As the Mets’ season chugs along, so does the inevitability that beloved broadcaster Howie Rose will soon call his final game as a full-time broadcaster.
Rose announced earlier this year that he would be hanging up his headset and microphone after this season, ending a broadcast career that has spanned three decades and one in which he served as the voice of the Mets and Islanders and called one of the most memorable goals in Rangers history.
In honor of that career, SNY planned to air a documentary covering his career after Tuesday’s Mets game, and the network had Rose appear alongside SNY broadcaster Gary Cohen for an inning of the Amazin’s 5-2 loss to the Padres.
The appearance led to a touching moment between the broadcasters as Rose left the booth.
Rose shook Cohen’s hand, and the two shared a hug as Cohen called his counterpart “the best.”
“I’ve never had a brother, but you’re the closest thing, and I treasure you. I really do,” Cohen added.
“And you as well,” Rose said back.
As seems to be the case for the beloved SNY booth, there was some tomfoolery mixed into the appearance by Rose, who cut back on his workload at WCBS Radio to just calling home games and Subway Series contests against the Yankees following his battle with bladder cancer.
As Cohen introduced Rose, SNY analyst Keith Hernandez snuck back into the booth and reached around Rose, causing Cohen to call him out.
“Keith, what are you doing?” a perplexed Cohen asked.
The former Mets star could be seen grabbing his phone, which he informed Cohen he had forgotten before vacating his seat in the booth.
Rose might not fully call it quits, though, after this season, recently telling Newsday that he could “pop into the booth” if someone needs a break.
“I’m not saying I’ll never do another game after Sept. 20, but as a full-time thing, that’ll be it,” he said.
