Longtime Mets media relations ace Jay Horwitz scheduled a one-on-one meet with Submit columnist Steve Serby for some Amazin’ Q&A.
Q: What are your ideas about Keith Hernandez having his No. 17 jersey retired?
A: It’s an extended overdue honor. In September of ’86, he and Ray Knight referred to as me into their room, and so they stated, “We’re gonna inform you one thing that's gonna make you content and unhappy on the identical time: The gamers are gonna vote you a full share if we win the World Collection.” The total share was $93,000. And I used to be given a selection by the entrance workplace of both taking a $93,000 share from the gamers, or a $4,000 present from the membership being the division head. My mother stated, “I didn’t increase a schmuck, take the $93,000.” So I did. I stated, “Keith, I don’t need to upset the apple cart right here.” They stated, “That is our cash, we do what we would like.” At the moment it was uncommon for any person in my place to get voted a share. And Keith and people guys, that they had my again.
Q: Describe Keith as a ballplayer.
A: By no means took an at-bat off, it doesn't matter what the rating. All the time conscious of all the pieces round him within the area. All the time in the appropriate place. By no means out of place.
Q: What would Tom Seaver have stated about his statue?
A: He would have stated: “I made a distinction. The followers, 20, 30 years from now, will nonetheless bear in mind me. I really like the followers, I really like town. … It’s good to be remembered.”
Q: What was the very first Subway Collection recreation like in 1997?
A: Dave Mlicki goes out and pitches the perfect recreation of his life [complete-game shutout], and we missed the staff bus going again to Shea Stadium as a result of we had plenty of interviews, so Dave and I took a cab going again to the stadium collectively.
Q: What do you bear in mind concerning the ambiance at Yankee Stadium?
A: A variety of Yankee followers originally, plenty of Met followers on the finish. It was David towards Goliath then. Yearly, he nonetheless will get postcards and letters across the first recreation.
Q: How excited was he?
A: He stated: “Who may imagine what occurred? I by no means did this many interviews in my total life!”
Q: Who will get extra deferred funds, you or Bobby Bonilla?
A: They don’t have a Blissful Jay Horwitz Day (smile).
Q: Bobby Bo had a few clubhouse confrontations?
A: I shoulda gotten fight pay for these days! One time towards the Cubs, they put up a giant E9 on the scoreboard. He calls me within the press field: “Jay, inform ’em to take it down.” Mike Lupica’s over my proper shoulder: “Was that Bobby Bo complaining concerning the error?” I stated, “No, he knew I had the flu. He was calling as much as see how I felt.” And that didn’t work out too nicely (snort).
Q: Describe the day Doc Gooden got here again from drug rehab.
A: I used to be praying he would do nicely.
Q: Doc and Darryl Strawberry?
A: Each have massive hearts, they each do good work with youngsters proper now. One of many questions I all the time get is, “Ought to they each be within the Corridor of Fame?” In all probability may have been. However I feel the work they’re doing now for youths, and Darryl’s a pastor now and his spouse is a pastor; Doc speaks to excessive colleges.
Q: The Photograph Day combat between Hernandez and Strawberry?
A: That was Gary Cohen’s first day on the job at WFAN. I used to be to the facet and stated, “What the hell’s occurring right here?” The following day, I acquired congratulatory messages from each PR man in baseball. ’Trigger I acquired nationwide publicity for the Photograph Day which is a bulls–t factor. Gary Cohen in all probability stated, “What the hell did I get myself into?”
Q: Describe the Vince Coleman postgame firecracker incident within the car parking zone in Los Angeles.
A: I used to be having dinner with my late uncle Murray. I feel I acquired a name from any person from the police division from L.A.: “Two of your guys had been throwing firecrackers on the followers.” … I requested Uncle Murray to drive me again to the lodge. Bobby Bo did a bowling match shortly after that, and I stated: “Bowling questions solely.”
Q: Your Harlem Shake within the clubhouse?
