A Fond Farewell: Howie Rose to Retire from Mets Booth After 2026 Season
Legendary New York Mets broadcaster Howie Rose has announced that he will step away from the microphone at the conclusion of the 2026 Major League Baseball season. After nearly four decades of calling the action for the Queens-based club, Rose, 72, revealed his decision in a heartfelt video released by the Mets organisation.
“This year will be especially meaningful to me, because 2026 will be my final season in the Mets broadcast booth,” Rose stated, acknowledging the difficulty of the decision. “Now, trust me, I did not arrive at this decision to retire easily. I’ve been going back and forth in my mind about it for the last few years.”
The veteran announcer cited his age and a desire to spend more time with his wife, Barbara, as primary motivations. “But the simple reality is that 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 — whether she likes it or not.”
While the 2026 season will mark his full-time departure, Rose indicated a plan to scale back his schedule even before then. He told Newsday that he had already intended to limit his travel, focusing on home games and the Mets’ three away contests against their crosstown rivals, the Yankees, in the “Subway Series.” However, a commitment remains for playoff games.
“Rose did commit to calling games on the road if the Mets qualified for the playoffs.”
This decision comes after Rose has been bravely navigating a personal health battle. In recent years, he has been undergoing treatment for bladder cancer. He underwent surgery to remove his bladder and prostate, with a “neobladder” subsequently constructed from his intestines.
Despite his impending retirement from full-time broadcasting, Rose expressed a desire to remain connected to the team. “I’m not planning on making a clean break,” he explained. “Hopefully I’ll be involved now and then in some still-to-be-determined capacity, because for me letting go of the Mets isn’t hard, it’s impossible.”
He elaborated on the profound connection he feels with the Mets fanbase. “And one of the biggest reasons for that is the bond that we’ve created with each other through all these years. The warmth, acceptance and, yes, love that you’ve shown me in so many ways for so long makes this all the more difficult, and I return those feelings in kind.”
Rose’s tenure with the Mets began in 1987. He transitioned to television from 1996 to 2003 before returning to his roots in radio, becoming the unmistakable voice of Mets baseball for generations of fans.
Mets ownership, Steve and Alex Cohen, issued a joint statement celebrating Rose’s remarkable career. “For nearly four decades, Howie Rose’s voice has been synonymous with New York Mets baseball,” they stated. “His passion for the Mets has carried across the airwaves and into the homes and hearts of fans everywhere, bringing the franchise’s most memorable moments to life.”
The owners continued, “Generations of Mets fans have grown up listening to Howie call the game with authenticity, energy, and a deep appreciation for what this team means to our community. We are grateful for the relationship we’ve built with Howie and for the dedication he has shown to the organization and our fans since 1987. We congratulate Howie on an extraordinary career and wish him the very best as he begins this next chapter with his wife, Barbara, and their daughters, Alyssa and Chelsea.”
Rose’s broadcasting career extends beyond the diamond. He also spent over two decades calling games for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. One of his most iconic calls came during the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, where he described Stephane Matteau’s double-overtime goal against the New Jersey Devils, a pivotal moment that propelled the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final and ended their long championship drought. His distinctive voice and passionate delivery have made him a beloved figure in New York sports.
