Howie Rose: The End of an Era
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Yesterday was a sad day for me as a die-hard New York Met fan.
Howie Rose, the long-time radio voice of the Mets, announced that 2026 was going to be his final season calling Met games. Already scaling back from his full-time schedule over the past few seasons following his major health scare in 2021, Mr. Rose cited wanting to spend more time with his family and other related projects, while stating that he wanted to get out before losing any more “zip on his fastball” behind the microphone.
I can’t speak for all the Met fans out there on their feelings on it, but for me, it’s legitimately The End of an Era.
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Eleven years ago, I wrote an article for Legends on Deck based on Howie Rose being “The Last of a Dying Breed” as it came to broadcasters covering baseball.
One quote in particular, even over a decade ago, still rings true to this day.
Howie Rose, more so than anyone else in radio, finds a way seamlessly to bring that type of vision to the Mets fan base, either in the car or at home. The way he articulates his words and utilizes his incredible intellect on the mic is unreal. Rose really has become a “last of a dying breed” when it comes to radio broadcasting.
I want to elaborate more on Howie’s commentary.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone showcase as much intensity on their play-by-play more than Howie Rose. To me, especially nowadays, there are a lot of broadcasters that are good, but they lack that certain passion for the big moment. Howie has ALWAYS had that.
Obviously, the major one he will always be remembered for is his unbelievable call of the Stephane Matteau double overtime goal for the Rangers victory in Game 7 against the Devils in 1994.
But Howie Rose has had some amazing soundbites for the Mets over the years. The earliest one will always be the Mike Piazza home run on September 21, 2001.
To this day, whenever I hear, “[Javy} Lopez wants it away”, I always know what is coming next. Steve Karsay didn’t throw it to the outside corner, and Piazza smoked it to dead center field for a massive lead-changing home run. Mr. Rose’s unbelievable excitement was not so much jubilant, but a major sense of relief to New York City. “This one has a chance…HOME RUN! MIKE PIAZZA! AND THE METS LEAD 3-2!”
The call in that moment still gives me, and a Hell of a lot of Met fans, goosebumps.
I cannot also understate how incredible his call of David Wright’s first home run back in Philadelphia in August 2015 was. Many discuss Gary Cohen’s passionate call on SNY, but Howie bellowing out “HOLY SMOKES!”, to me, is more off-the-cuff and genuine. Again, maybe it’s the radio fan in me, but that’s just what I think.
Speaking of 2015, I remember being so spoiled as a loyal WOR listener and listening to the entire Mets World Series run on the radio. For the final out, I made sure to turn off my TV and just listened to Howie call the Dexter Fowler at-bat against Jeurys Familia. When I heard “And it’s IN THERE! STRIKE THREE CALLED! THE METS WIN THE PENNANT!”, I figuratively jumped out of my skin. Again, goosebumps are on my arm as I type this now.
Then, there was 2024.
People will always talk about Pete Alonso’s home run in the top of the ninth against Devin Williams against the Brewers to make it a 3-2 lead in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series. I knew exactly where I was: I was in the Shop and Stop parking lot in Jackson, NJ, going ballistic in my car. But it was another call in the same inning that made me chuckle.
After Starling Marte drove in Jesse Winker with a base hit to make it 4-2, Winker threw down his helmet and shattered it on the Miller Park infield. Howie, watching Winker get mobbed by his teammates, spouted this line:
“And Jesse Winker just bodyslammed his helmet the way Bruno Sammartino, the great wrestler, used to bodyslam his opponents!”
Somehow, I always bring it back to wrestling. Never fails.
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I will say this, as much as many fans love Gary, Keith, and Ron as a commentary trio, I will always be partial to Howie Rose.
He worked well with everybody. From Wayne Hagan and Josh Lewin to Wayne Randazzo and Keith Raad & Pat McCarthy, Mr. Rose brought the best out of everyone in the radio booth. Some guys just have chemistry with everyone; he was one of those guys.
I was there in attendance when he was inducted in the 2023 Mets Hall of Fame, and got emotional during his introductions of the 1969 50th Anniversary in 2019 and Old Timer’s Day in 2022. So much so that Jen got me a Cameo in 2022 with Mr. Rose mentioning that in his video to me. That one will stay close to the vest.
When I was growing up, I was very lucky to hear the final few years of Bob Murphy on WFAN during Met games with my father. He was marvelous. To me, Howie Rose is this generation’s Bob Murphy, and it’s not even close. Truly the standard bearer in broadcasting and the real personification of Mets baseball. How he isn’t in Cooperstown as a Ford C. Frick Award winner is beyond me.
I will end this blog with this. The Dodgers had the timeless Vin Scully. The Brewers had the great Bob Uecker. The Expos had the stoic Dave Van Horne. I am so lucky to have had Howie Rose as MY Mets broadcaster. He is truly “The Last of a Dying Breed”. After 2026, it will really be The End of an Era. And you can put THAT in the books.
Thank you, Howie Rose.
Jon Harder