A: In 2011, I broke my ankle, I stayed on the Vacation Inn after a street journey, after which I used to be operating to my automobile and I tripped on a pothole. In all probability the subsequent spring, I sued the lodge. And we had this concept to do the Harlem Shuffle [Shake]. So Jeff [Wilpon] had requested me to rise up in entrance of the staff and dance. So I bear in mind dancing with LaTroy Hawkins and David Wright, we had been all in costumes. And we acquired plenty of hits on social media, and I acquired a name from my lawyer the subsequent day, he stated: “Love your dancing, however you simply screwed up your lawsuit.”
Q: What did Joe Torre, your first supervisor, say to you whenever you first met him?
A: I used to be scared stiff, it was the primary time I ever was in a significant league locker room. He simply stated, “Observe my lead, child, I’ll inform you the appropriate issues to do.” He launched me to all of his pals — Reggie Jackson, Pete Rose, George Brett.
Q: He was your first supervisor fired?
A: I took it personally. I bear in mind I cried when Artwork Howe acquired fired, when Willie Randolph acquired fired. I bear in mind sitting within the locker room as guys packed their baggage. I by no means acquired married, proper, so the Mets had been my household. One winter, [manager] George Bamberger, he was in my workplace, he stated, “Jay, I feel I’m having a coronary heart assault. Might you're taking me to the hospital?” So there was a little bit snow on the bottom. So I lean out the window, and my glasses fell off, and I ran over my glasses taking George to the physician. He didn’t have a coronary heart assault, he had one thing else fallacious with him. He acquired again within the automobile, he stated, “I’ll by no means ever drive with you once more.”
Q: The Willie Randolph firing was in the midst of the night time in L.A.
A: Certainly one of my worst moments ever. I wasn’t advised as a result of I used to journey to the park daily with Willie, in order that they stored it from me. We flew all night time to L.A. I used to be woke up round 12:30 — “We've got a launch going out, we’re gonna hearth Willie Randolph now.” And the subsequent day he left to go to New York … was so embarrassed to be a part of that.
Q: What was probably the most ticked off one among your bosses was at you?
A: My first or second yr we had been in Chicago, and that afternoon Tim Leary, who was one among our prime prospects, harm his arm. And there was a party for [GM] Frank Cashen at Eli’s Restaurant. And I acquired the entire waiters to go over to Frank’s desk to sing “Blissful Birthday Expensive Buyer.” He wasn’t actually proud of me. I used to do these promotions like with Darryl’s first recreation in Kingsport, I labored with the minor league folks there, we had each fan who introduced a strawberry acquired into the sport for nothing.
Q: What did Cashen say to you?
A “Go away the fellows alone. Let him develop up, he’s a younger man.”
Q: What did he say to you after “Blissful Birthday Expensive Buyer”?
A: “Not the appropriate time, not the appropriate place.”
Q: Describe the primary time you met Davey Johnson.
A: This was the strike yr in ’81, I wished to get to know the minor league guys. Went right down to Jackson, [Miss.], took the employees out to a dinner — eight or 10 guys, everyone had a steak. “Davey I acquired an issue. I don’t have my pockets.” I misplaced my pockets. He says, “All you New York guys are alike.” He by no means let me overlook that. He paid the invoice.
Q: Pedro Martinez?
A: He would run bare backwards and forwards within the locker room with a cowboy hat on earlier than he did his interview.
Q: Why?
A: Simply to be Pedro.
Q: What was it like watching Lenny Dykstra play?
A: All the time grime on his uniform. I bear in mind when he hit the house run within the ninth on a Saturday to win the sport towards Houston within the playoffs [NLCS Game 3 in 1986], the subsequent day we acquired him on “NFL Stay.” Our first street journey, Keith purchased him a swimsuit, as a result of he had nothing to put on. And I simply really feel badly the best way he's now.
Q: Mookie Wilson, except for the curler via Invoice Buckner’s legs?
A: The one time I ever noticed Mookie mad, we had been in St. Petersburg, he stood signing autographs for about 3 ¹/₂ hours, he needed to go to the airport to select up his spouse, and he left a few folks there, he couldn’t wait any longer, and the subsequent day he acquired ripped within the St. Pete Occasions for not autographing each autograph. I bear in mind calling the editor.
Q: What's your favourite younger David Wright reminiscence?
