix because he respected the underdog hustle.
Iglesias performed it live at Citi Field after a win against the Houston Astros in late June. Imagine 30,000 people screaming "Oh My God" while a guy in a baseball uniform sings on second base. It was surreal.
What happened next?
By the time the 2025 season rolled around, things changed. Iglesias signed with the San Diego Padres. And here’s the kicker: he actually announced he was "hanging up the mic."
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He told reporters in Peoria that he wasn't performing this year. "I'm gonna play baseball," he said. His new teammates, like Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., were reportedly relieved to have his full focus on the infield.
It’s a bit sad, honestly. The Candelita era might be on hiatus, but that song is immortalized in Mets history. It’s the ultimate "good vibes" case study.
Actionable Takeaways from the Candelita Phenomenon
If you’re looking to capture even a fraction of that energy in your own life or business, here is how you actually do it:
- Own your "Firecracker" energy. Iglesias didn't hide his passion for music to fit the "serious athlete" mold. Being a multi-dimensional human makes you more relatable, not less professional.
- Focus on the "Push it to the side" mentality. The core of the song is about removing negativity. When your team is in a slump, sometimes you don't need a strategy meeting; you need a mood shift.
- Wait for the right lobbyist. Iglesias didn't force his song on the team. He waited until a leader like J.D. Martinez recognized its value. Great ideas need champions, not just creators.
- Exit on a high note. Knowing when to put the mic down—as Iglesias did with the Padres—is just as important as knowing when to pick it up.
The Oh My God Candelita story proves that a single moment of creativity, born from genuine gratitude on a quiet night in Miami, can eventually move an entire stadium. It wasn't about the money or the fame. It was about the energy. And that energy is exactly why the 2024 Mets felt like they could beat anyone.