With the threat of rain in the forecast for the Mets’ home finale against the Phillies, legendary radio broadcaster Howie Rose may have signed off for the final time on Saturday night.
Amid the uncertainty, Rose wrapped up Saturday’s 10-3 win over the Phillies in a way only he could.
“Here’s the pitch. Swing and a bouncing ball wide to first, backhanded by [Brett] Baty, throws off balance in time to Myers. Put it in the books!” Rose punctuated with his signature call. “The New York Mets have made it two out of three against the Philadelphia Phillies this weekend, with one more on the schedule, which we hope will be played tomorrow. As Tobias Myers finishes the Phillies off in the ninth inning.”
As the Mets Radio 880 crew continued their postgame show, they played a recording of Mets broadcasters and players, both past and present, including Steve Gelbs, Kevin Burkhardt, John Franco and David Wright, to thank Rose for his 20-plus-year career of calling Mets games.
Rose, of course, joked about the scenario in which Sunday’s game would be played and asked whether they’ll have to play the recording once again before he thanked his colleagues and the fans.
“Anybody who knows me knows how much The Beatles mean to me. I’m going to say now before anything else, to quote a Beatles song, it’s all too much,” Rose said.
Rose later added, “I don’t want to think this was it, even though in my mind I treated today as though it very well might be. And whether we play tomorrow or they play tomorrow or not, I preemptively want to say how much you all mean to me. And when I’m saying ‘you all’ right now, it’s not only covering my friends here in the booth and my colleagues, but I want to speak solely to you, the Met fan. I’ve used the term forever, ‘kindred spirits,’ and I think that you understand that any one of you could be where I’m sitting here, in this booth. We have very similar backgrounds… The point is that I feel like I know you. And more importantly, I feel like you know me. We’ve been together for the entirety of my time in this booth. And if I ever doubted that, or thought that was an exaggeration, believe me, it’s hit home over these last couple of weeks this retirement announcement has somewhat gotten.
“When I really reflect on it, I have to quote the best to ever do it, Vince Scully. When Vin retired, just about a decade ago. He spoke to the fans and said, ‘you know, I needed you more than you ever needed me.’ And I didn’t really understand that. But reading the comments on everything that has been written…to hear the love that you sent to my family and me, I think I know what Vin meant now.”
Rose said he won’t be a stranger to Citi Field. He’ll likely still be the MC for Opening Day, number retirements and other ceremonies at the stadium. He’ll even visit the booth from time to time. But a choked-up Rose wanted to say one last thing to his friends, colleagues and listeners.
“Just know that I love you all.”
Back in August, the Mets planned a pregame ceremony for Rose before the team’s final home game. But as Mets world awaits to see if the weather cooperates, Rose said the organization will hold the ceremony next season if they cannot do it Sunday.
So whether it’s this Sunday or 2027, Rose will be properly acknowledged.
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