A: I really snuck him into an All-Star Sport in Houston about a few weeks earlier than he was referred to as up [in 2004]. He wished to talk to Scott Rolen, about what it’s like within the massive leagues, so I acquired him a faux press cross, snuck him into the locker room, and he sat with Scott Rolen for an hour simply studying about what it takes to be a significant league participant.
Q: Your favourite younger Jose Reyes reminiscence?
A: Him instructing himself English, not utilizing an interpreter. Now he’s turn into a singer.
Q: Describe Bartolo Colon’s lone profession house run in 2016.
A: One of many craziest issues I’ve ever seen. I’m sitting within the press field and I stated, “I can’t imagine it’s going out.” I used to be Bartolo’s interpreter for the yr he was right here. He didn’t like to talk English, and at the moment we didn’t have an interpreter, it wasn’t necessary then. So I used to enter the coaching room and write down notes for Bartolo to exit and fake I used to be Bartolo.
Q: Of all of the controversies you had, which one was probably the most difficult?
A: In all probability the day we introduced that Dwight was going to Smithers. You get to be connected to those gamers.
Q: David Cone?
A: I attempted to persuade the world he was Jewish. I needed to inform folks he simply spells his title in another way, he’s actually Jewish. I had a few Jewish magazines write about him. I used to e book David in Bar Mitzvahs.
Q: Frank Viola?
A: Johnny Franco used to torment him. Frank used to put on these ugly brief white T-shirts, and Johnny used to name him the worst-dressed main league participant ever.
Q: Franco pulled so many sensible jokes on you — a wood horse’s head in your mattress, amongst others.
A: He simply taught me concerning the locker room, that if guys don’t such as you, they gained’t screw with you.
Q: Did he play sensible jokes on teammates?
A: No, simply on me. I acquired him again as soon as. On his birthday, I employed a 250-pound unique dancer, and introduced her to the locker room. It was he and Bobby Wine’s birthday, and he or she danced for the fellows.
Q: The place did you discover this unique dancer?
A: Yellow Pages. After I acquired on, I stated I wanted a really rotund unique dancer.
Q: What did they are saying whenever you requested?
A: Why? … “I’m attempting to play a sensible joke on a pal of mine.” And so they acquired a really giant girl for me.
Q: Why didn’t Nineties prospect Invoice Pulsipher make it?
A: The hype. I needed to be taught from experiences you could’t say sure to all the pieces with a youthful man. Pulsipher and people guys [Paul Wilson, Jason Isringhausen], they had been presupposed to be saviors. Typically much less is healthier.
Q: The Darkish Knight, Matt Harvey: What occurred to him?
A: I all the time assume what would have occurred, fifth recreation of the 2015 World Collection, eighth inning, 2-0 lead … what occurs if we win that recreation? Once more, it was an excessive amount of, too quickly. I don’t need to look like I’m second-guessing folks, however typically what I attempt to inform a man: You don’t should do all the pieces in a single yr, you may unfold it out a little bit bit. Perhaps I wasn’t agency sufficient, I didn’t get the message via. You don’t should do each publicity avail in a single yr. I actually hope he comes again.
Q: How did you're feeling when Gregg Jefferies had his struggles?
A: It was plenty of outdoors interference. I felt unhealthy for Gregg. He got here on an all-veteran staff [in 1987], and he took Wally’s [Backman], spot, probably the most in style guys on the staff. … He had folks calling FAN defending him, and I attempted to speak him out of that.
Q: One out left in Johan Santana’s no-hitter, what are you considering?
A: I feel it’s not gonna occur. As a result of with all the fellows we had earlier than — the Goodens, the Seavers — I stated, “One thing’s gonna occur.” And fortunately it didn’t.
Q: The 1986 World Collection parade … what float had been you on?
A: I don’t bear in mind. I used to be so preoccupied with discovering Doc [who was AWOL] that morning, I didn’t actually take pleasure in it that a lot. I felt unhealthy for him.
Q: What's the saddest funeral you needed to attend?
A: Apart from my mother and father, proper? … Gary Carter’s. As a result of 57, too younger to die. And he was a PR man’s dream.
Q: Who had extra marriage requests, you or Lee Mazzilli?
A: Maz, only a smidgen (holds fingers a tiny bit aside) greater than I did. I acquired all of the Jewish folks, he acquired all of the Italians (snort).
