Legendary radio voice of the New York Mets Howie Rose made a video announcing his retirement after the 2026 season, which was posted to the Mets’ social media channels this morning. The Bayside Queens native began his broadcasting career in 1975, serving as the play-by-play broadcaster for New York Rangers games on WFAN from 1989-1995, including their Stanley Cup Championship season of 1993-1994, as well as the play-by-play announcer for the New York Islanders on Fox Sports New York from 1995-2016.
He has been involved with Mets broadcasts since 1987 and began serving as a lead announcer in 1996 on television alongside Ralph Kiner, Tom Seaver and Fran Healy, among others. When Bob Murphy retired, Rose transitioned to the Mets radio booth and then worked alongside Gary Cohen before becoming the lead Mets play-by-play radio announcer in 2006—a role he has held for the past 20 years.
Rose has said in the past that he wanted to continue calling games until the Mets win another World Series. But health issues have forced him to cut back on his schedule in the past several years, especially travel for road games, which is difficult for him. In the video, Rose says he will not do any road games (besides the three in New York at Yankee Stadium) in his final season as the full-time Mets play-by-play radio announcer until the postseason.
“I did not arrive at this decision to retire easily,” Rose says in the video announcement. “I’ve been going back and forth in my mind about it for the past few years. 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.”
Rose will continue to be involved with the team as the master of ceremonies for Mets on field special events at Citi Field including Opening Day, Mets Hall of Fame induction day, and number retirements. “Because for me letting go of the Mets isn’t hard, it’s impossible,” he says.
“For nearly four decades, Howie Rose’s voice has been synonymous with New York Mets baseball,” said Mets Owners Steve and Alex Cohen in a statement. “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. 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 was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 2023 along with Howard Johnson, Al Leiter and Gary Cohen, but the Mets have plans to honor him all season long in his final year in the booth with additional details to follow.
“Having grown up in Shea Stadium’s upper deck in the 1960s and early 1970s, my long career as a Mets broadcaster has been the epitome of ‘Living the Dream,'” said Rose. “I have been honored and blessed to follow the lineage of Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner and I look forward to savoring and sharing every moment of the 2026 season with the greatest fans in baseball.”
