Howie Rose’s the voice that’s defined New York Mets baseball for three decades—the man whose “Put it in the books!” became the soundtrack to every Mets victory, and whose battle with bladder cancer couldn’t silence his love for the game until he decided it was finally time.
Born February 13, 1954, in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Howard Jeffrey Rose is an American sportscaster who serves as the radio broadcaster for the New York Mets on WHSQ. At 72 years old in 2026, he announced that this season will be his last—bringing an end to a broadcasting career that began in 1975 and spanned 51 years.
“I’ve been blessed to be a part of Mets broadcasting in one capacity or another since 1987… 2026 will be my final season in the Mets broadcast booth. I did not arrive at this decision to retire easily… 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”.
Growing Up Jewish in Brooklyn
Rose was born in the New York City borough of Brooklyn to a Jewish family. Rose’s father, an avid New York Yankees fan, encouraged his baseball fandom. His father’s love for the Yankees ironically created a Mets fan—when young Howie rebelled against his father’s team choice and fell in love with the upstart Mets instead.
When the New York Mets moved into Shea Stadium in 1964, Rose became a regular attendee at games. At just 10 years old, he was already a devoted Mets fan, attending games at Shea and dreaming of one day being part of the team he loved.
His Jewish heritage has been an important part of his identity throughout his career. In 2012, Rose was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing both his broadcasting excellence and his representation of Jewish achievement in sports media.
Education and Early Life in Queens
He attended PS 205Q (The Alexander Graham Bell School), Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside, Queens, and graduated from Queens College in 1977. His entire life has been rooted in New York City—Brooklyn birth, Queens upbringing, and a career calling games for New York teams.
Queens College, part of the City University of New York system, provided an affordable education that prepared him for his broadcasting career. Unlike many modern sportscasters who attend prestigious journalism schools, Rose built his skills through practical experience rather than elite credentials.
His education grounded him in the working-class, outer-borough New York experience that would define his broadcasting style—authentic, unpretentious, and deeply connected to the fans who grew up just like him.
Career Beginnings: Sports Phone to WFAN
Rose started his career doing sports updates on New York City-based Sports Phone, a telephone dial-in service, during the mid-1970s, which led to sports updates on news radio station WCBS-AM through the early 1980s.
Sports Phone was a pre-internet service where fans could call a number and hear recorded sports updates. It was Rose’s first paying broadcasting job, beginning in 1975 when he was just 21 years old.
Rose was the original prime-time radio host on WFAN when the station went all-sports in 1987, hosting the program until 1995. WFAN was the first all-sports radio station in America, and Rose was there on day one, helping define what sports talk radio could be.
You can learn more about his career at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howie_Rose.
Wife Barbara and Family Life
Rose is married to Barbara, and they have two daughters. Barbara has been his partner throughout his entire broadcasting career, supporting him through decades of demanding schedules that required him to work nearly every summer day for 30 years.
He lives in Woodbury on Long Island with his wife and two daughters, though recent reports suggest he sold the family home and now rents during baseball season as he prepares for retirement.
The couple raised their daughters while Howie juggled simultaneous broadcasting duties for both the Mets and New York Islanders—calling baseball games in summer and hockey games in winter for over 20 years. This grueling schedule meant Barbara essentially managed the household alone during those decades.
Two Daughters: Alyssa and Chelsea
Their daughter Alyssa has worked for the Mets organization as a social media personality, and has worked on soap operas such as One Life to Live, had two separate podcasts, called Scoring Position and Drunk Love, and currently works for SportsNet New York (SNY).
Alyssa Rose followed her father into sports media, though through a different path—social media, digital content, and television production rather than traditional play-by-play broadcasting. Her work at SNY means father and daughter have worked for the same organization, creating a unique family legacy.
The couple’s second daughter, Chelsea, has maintained more privacy and has not pursued a public career in sports media. Details about her professional life remain private, respecting her choice to stay out of the spotlight.
Hockey Career: Rangers and Islanders
Before becoming synonymous with Mets baseball, Rose built his reputation calling hockey. Rose worked as a play-by-play radio announcer for the New York Rangers, and was paired mainly with Sal Messina.
His most famous call came during the 1994 NHL playoffs: “Fetisov, for the Devils, plays it cross-ice into the far corner. Matteau swoops in to intercept. Matteau behind the net, swings it in front – HE SCORES! MATTEAU! MATTEAU! MATTEAU! STÉPHANE MATTEAU! And the Rangers have one more hill to climb, baby! But it’s Mount Vancouver! The Rangers are headed to the Finals!”