Q: Did you ever sleep over at Shea Stadium or Citi Subject?
A: Loads of instances.
Q: The place would you sleep?
A: In my chair, or on the ground within the closet at Shea Stadium.
Q: Why would you choose that place in a closet?
A: I didn’t need the cleaners to see me, so I shut the closet door and went within the closet and fell asleep on the ground.
Q: Estimate what number of instances you slept on the workplace.
A: Thirty instances, 40 instances. I used to sleep within the clubhouse loads. One time I feel I virtually gave Steven Matz a coronary heart assault. I might sleep on one of many couches, he didn’t see me there. My hair was matted, my shirt was out, I feel I had boogers coming down my nostril (snort). I sprang up and stated, “Do I look presentable, Steve?” And he began to snort.
Q: Willie Mays was your favourite participant?
A: I grew up watching the catch towards Vic Wertz in my little condominium in Clifton [N.J.]. Rusty Staub launched me to Willie on one among our journeys to San Francisco, and my hand was shaking.
Q: Did you ever make a basket catch in Little League?
A: I performed second base. I solely have one eye, proper? So I couldn’t see the ball within the outfield so I performed at second base. And I didn’t actually catch plenty of the balls — each different ball I caught. I knocked ’em down … bruises on my chest. … I wasn’t a extremely good athlete.
Q: Why did they go away you within the recreation then?
A: My father knew the coach. It was Epstein’s Division Retailer in Clifton, Predominant Avenue. … I used to bunt on a regular basis. One time my father stated to me, “For those who don’t swing away, I’m not gonna allow you to hit anymore.” Subsequent recreation I closed my eyes and swung away. Line drive up the center. Tripped out of the batter’s field and the middle fielder threw me out at first.
Q: What was your response when the Giants left for San Francisco?
A: I used to be crestfallen, I cried. I felt betrayed. I didn’t perceive the cash a part of it.
Q: Did you undertake the ’62 Mets?
A: I used to be a Large fan till April 1, 1980 (smile).
Q: What did your father, Milton, do?
A: He ran a woman’s coat manufacturing facility. My father liked the soccer Giants and the baseball Giants. I inherited his groups. He would do something for his spouse and his child. Spoiled me to dying.
Q: Describe your mom.
A: My mom Gertrude pampered me. I used to be an older baby. I used to be ridiculed loads at school, she sheltered me loads. After I used to come back house crying, a child used to make enjoyable of me, she stated, “Hold doing what you’re doing, you’ll do nicely in life. Don’t let it hassle you, kids might be merciless.”
Q: You had your synthetic eye put in whenever you had been 13?
A: I used to be like Max Scherzer — completely different shade eyes. That’s why he’s one among my favourite pitchers now.
Q: Describe your loved one assistant Shannon Forde, who misplaced her battle with most cancers in 2016.
A: Most brave individual I’ve ever met. … She balanced her life with the youngsters, the job, the Mets. And she or he did a lot for girls’s PR. She wasn’t afraid of the gamers.
Q: Previous to Lawrence Taylor, who had been your favourite soccer Giants?
A: Y.A. Tittle, Del Shofner, Frank Gifford. I used to be on the recreation when [Chuck] Bednarik virtually killed Gifford. I used to be on the recreation when [Colts] Alan Ameche ran in the direction of me to win the [1958 championship] recreation. The [Joe] Pisarcik play with Herm Edwards — I broke my hand, broke my binoculars and broke my radio.
Q: Describe the upcoming Previous Timers’ Day on Aug. 27.
A: It’s gonna be a pleasant factor, we haven’t finished it for 22 years.
Q: Describe your Amazin’ Mets Alumni Podcast.
A: I prefer it ’trigger I communicate to folks I've a rapport with, I don’t use any notes.
Q: Three dinner visitors?
A: John Kennedy, Invoice Parcells, Willis Reed — when he coached at St. John’s, I acquired to know him.
Q: Favourite film?
A: “American Graffiti.”
Q: Favourite actor?
A: Chadwick Boseman.
Q: Favourite actress?
A: Ali MacGraw.
Q: Favourite singer or entertainer?
