Howie Rose, the longtime play-by-play announcer for the New York Mets, will be leaving the broadcast booth at the end of the 2026 season.
Rose, 72, has been calling Mets games since 1995. He had to cut down on his schedule in 2021 due to health complications from his battle with bladder cancer. Although he won't be at any away games during the regular season, he will hit the road and travel with the team if they make it to the postseason.
As for why Rose is retiring after the 2026 season, he believes the time is coming for him to leave the broadcast booth and enjoy the simple things in life.
"Trust me, I didn't arrive to this decision to retire easily. I've been going back and forth in my mind about it for the last few years. But the simple reality is I'm 72 years old, and my wife Barbara, who has sacrificed so much for so long, deserves to have her husband around a little more often," Rose said. "I'm not planning on making a clean break. Hopefully, I'll be involved now and then in some capacity, because for me, letting go of the Mets isn't hard, it's impossible."
Fans react to Howie Rose's retirement.
Unsurprisingly, Mets fans are devastated over this Thursday's announcement. That being said, they're grateful for all the years spent listening to Rose's commentary.
"A magnificent career. Some of his calls will be forever etched in Mets fans brains. He possesses the unique ability to broadcast games over the radio where you can truly visualize what is happening through his words," one person said.
"End of an Era," a fan wrote on social media. "One of the best to ever voice anything sports with a mic This year, we’ll celebrate as much as we can thanking Howie for all his hard work and commitment to the Mets."
"Always knew this day was coming," another fan said. "What an absolute blessing its been to listen to this man call Mets games for decades on end. Well deserved retirement."
"What a fantastic career he’s had. Wow. He’ll be missed," a social media user added.
The Mets will begin their 2026 season on March 26 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
We'll see if the Mets make Rose's final year in the broadcast booth one he'll never forget.
