MMO Roundtable: Celebrating Howie Rose

By now, we all know that Mets broadcaster and Mets Hall of Fame inductee Howie Rose will retire after the 2026 season. As Howie’s about to officially “put it in the books,” we here at Metsmerized want to celebrate our legendary play-by-play man. Here are some of our favorite Howie memories, and also some words on what he means to us as Mets fans.

Allison Waxman

I am depressed. But there’s something about his call of Pete’s go-ahead HR in the 2024 NLWC that just puts the cherry on top of all Howie calls. Watching him listen to it on the plane with the team was extra special.

David Melendi

It’s so cool that a kid from Queens grew up to be the announcer for his favorite team. His passion for the Mets is real. The Mets need to do the right thing and give him a proper send off with emcee duties in the Canyon of Heroes.

Matthew Tutrone

For nearly four decades, Howie’s voice has brought Mets games to life in my car, on my commute, and whenever the Mets game isn’t on SNY. Throughout the team’s history, Mets fans have been blessed with some of the greatest broadcasters in baseball, and Howie certainly ranks among them. I wish him an amazin’ retirement, and hope the 2026 season allows him an emphatic, ultimate “Put it in the books!” with a Mets World Series victory.

Michelle Ioannou

I will never forget sitting next to Howie and getting the chance to chat with him when I’d cover Mets games for Metsmerized. He was entirely down to earth, and always willing to chat, even though I wasn’t one of the “official” beat writers. Of course I can go on about all of his legendary calls – Bartolo Colon‘s home run, Pete Alonso‘s go-ahead home run in the 2024 NLWC, and so on. But I want to mention his memoir – reading that, as a kid from Queens who went to the same high school as Howie, was really cool. Him telling stories of how he’d take the bus from Cardozo to Shea Stadium hit home, as it was the same bus I would ride.

Matt Mancuso

Without Howie Rose, 2024’s playoff run would feel less magical. His calls merely didn’t demonstrate his passion for his job, but his best-in-class articulation of the English language. Howie’s a unique breed – a broadcaster whose passion for his job never fades from March to October. If there was ever a modern-day Vin Scully, Howie would certainly be in the running.

Mojo Hill

Much like Gary Cohen on TV, there’s just something iconic and pleasing about listening to Howie Rose call a Mets game. I have memories of listening to him from when I was a kid in L.A. to an adult driving through North Dakota backroads. Whoever replaces him, however much talent they might have, it just won’t be quite the same.

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki

Howie Rose was the soundtrack of my childhood. During baseball season, my dad would pick me up from swim practice and I’d hear Howie’s voice on the radio. It’s hard to pick a single favorite call of his, it’s a close one between his call of Mike Piazza‘s post-9/11 home run and Pete Alonso’s go-ahead homer in the 2024 Wild Card Series. I hope the Mets are able to put a World Series in the books for Howie.

Johnluke Chaparro

As Mets fans, regardless of the on-field product, we’ve been blessed with incredibly talented and well rounded broadcasters over the lifespan of this franchise. Howie Rose, whether it was on television or radio, has been able to call and describe Mets baseball with incredible grace and skill in a way that puts him up there with the likes of Mel Allen and Vin Scully. That might sound a bit pretentious to some, but for all of us, he’s been the soundtrack of many wonderful summers, as well as some that haven’t gone the way we’ve wanted.

As an aspiring play-by-play broadcaster, pretty much any call hes made during his career has been phenomenal and ive modeled my potential career how he does his games. My favorite moments of his boil down to two moments in two different sports. First, his “Matteau, Matteau, Matteau” call during game 7 of the 1994 ECF against the NJ Devils is one of his best. Secondly, outside of his 2015 pennant winning call on Jeurys Familia‘s strikeout on Dexter Fowler, his best Mets moment on the air would be his call of Johan Santana‘s no hitter in 2012. The pure excitement and elation in his voice as a fan and broadcaster was evident, as he, like the rest of us, had no idea that the franchise would ever achieve a no hitter, ever! That and his post game chat with Gary Cohen was peak broadcasting at its finest.

Howie is a Mets treasure and he will be missed on the air dearly. He is one of us and it came through plenty during his calls. Thats why he’s the best.

Brandyn Pokrass

There’s nothing better than a Howie Rose call in a big-time Mets moment. He, more than almost any radio or TV broadcaster, knows how to elevate that moment. From when I was a kid to when I was driving through North Jersey as a college student, Howie Rose had been a key part of the soundtrack of my Mets’ fandom. I truly cannot imagine a world  without Howie Rose doing games for the Mets, but just as I have every other season, I will treasure the games he does all throughout 2026. 

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