A: Dion and the Belmonts.
Q: Favourite meal?
A: Mussels, veal parmigiana and spaghetti, and apple pie for dessert.
Q: How would you describe the Mets fan?
A: The man who went to work 9-to-5. … Has plenty of endurance. … By no means provides up. … And all the time seems to be for a silver lining.
Q: What wouldn't it imply to you if this present staff gained a championship?
A: Hopefully, you do away with the “Similar Previous Mets” factor.
Q: What's the bond you will have with Jacob deGrom that led him to put in writing the foreword to your e book “Mr. Met: How a Sports activities-Mad Child from Jersey Grew to become Like Household to Generations of Huge Leaguers”?
A: Jacob used to speak to David Wright daily, and I feel he noticed David trusted me. I'm over 40 years older than Jake. We had a basketball web within the locker room, and Jake would say he would do an interview if I made two baskets. By no means made the hampers, however he all the time did interviews. I feel he appreciated that I may snort at myself.
Q: What enabled you to be as trusted as you had been by the gamers?
A: 1 by no means wished to be a swimsuit. Tried to deal with the twenty fifth man like No. 1. All the time prepared to snort at myself. After I went to a participant’s locker, I attempted to not all the time ask for one thing.
Q: Are you acknowledged out public?
A: A couple of month in the past any person thought I used to be Henry Kissinger … any person stated I appeared like Woody Allen … Fay Vincent with the pinnacle.
Q: Once you bused again from Pittsburgh after 9/11, did something stand out to you?
A: Once we crossed over the George Washington Bridge, I bear in mind Todd Zeile stated, “Flip to your proper, guys,” and the place the towers had been there was smoke.
Q: After which Shea Stadium was remodeled right into a restoration space.
A: As quickly as we acquired off the bus, that they had organized vehicles and Bobby [Valentine] acquired the gamers organized. We'd work out within the morning, load vehicles within the afternoon.
Q: And your go to to Floor Zero with Valentine, Jeff Wilpon and a number of other gamers?
A: It appeared like struggle torn Germany. The firemen had smoke on their faces. At the moment we felt we had been being intrusive as a result of these guys try to outlive, we had been down there giving out Met hats. However we grew to be taught that they favored bullsh–ting with us, and so they favored getting the hats, and that’s actually how the hat custom began. We wore hats … everyone who misplaced an individual on 9/11 — EMTs, and the Ok-9 items, courtroom officers, firemen, policemen, that’s how it began.
Q: What do you bear in mind considering to your self as Mike Piazza is rounding the bases after hitting the post-9/11 house run?
A: I began crying. … I appeared within the stands, the firemen had been crying … the folks, they had been laughing and crying … much more than the ’86 World Collection was that second for me.
Q: What was your fast response when Roger Clemens threw the jagged bat in the direction of Piazza within the 2000 World Collection?
A: I wished to select a combat with any person within the press field. There’s no excuse for that. Mike has gotten criticized for not going to combat, however what occurs if he charged the mound? He will get ejected from the sport.
Q: What would you will have finished in your Little League days if any person has thrown a bat at you?
A: I might have fought him. However completely different circumstances. Epstein’s enjoying towards Jacques Wolf — the Yankees and Mets, it’s a little bit bit completely different.
Q: Your legacy?
A: What the 2001 staff did. We made a distinction.
Q: Do you see your self as a champion of the underdog?
A: I do in a method due to my private scenario. Anytime I see any person in a wheelchair, any person on a walker, any person with a crutch, I form of empathize with ’em due to what my scenario is. I understand how it's to have a handicap, and I all the time attempt to encourage them, or exit of my method to be good, say howdy and stuff like that.
Q: How would you sum up what it’s been like being Jay Horwitz?
A: I by no means thought, on April 1, 1980, after I missed my turnoff at Shea Stadium and wound up in Brooklyn, that 42-plus years [later] I nonetheless could be right here. I bear in mind stopping in a cemetery to get the quantity for Shea Stadium to name to inform Frank, “I’m gonna be a little bit bit late, I’m in a cemetery in Brooklyn. I’ll be there shortly.”
Q: What did he say?
A: I don’t assume he stated something, to be sincere with you (snort).
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