Mets honor longtime media relations dire

Mets honor longtime media relations director Horwitz April 17 sharefacebooktwitterredditlink NEW New York Jets Hats YORK (AP) Jay Horwitzs first interaction with the New York Mets was in January 1980. He spilled orange juice on newly hired general manager Frank Cashen minutes into a job interview about working for the teams public relations department.Horwitz never envisioned 42 years later he would be honored by the team for his media relations career. He recounted that story along with other memories on Sunday when the Mets had the pre s box at Citi Field dedicated in his honor before their game with the Arizona Diamondbacks.Horwitz, 76, joined the team in '80, the first year it was owned by Fred Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday, after serving as the sports information director at Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. He oversaw media relations as the team emerged as a contender and won its second World Series title in 1986. Horwitz headed the media relations department through New Yorks other two World Series appearances, in the Subway Series against the Yankees in 2000, and in 2015 against the Royals. He transitioned to his current role of vice president of alumni public relations and team historian in 2018, and wrote a book about his lengthy tenure with the Mets in 2020.Its crazy, Horwitz said. When I first started, I could never imagine this in a million years. I was a young kid out of a small school in New Jersey and just to work for some place for 42 years and have a viable job, its good to be part of things at my age. Its good to feel like you still make a difference Michael Carter II Jersey in what you do.The ceremony was attended by current owner Steve Cohen, along with Wilpon and many team employees, some wearing T-shirts with a picture of Horwitz typing into his phone. Longtime Mets radio announcer Howie Rose emceed the ceremony attended by Mookie Wilson and Tim Teufel from the 1986 Mets, along with Todd Zeile and John Franco of the 2000 team. Also in attendance were Mets President Sandy Alderson; Terry Collins, who managed the team from 2011-17 and led the Mets to their most recent World Series appearance; and former general manager Omar Minaya. C.J. Mosley Jersey The fact of the matter is that for everybody, whos ever had anything whatsoever to do with the New York Mets, Jay was there for them," Rose said, and he is to this day the way hes working for the alumni to galvanize them and bring them as close together to the current Mets organization as theyve ever been. And thats been a wonderful thing to see.After the packed ceremony, Horwitz received a video tribute and threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Franco.The ceremony capped a weekend of celebrating their history for the Mets. Before Fridays home opener, they unveiled a long-awaited statue of pitcher Tom Seaver in a 40-minute ceremony.The late Hall of Famers wife and two daughters were front and center for the festivities. The monument, standing 10 feet tall and 13 1/2 feet long, depicts Seavers cla sic drop-and-drive delivery, baseball in his right hand.On Saturday, the family Zach Wilson Jersey of Gil Hodges was honored to celebrate his long-awaited Hall of Fame induction in July. Hodges hit 370 homers and made eight All-Star teams with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. He also is known for leading Seaver and the Mets to their first World Series run in 1969 after a history of losing.Hodges, who died of a heart attack on April 2, 1972, two days shy of his 48th birthday, was elected to the Hall of Fame in December by a special committee, ending 50 years of waiting.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports in this topic National League Major League Baseball New York Mets New York Mets Arizona Diamondbacks share World Cup fans find booze at hotels, Qatar's 1 liquor store Qatar's strict rules regarding alcohol have drawn attention as it hosts the World Cup 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Sterling leaves England World Cup camp after home break-in England forward Raheem Sterling has left his teams World Cup camp in Qatar and returned to the U.K. after a break-in at his home 2 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Ronaldo looks to shine like Mbapp and Me si at World Cup Cristiano Ronaldo has been Nick Mangold Jersey overshadowed by the brilliance of Lionel Me si and Kylian Mbapp so far at the World Cup 2 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Ottawa hosts Los Angeles after Giroux's 2-goal game The Ottawa Senators host the Los Angeles Kings after Claude Giroux's two-goal game against the San Jose Sharks in the Senators' 5-2 win 3 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Penguins host the Blue Jackets following Kapanen's hat trick The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Columbus Blue Jackets after Kasperi Kapanen's hat trick against the St. Louis Blues in the Penguins' 6-2 win 3 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS