By Jay Horwitz My day didn’t start off great today. Peggy Hodges called me to say Ron Hodges passed away after a short illness. He was only 74. Saw Ron and Peggy last September to celebrate at Citi to celebrate the 1973 NL pennant. Ron played his entire 12-year career…

By Jay Horwitz It was a thrill for me to do a podcast with one of my Giant heroes, the great Tiki Barber. The podcast, which drops tomorrow, covers his NFL career and his transition to the co-host of Evan & Tiki on WFAN’s afternoon-drive show. Tiki laughed when I…

FLUSHING, N.Y., November 13, 2023 — The New York Mets today announced that they have named Carlos Mendoza the 25th manager in team history, agreeing to terms on a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year. He will be introduced in a press conference in the Piazza…

By Jay Horwitz Darryl Strawberry understands that some people might think his career fell short because he never made it to Cooperstown. Darryl has told me numerous times that not everyone is cut out for the HOF, and that there are other things more crucial in life. For the last…

By Jay Horwitz It was about nine years ago this month that Juan Lagares did his first interview in English. The occasion was a press conference announcing that he had won a Gold Glove, the third ever by a Mets outfielder. Tomorrow, you will hear a podcast I did with…

By Jay Horwitz You know what makes me happy? It is when good people get honored when they are not looking to get honored. I am speaking about my friend Todd Zeile, who has had himself a week. Yesterday, Todd was told he had won an individual Emmy in the…

By Jay Horwitz He was one of the kindest, most gentle people you would ever want to meet. You always forgot that Frank Howard was 6–7 and weighed 270 pounds. Hondo passed away yesterday at the age of 87, and I think of what a pleasure it was to work…

Frank Howard was one of the most intimidating figures to ever wear a Mets uniform. He stood 6–7 and weighed about 270. Despite his size, Howard was known to all as “The Gentle Giant.” Frank had two tenures as a coach with us and served as an interim manager in…

By Jay Horwitz I know there are plenty of good people on the ballot. But for me, there is no one more deserving to be the 2024 Ford C. Frick Award winner for excellence in baseball broadcasting than our own Gary Cohen. The award is presented by the National Baseball…