During Thursday’s thrilling National League Wild Card game, Pete Alonso sealed the win for the Mets with a dramatic three-run homer against Brewers closer Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning. Howie Rose, the legendary voice of the Mets on WCBS, was ready to capture the magic.
Rose’s electrifying call added to the excitement: “Swing and a fly ball to right field! Pretty well hit. Frelick back. At the wall, he jumps – it’s gone! He did it! He did it! Pete Alonso with the most memorable home run of his career… It’s a three-run homer! He’s given the Mets a 3 to 2 lead! They all pour out of the dugout!”
Meanwhile, on the Spanish-language broadcast, Max Perez Jimenez joyously exclaimed, “Hasta la vista, baby!” in tribute to Alonso’s momentous hit.
This unforgettable play ignited a wave of nostalgia on social media. ESPN’s Jeff Passan took to Twitter/X to encourage fans to share their favorite baseball radio calls, leading to an avalanche of classic moments.
Tyler Kepner from The Athletic reflected on a cherished childhood moment by sharing Harry Kalas’ iconic call of Mike Schmidt’s 500th home run: “Swing, a long drive, there it is: number 500! The career 500th home run for Michael Jack Schmidt!”
Fans also recalled Dave Niehaus’ legendary call during the 1995 ALDS, where he exclaimed, “The Mariners are going to vie for the American League championship! I don’t believe it! My oh my!”
Tom Cheek’s unforgettable call of Joe Carter’s 1993 World Series-winning home run was another fan favorite: “The Blue Jays are World Series champions as Joe Carter hits a three-run home run in the ninth inning, and the Blue Jays have repeated as World Series champions!”
While the 2024 postseason may hold more unforgettable moments, it will be hard to top the excitement of Rose’s call from Thursday. Only time will tell!