Howie Rose, the longtime radio voice of the New York Mets, is preparing to conclude a distinguished broadcasting career that has spanned decades, marked by iconic moments and a deep connection to the team and its fans. Rose’s final games behind the microphone at Citi Field are scheduled for this week, marking the end of an era for Mets supporters and New York sports broadcasting.
Rose, who has been synonymous with Mets baseball, recalls one of his most memorable calls from 2015, when the Mets clinched the National League Championship Series by defeating the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. “The Mets are the National League champions, and they’re going to the World Series,” he famously declared — words that remain a highlight of his career. Although Rose never called a World Series game for the Mets, he reached the pinnacle of broadcasting with the New York Rangers in 1994, including Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
One story that encapsulates Rose’s unique blend of professionalism and fandom occurred during the 1994 playoffs, as the Rangers faced elimination in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final against the New Jersey Devils. Rose, covering the game on radio, struggled to balance his duty to broadcast objectively with his hope that the team’s longstanding curse of near misses would finally end. When Valeri Zelepukin tied the game with just seconds remaining, Rose momentarily lost his composure but quickly regained it, capturing a moment that still resonates with Rangers fans.
As Rose prepares to step down, he expresses confidence in his successor, Tim “Raad” Micallef, who has served as the lead play-by-play announcer during Mets road games for the past two years. Rose has mentored Micallef, passing on a rich broadcasting lineage that traces back to legends such as Bob Albert and Marty Glickman. Micallef praises Rose’s graciousness and dedication to nurturing the next generation, recalling an instance when Rose insisted he maintain the microphone for Pete Alonso’s record-breaking home run milestones, encouraging him to embrace significant moments.
On Rose’s anticipated final night, long-time Mets player Daniel Murphy provided the postgame call, while Rose capped the evening with his signature style, notably deviating from his usual closing phrase “Put it in the books!” in favor of narrating Pete Alonso’s 300th career home run in compelling detail. This moment served as a fitting tribute to Rose’s impact, blending the excitement of the game with his experienced, heartfelt narration.
As the Mets season winds down and summer draws to a close, Howie Rose’s final broadcasts at Citi Field serve as a reminder of his enduring influence on New York sports. His voice, known and loved by countless listeners, will soon join the annals of Mets history, closing a chapter that embodied the passion and spirit of the team’s fanbase.