Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling Reflect on 20 Years In The Booth
In this special episode of Amazin’ Conversations with Jay Horwitz, we celebrate 20 years of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling in the Mets broadcast booth.
Jay sits down with the iconic GKR trio to talk about their early struggles, Fred Wilpon’s surprising advice, memories of Ralph Kiner, and the creativity of producer Greg Picker that helped turn them into the best booth in baseball. From broadcasting in bullpens to sending snacks via clothesline during COVID to Gary Cohen’s first day front row seat to a Mets team fight.
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22:22
Why Darryl Strawberry Wants To See Pete Break His Home Run Record
In this emotional and wide-ranging conversation, Mets legend Darryl Strawberry sits down with Jay Horwitz to talk about Pete Alonso breaking Mets home run records, his new book "Another Life", visiting death row inmates in Louisiana, and what it really means to find purpose after baseball. Darryl also shares inside stories from the 1986 World Series, Mike Tyson visiting the Mets, and why David Wright’s jersey retirement is so meaningful. Plus: advice for Juan Soto adjusting to New York and why the 1986 Mets are one of the most beloved teams in baseball history.
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18:32
Mike Vaccaro Opens Up on Amputation, NY Sports History, and Boo Culture in NYC
Legendary NY Post columnist Mike Vaccaro joins the show to open up about the challenges of returning to work after a lower leg amputation, his deep connection to New York sports history, and the complicated nature of boos and fan expectations in the Big Apple.
From his unforgettable first meeting with Tom Seaver to navigating his career through adversity, Vaccaro discusses the evolving role of the journalist, writing personal stories, and why Citi Field may be transforming into one of baseball’s greatest home field advantages.
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#Mets #MikeVaccaro #TomSeaver #CitiField #MLB #Baseball #MeetAtTheApple #NewYorkMets #MetsPodcast
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28:29
Andy Martino Talks Secret To Breaking Stories Like Pete Alonso and Juan Soto Signings
Andy Martino joins Jay Horwitz for a special episode of Amazin’ Conversations to talk about what it really takes to break news in Major League Baseball. From cultivating authentic human relationships with players like Juan Soto and executives across front offices, to his journey from the Daily News to SNY insider coverage of the Mets and Yankees, Andy shares candid stories, media insights, and reflections on the evolution of baseball journalism.
They dive into behind-the-scenes moments, including his connection to Shannon Forde’s legacy, covering David Wright’s career, and how Carlos Beltrán is helping shape today’s Mets. If you’ve ever wondered how the biggest Mets scoops get reported — this one’s for you.
🧠 Featuring insider takes on:
Breaking the Pete Alonso story
Balancing trust and reporting in the clubhouse
Why Carlos Beltrán is the most underrated Met ever
📍Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment on your favorite Mets moment.
#Mets #AndyMartino #MLBInsider #PeteAlonso #CarlosBeltran #CitiField #Yankees #MLBNews #JayHorwitz #BaseballMedia #MeetAtTheApple
⏱️ YouTube Timestamps (Chapters):
00:00 – Andy Martino on authentic relationships in baseball
01:01 – Why news isn’t always the priority
02:06 – Remembering Shannon Forde and Foley’s memories
03:16 – The human side of journalism
04:02 – Covering both Mets and Yankees: why just two teams
05:01 – Andy’s start at the Daily News & media evolution
06:12 – Leaving print for broadcast: SNY’s vision and Fred Wilpon’s role
07:20 – Breaking the Alonso signing and the job of being first
08:01 – Round-the-clock grind of MLB insider life
09:26 – Why focusing on Mets & Yankees keeps it manageable
10:05 – Martino’s mindset: don’t just be a news extractor
11:12 – Learning baseball from the players themselves
12:16 – Handling criticism & social media toxicity
13:10 – Interacting with Mets fans IRL vs online
13:34 – The collaborative joy of working in TV vs print
14:27 – Why writing is still his true passion
14:55 – How he got Brian Cashman to trust him for his book
16:05 – Unsung Yankees contributors recognized in the book
17:00 – On fair reporting and trust with PR staffs
18:15 – News is just a byproduct of relationships
19:00 – On competitive sourcing & beat reporting
20:15 – Terry Collins and the value of honest communication
20:37 – Carlos Beltrán's underappreciated Mets legacy
21:39 – How Beltrán is mentoring Lindor behind the scenes
22:54 – Watching David Wright evolve through his career
24:06 – A David Wright story that defines his character
25:06 – Why Martino still finds joy in his job
26:05 – Jay Horwitz gets his flowers from Martino
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29:45
The True Story Behind Sidd Finch, Baseball’s Biggest Hoax
In this episode of Amazin’ Conversations with Jay Horwitz, we revisit one of the greatest hoaxes in sports history: the curious case of Sidd Finch. Jay is joined by Joe Berton — the man who became Sidd Finch — to reflect on the unforgettable 1985 Sports Illustrated April Fools’ story that convinced the baseball world a barefoot, French horn-playing pitcher could throw 168 mph. Joe shares never-before-heard stories from spring training, behind-the-scenes shenanigans, and what it was like to live the legend.
Whether you were there in ’85 or just hearing about Sidd for the first time, this is a Mets moment you won’t want to miss.
📌 Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: 40 years later, Sidd Finch still has legs
00:54 – The origin of the Sidd Finch April Fools’ story
01:50 – Getting cast as Sidd: French horn, Tibetan bowl & spring training
03:26 – Choosing jersey number 21 and keeping the mystery alive
04:14 – Inside the Mets clubhouse with the 1985 team
05:07 – Mel Stottlemyre’s hilarious involvement
06:20 – Posing for photos and improvising wild scenarios
07:55 – Convincing players and locals Sidd was real
09:05 – French horn antics with Kevin Mitchell & Jesse Orosco
10:06 – Trying not to get kicked out by Davey Johnson or Bobby Valentine
10:29 – Photoshoots at Harvard and on the beach
11:21 – George Plimpton’s reaction to the photos
11:55 – Hidden “Happy April Fools’ Day” Easter egg in the article
12:36 – The story hits and fools everyone, including Congress
13:28 – Mets GMs actually call the commissioner
14:03 – Fake retirement & Mets tribute at Shea Stadium
15:10 – How the hoax stayed good-natured and fun
16:09 – Building a friendship with George Plimpton
17:04 – Sidd’s unlikely place in New York Mets history
18:19 – Reflections on being a part of baseball lore
19:45 – From Sportsman of the Year to back to the classroom
20:40 – Closing: Welcome to Mets history forever
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Mets PR Legend of 40 years and current V.P. of alumni relations and team historian, Jay Horwitz, talks to some of the most interesting people he can find.
Amazin’ Conversations is a weekly opportunity for listeners to not only hear stories from Mets alumni you would never get anywhere else, but interviews with some incredible people outside the world of baseball.
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