Shortly earlier than Tylor Megill threw the primary pitch towards George Springer and the Toronto Blue Jays, the Mets inducted a few of the franchise’s most beloved figures into the group’s Hall of Fame.
Al Leiter, Howard Johnson, Gary Cohen and Howie Rose have been inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame Saturday in entrance of household and associates at Citi Field.
Mets VP of media relations Jay Horwitz additionally turned the fifth individual in group historical past to be honored with the Mets Hall of Fame Achievement Award for contributions to the group
The 2023 Hall of Fame class induction began with Horwitz receiving his flowers first. He’s labored with the Mets for 40 years and has been tasked with placing collectively these identical sorts of occasions to honor Mets gamers all through his tenure.
But on Saturday, he was the one being honored.
Horwitz, who Cohen known as the spine of the group, didn’t converse on-field like the opposite honorees however he admitted to reporters prior that the tables being turned this time left him feeling “weird.”
“It really makes me proud [that] I worked with all of these guys. It’s really great,” he mentioned. “It’s awkward being on this side of the table for sure.”
Leiter, who pitched seven seasons with the Mets, reminisced about taking part in for the group he grew up rooting for as a child in New Jersey. Leiter landed in Queens after being traded from the then-Floria Marlins and he mentioned taking part in for the Mets was “a dream come true stuff.”
Despite shedding in 5 video games to the Yankees within the 2000 World Series, the two-time All-Star highlighted that postseason as one in every of his favourite moments with the Mets.
During his speech, Leiter thanked group proprietor Steve Cohen and his spouse, Alex, “for bringing back Mets history in a fervent way.”
“Your love for this team doesn’t go unnoticed and it is very appreciated,” Leiter mentioned to the Cohen household.
Johnson’s Hall of Fame induction to the group was lengthy overdue, Cohen mentioned earlier than the ceremony. Cohen made positive to reward the switch-hitting slugger Saturday, calling him “an overlooked piece of Mets’ history for far too long.”
Howard performed 9 seasons with the Mets in his 14-year profession. He’s identified for being a part of a historic 1984 Detroit Tigers squad that defeated the San Diego Padres within the World Series.
But Johnson performed greater roles with the Mets, turning into a uncommon power-hitter who additionally flashed his pace on the bases. Johnson recorded three 30-30 seasons (30 homers and stolen bases) in Queens and was a part of the final Mets group to win the World Series in 1986.
HoJo, in the course of the ceremony, thanked the followers that gave him his nickname that’ll be remembered endlessly.
“You are the lifeblood of this team and this organization. You are the driving force behind our success… I’m honored to have played in front of you,” Johnson mentioned.
The longtime voices of the Mets, Cohen and Rose, are etched into the minds of followers from all ages. They each grew up as Mets followers and spent simply two seasons working with one another earlier than the tv community SNY existed.
With Cohen happening to be the lead play-by-play voice for SNY and Rose taking up radio broadcasting, they’ve earned themselves a spot within the Mets Hall endlessly.
The induction was surreal for Rose, who mentioned the group’s 1969 championship run modified his life. He mentioned the championship taught him that something might be achieved when you exit and work exhausting sufficient.
“So I might not have been born with a great deal of athletic ability but to have found a way to get into games for free and enjoy being around the Mets organization was enough,” Rose mentioned previous to the ceremony. “To be a part of it and to be honored like this at this time, I’m nonetheless unsure that is gonna be actual after I get up tomorrow morning.
“But what really is the icing on the cake is that everybody up here with me is a friend.”
Cohen went down reminiscence lane earlier than getting inducted.
He talked about the 1999 Mets below supervisor Bobby Valentine, who was in attendance, was a magical 12 months crammed with iconic moments, together with Leiter’s two-hit shutout efficiency towards the Cincinnati Reds that clinched a postseason berth.
The broadcaster acknowledged Leiter and HoJo as “two of his favorite players to watch” and mentioned he together with Rose “are just two of the lucky ones” out of hundreds of followers dreaming to do the roles they at the moment do.
Now Cohen and Rose, together with the remainder of the 2023 class, convey the full variety of Mets Hall of Fame to 34 members.
“I am just a kid from Queens. I got lucky. I am one of you. And I share this honor with all of you,” Cohen mentioned to the Citi Field crowd.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com