You’re stuck in a crawl on the Grand Central. It’s August, the humidity is thick enough to chew, and the Mets are somehow blowing a three-run lead in the eighth. Most people would be reaching for a podcast or a playlist to drown out the stress, but if you’re a real one, you’re locked into 880 AM. There is something almost spiritual about hearing NY Mets on the radio. It isn't just about the play-by-play. It’s the texture of the voice, the pacing of the delivery, and that specific New York cynicism that only a lifelong fan can provide.
Radio is the last bastion of true baseball intimacy. On TV, you’ve got flashy graphics and a dozen camera angles telling you what to think. On the radio? It’s just you, the static, and Howie Rose.
The Voice That Defines Queens
Howie Rose is more than a broadcaster; he’s a living link to the Shea Stadium days. He grew up a fan. He feels the pain when a reliever walks the bases loaded, and you can hear it in that slight drop in his register. When people search for NY Mets on the radio, they aren't just looking for a frequency. They are looking for that familiar rasp. Howie has been the lead voice since 2006, taking over after the legendary Bob Murphy retired. Murphy was all "happy recaps" and optimism. Howie is different. He’s a realist. He’s a New Yorker who knows that being a Mets fan is a psychological burden as much as it is a hobby.
The current home for the games is WCBS 880 (now branded as Audacy 880). It’s a massive signal. You can catch it way out on the Island and sometimes deep into Jersey or Connecticut if the weather plays nice. But the tech has changed everything. Now, if you aren't near a traditional receiver, you’re likely hitting the MLB app or the Audacy app to stream the feed. It’s weirdly crisp. Sometimes I miss the slight hiss of the old-school AM dial, honestly. It felt more authentic to the grit of the game.
Why Radio Beats the TV Broadcast
Most fans will tell you the TV crew—Gary, Keith, and Ron—is the best in the business. They’re right. But radio is a different sport entirely. On the radio, the announcer has to be your eyes. They have to describe the shadows creeping across the infield at Citi Field or the way Pete Alonso adjusts his batting gloves after a foul ball.
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Radio requires a level of vocabulary and timing that TV guys just don't need. When you listen to NY Mets on the radio, you notice the pauses. Howie Rose and Keith Raad (who joined the booth recently to replace Wayne Randazzo) understand the "sound" of the ballpark. They let the crowd noise breathe. You hear the vendor yelling about hot dogs in the background. You hear the "Let's Go Mets" chant start as a murmur and swell into a roar.
Keith Raad has been an interesting addition. He came from the minor league circuit—specifically the Brooklyn Cyclones. That’s a tough jump. You’re going from a few thousand fans to a massive metropolitan audience that will eat you alive if you mess up a stat. But he’s got a smooth, conversational rhythm that pairs well with Howie’s veteran authority. It doesn't feel forced. It feels like two guys at a bar who just happen to be incredibly articulate about launch angles.
The Technical Struggle: How to Actually Listen
Look, finding the game shouldn't be hard, but sometimes it is. Blackout rules are a mess, and digital rights are even worse. If you are in the New York market, 880 AM is your primary "terrestrial" home.
If you are outside the NY area, things get tricky. You basically have three options:
- MLB Audio: This is a paid subscription. It’s cheap, though. For a few bucks a month, you get every radio broadcast in the league with no blackouts. It’s the gold standard for out-of-market fans.
- Audacy App: If you are physically in the NY footprint, you can stream it for free. If you try to do this from Los Angeles, it’ll likely geo-block you or switch you to a national feed.
- SiriusXM: They carry the Mets feed, but it’s often the "home" or "away" broadcast depending on the day. Always check the channel guide.
The shift from WOR 710 to WEPN 1050 and finally to WCBS 880 has been a journey for long-time listeners. Each station had a different "vibe." 880 feels right because of its history as a news powerhouse. It feels official.
Dealing with the Modern "Delay"
Here is a dirty secret about listening to the NY Mets on the radio in 2026: the "digital lag" is real. If you are listening on a smart speaker or an app while your neighbor is watching on cable, you are going to hear them scream thirty seconds before you see the home run. It’s infuriating.
If you want the "true" experience, get a battery-powered AM/FM radio. No lag. Just the speed of light. There is nothing like being at the actual stadium, sitting in the upper deck with a pair of headphones on, listening to the radio call while watching the play live. It’s the ultimate way to consume baseball. You get the atmosphere of the park and the expert analysis in your ear simultaneously.
Misconceptions About Radio Announcers
People think these guys have a script. They don't. It’s three hours of pure improvisation. They have "stat packs" and "game notes" provided by the PR department, but the narrative is built on the fly. Howie Rose is a master of the "callback." He’ll reference a play from 1973 as if it happened yesterday morning. That historical depth is what makes the Mets radio booth so elite. They respect the ghosts of the franchise.
There is also this idea that radio is dying. I don't buy it. Baseball is the only sport that truly works on radio. Football is too fast and chaotic. Basketball is a constant stream of "he shots, he scores" that gets repetitive. But baseball? Baseball has gaps. It has tension. It has a rhythm that matches the human heart.
Actionable Ways to Improve Your Listening Experience
If you’re serious about following the Mets via the airwaves, stop relying on your phone’s crappy internal speaker. The audio quality of an AM broadcast is mid-heavy and narrow; it needs a decent speaker to sound "warm" rather than "tinny."
- Invest in a dedicated AM radio: Brands like C.Crane make radios specifically designed for long-range AM reception. If you're in the suburbs, this can pull in the 880 signal with way less interference than a cheap clock radio.
- Use the MLB Audio "Sync" feature: If you watch the games on MLB.TV, you can actually overlay the radio audio onto the TV picture. This is the pro move. You get the visuals of the TV broadcast but the superior commentary of Howie Rose.
- Learn the "Scorecard" art: Radio was designed for people keeping score. If you’ve never sat down with a pencil and a scorecard while listening to a game, you’re missing out on a meditative experience. It forces you to listen to every pitch.
The world is moving toward short-form video and 10-second clips. But the NY Mets on the radio represents the opposite of that. It’s slow. It’s methodical. It’s a long conversation that lasts 162 days a year. Whether they’re winning the NL East or crashing out in September, the radio booth remains the one constant you can rely on. Turn the dial, find the signal, and let the summer begin.