Howie Rose sends message to Mets fans following retirement decision

After legendary Mets broadcaster Howie Rose announced his retirement Thursday, he took to social media to send a message to fans in Queens.

“Seriously, I am absolutely overwhelmed by your kind words and thoughts. I cannot even begin to articulate how deeply you’ve touched me, not just yesterday but over all these years. Let’s have a great time this season. You truly are the best. Much love,” Rose wrote Friday morning in a post on X.

Howie Rose has emceed events at Citi Field, such as number retirement ceremonies, in past years. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Rose, 72, will retire after the 2026 season and is scheduled to work only Mets’ home games this season, barring a postseason run.

He’s previously served as an emcee for certain on-field events and could remain in that capacity as well.

“Trust me, I did not arrive at this decision to retire easily,” Rose said in a video posted by the Mets on Thursday. “I have been going back and forth in my mind about it for the last few years. But the simple reality is that I am 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.

“Time is getting short for that, at least as far as I’m concerned…I have got to hit the gas here, but there is only so much that I can control,” he added.

Rose also revealed in the video that he won’t be making a “clean break” and wants to stay involved with the organization after this season.

For Gary Cohen, the Mets’ lead voice in its SNY booth since 2006, the news hit hard, even though the two had conversations about Rose’s retirement in recent years.

“It still hit like a ton of bricks because it’s such a huge piece of the Mets’ firmament that will be going away,” Cohen said.

Howie Rose will still call Mets home games and Subway Series games this season before he officially retires. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Rose has been a part of Mets broadcasts since 1987, eventually switching to radio in 2004.

He also called the NHL’s New York Rangers and Islanders at different points earlier in his career.

Across his career, Rose had numerous iconic calls, from Mike Piazza’s home run following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 to Pete Alonso’s go-ahead long ball against the Brewers in the 2024 Wild Card series.