Mets players gave Horwitz a World Series share back in '00 due to his close relationship with the clubGETTY IMAGES
Mets VP/Media Relations JAY HORWITZ for 39 years has been the "constant on a carousel of chaos and crisis and celebration" for the franchise, according to Howie Kussoy of the N.Y. POST. Horwitz, 72, is "right up there with the franchise’s most recognizable face" in 3B DAVID WRIGHT. Mets interim co-GM OMAR MINAYA said, "I don’t want to say he’s Mr. Met, but he’s as close to Mr. Met as possible.” Aside from "being sidelined with a broken ankle" in September '11, Horwitz has "been at every home game since arriving" in '80. While Horwitz is now likely to witness another losing season with the team, he said he does not let his job "be affected by the standings." Horwitz: "If you do that, you can’t exist. One good thing about being here so long ... is it runs in cycles. I think I have perspective of that." Longtime WFAN-AM reporter ED COLEMAN said, "A lot of PR guys are dedicated, but Jay is someone that lives and sleeps and eats it. I honestly don’t know how he’s done it this long. He’s one of a kind." Mets COO JEFF WILPON: "He does his job in such a great way, and has such a feel for it after doing it for all these years. We joke around, sometimes, and talk about what tomorrow’s headline is gonna be, and he’s usually right." Mets players "gave Horwitz a World Series share" in '00, former Mets 1B DAVE KINGMAN stayed at Horwitz' house while with the club in the '80's, and current Ps JACOB DEGROM and NOAH SYNDERGAARD "still ask him to join in fungo-hitting contests." Former player and current Mets broadcaster KEITH HERNANDEZ said, "Jay was part of the team. ... There was a separation between the front office and the players. With Jay, there was no separation. He was one of us" (N.Y. POST, 7/17).
