Legendary New York Mets Radio Voice Howie Rose Set To Retire Following 2026 Season
Howie Rose, the legendary New York Mets radio broadcaster who has painted the corners of our imaginations for nearly four decades, is hanging up his headset. The 72-year-old Queens native announced that this upcoming campaign will be his swan song in the booth. For a guy who grew up sitting in the upper deck of Shea Stadium in the 1960s, a career spanning over 30 years with the franchise is the ultimate definition of living the dream.
The End Of An Era For Howie Rose
There is a unique intimacy to baseball on the radio. Unlike television, where the pictures do the heavy lifting, the radio broadcaster is your eyes, your ears, and your emotional compass. Rose has mastered this art. Following in the gargantuan footsteps of franchise broadcasting Mount Rushmore figures like Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson, and Ralph Kiner, Rose didn’t just borrow their chair; he built his own legacy.
He started with the Mets in 1987, doing pre-game and post-game shows, transitioned into the television booth by 1996, and eventually found his permanent home on the radio side in 2004. For multiple generations of Mets fans, Rose is the uncle who sits in the passenger seat of your car, breaking down the intricacies of a 6-4-3 double play while occasionally venting about the team’s bullpen woes.
Health Battles and a Shifting Schedule
So, why walk away now? The decision wasn’t made overnight. Rose has been transparent about evaluating his future on a year-to-year basis, but his health ultimately dictated the timeline.
In 2021, Rose received a daunting bladder cancer diagnosis. He underwent major surgery to remove his bladder and prostate, resulting in the creation of a “neobladder” from his intestines. It’s a brutal physical toll for anyone, let alone someone whose job requires constant travel, late nights, and the unpredictable schedule of a 162-game baseball season.
Because of this, Rose has steadily scaled back his workload. For his final act in 2026, he’s cutting out the grueling road trips entirely. He will call 84 games this season—all 81 home matchups at Citi Field, plus three “Subway Series” games in the Bronx. He’ll be joined once again by his partner, Keith Raad, with Pat McCarthy filling the gaps when Rose is off the mic.
And then there’s the family factor. As Rose humorously noted, his wife Barbara has sacrificed her schedule for decades to accommodate the relentless grind of professional sports. It’s time for her to get her husband back—whether she likes it or not.
Beyond Baseball: Matteau and the NHL
While his blood runs Mets orange and blue, you can’t talk about Howie Rose without pivoting to the ice. Ironically, the most iconic call of his illustrious career didn’t happen on a baseball diamond.
If you are a New York Rangers fan, his voice is permanently etched into the greatest moment of your sports life. Game 7 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. Double-overtime. Stéphane Matteau wraps the puck around the net.
“Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!”
It’s a piece of broadcast history that transcends the sport itself. Rose also spent over two decades as the television voice of the New York Islanders, proving his versatility and cementing his status as a titan of New York sports media.
One Last Ride For Rose In 2026
The Mets’ owners, Steve and Alex Cohen, quickly issued a statement praising Rose for his authenticity, energy, and deep appreciation for the community. And while he is stepping away from the grueling day-to-day radio grind, Rose hinted that he won’t be making a completely clean break from the organization, hoping to stay involved in some capacity. Letting go of the Mets, as he put it, is simply impossible.
For now, the focus shifts to giving a broadcasting legend a proper send-off. Rose has always had one lingering dream: he wants to call a Mets World Series championship, something the franchise hasn’t achieved in four agonizing decades. If they make the playoffs this year, he has vowed to travel and call every single postseason game.
He traditionally opens the year as the master of ceremonies at Citi Field. This year, Rose wants to bookend his career by serving as the MC on the steps of City Hall for a ticker-tape parade. Whether the baseball gods grant him that final wish remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Howie Rose has already earned his parade.