Rose was the play-by-play announcer for Islanders telecasts where he worked alongside Butch Goring. Rose replaced Jiggs McDonald on Islanders broadcasts in 1995–96 and was previously partnered with Ed Westfall, Joe Micheletti, and Billy Jaffe. After the 2015–16 season, Rose announced he would not return to call Islanders games.
He left the Islanders after 21 years to focus exclusively on the Mets as his health began requiring more careful schedule management.
Mets Broadcasting Career: 1995-2026
Rose has called Mets play-by-play on radio or television since 1995, and is regarded by fans and media outlets alike as an expert of Mets history. He spent eight years calling games on television before moving to radio full-time in 2004.
He worked the television booth until the retirement of long-time Mets radio voice Bob Murphy in 2003. The following year, Rose took Murphy’s spot alongside Gary Cohen on WFAN. Replacing the legendary Murphy was both an honor and enormous pressure—Murphy had been the Mets’ radio voice since 1962.
Rose’s end-of-game catchphrase is, “Put it in the books”, used after the final out is recorded in a Mets win. After Mets losses, Rose says “and the ballgame is over”. This simple phrase became iconic, appearing on t-shirts, signs, and social media celebrating Mets victories.
He has also co-hosted MLB Now, joining Brian Kenny, Mark DeRosa, and Ken Rosenthal on MLB Network, expanding his reach beyond just Mets fans to national baseball audiences.
More about his Mets career can be found at https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/howie-rose-to-retire-after-2026-season.
Awards, Recognition and Hall of Fame
He has won two Emmy Awards for excellence in broadcasting for the New York Islanders. In 2019, it was announced that he would be inducted into the New York Baseball Hall of Fame. On June 3, 2023, Rose was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame.
The Mets Hall of Fame induction was particularly emotional, recognizing not just his broadcasting skill but his role as a caretaker of team history and memory. He’s hosted countless ceremonies honoring Mets legends, becoming the unofficial voice of the franchise’s greatest moments.
He has hosted ceremonies marking the opening of Citi Field in 2009, the 40th anniversary of the Mets 1969 World Series victory, a special pregame ceremony honoring Ralph Kiner in 2008, Mike Piazza’s number retirement ceremony in 2016, and Old-Timers’ Day in 2022. Additionally, he hosted the number retirement ceremonies of Keith Hernandez, Dwight Gooden (2024), Darryl Strawberry (2024) and David Wright (2025).
Battle with Bladder Cancer
Rose has been navigating the effects of bladder cancer since 2021, and although he has continued to work, the cumulative toll has led him to reduce his schedule multiple times in recent years.
The cancer diagnosis forced difficult decisions about his career. In 2022, Rose began to cut back his schedule, calling approximately 100 games a season, following health issues. For someone who had called nearly every game for decades, cutting back was emotionally difficult but physically necessary.
“The thing is, I may be 72 now, but I also did baseball and hockey full seasons concurrently for a long time… It catches up to you. Travel is not my favorite thing. So to be able to eliminate it, at least for the regular season, was something that I needed to do if I was going to work this year”.
Net Worth and Financial Situation
While exact figures are not disclosed, sports announcers at his level generally see annual earnings ranging from $200,000 to $300,000 or more, depending on tenure and market size. Rose’s experience and popularity likely put him at the higher end of this range.
After 50 years in broadcasting, including simultaneous baseball and hockey duties for two decades, Rose’s estimated net worth is between $2-4 million. This accumulated wealth comes from:
- WFAN and WCBS radio salaries (1987-2026)
- Television salaries from MSG, Fox Sports, and SNY
- NHL broadcasting income (Rangers and Islanders)
- Speaking engagements and personal appearances
- His 2013 book “Put it in the Book” co-written with Phil Pepe
His financial security allows him to retire on his own terms rather than being forced out by health or financial necessity.
The 2026 Retirement Decision
For his final season, Rose stated that he will only work the 81 home games and the three Subway Series games in the Bronx. He’s eliminating all road travel during the regular season, though he reserves the right to call playoff games if the Mets reach October.
The retirement decision reflects both health realities and a lifetime of achievement. At 72, after battling cancer and working through the physical demands of travel, Rose is choosing to end his career while he can still perform at a high level rather than waiting until he can’t.
His hope? To call one more Mets World Series championship before saying goodbye permanently—the franchise hasn’t won since 1986, his first year with WFAN.
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