In 1980, the New York Mets were searching for a new head of public relations. And despite growing up cheering for Willie Mays and New York Giants baseball, Howritz did not hesitate when the team from Flushing reached out. A Mets fan ever since, he was VP of Media Relations for the team until 2018, steering their publicity through on and off field challenges and triumphs—including the unforgettable 1986 World Series—and forming lasting bonds with players like Tom Seaver, Gary Carter, Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Keith Hernandez, John Franco, and David Wright. Horwitz has been the target of many, many practical jokes pulled by players, and his good humor—and willingness to play a unique role in locker room culture—has made him a beloved figure among team personnel and Mets fans for decades.
“I never wanted to be a front office guy,” Horwitz says. “I wanted to be one of the guys, to be able to laugh at myself, and be the butt of jokes. John Franco once said to me, ‘If the guys don’t like you, they won’t screw with you.’ The locker room is a tough place and you need a thick skin to survive down here, and that’s what I tried to do.”
As the current VP of Alumni Relations and Club Historian for the Mets, he has been instrumental in strengthening the Mets “family,” creating a network for former players to stay connected.
