Amazin’ Conversations with Jay Horwitz

MLB.com

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.

  1. FEB 10

    Craig Swan Opens Up on Pain, Perseverance, and Playing for the Mets

    Former New York Mets pitcher Craig Swan joins Amazin’ Conversations to reflect on his career, the reality of pitching on struggling teams, and the friendships that defined his time in baseball. Swan shares unforgettable stories about playing alongside Bobby Valentine and Lee Mazzilli, the pressures of being a local star in New York, and his deep friendship with Tom Seaver. From wild clubhouse memories and road-trip stories to battling injuries, reinventing life after baseball, and finding joy through unexpected hobbies, this is a candid, funny, and heartfelt conversation about the human side of the Mets’ history. This episode is a reminder that not every legacy is defined by championships — some are defined by character, resilience, and the people you shared the uniform with. Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Craig Swan joins Amazin’ Conversations01:00 First impressions of joining the Mets in 198002:30 Pitching well on bad teams and the frustration of wins04:45 Memories of Lee Mazzilli and being a hometown star06:40 Family, fans, and playing in front of sparse crowds08:10 Bobby Valentine stories from college to coaching10:15 Bobby Valentine’s baseball mind and future success12:00 Getting released as the Mets were turning the corner13:40 Battling injuries and knowing the end was near15:00 The Dodgers game fueled by a ruined vegetable garden16:45 Friendship with Tom Seaver on and off the field18:40 Life after baseball and new passions20:00 Health battles, perspective, and staying active Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    22 min
  2. JAN 20

    Ken Davidoff on David Wright, Journalism, and Life Lessons from Baseball

    On this episode of Amazin’ Conversations, Jay Horwitz sits down with longtime baseball writer and author Ken Davidoff for a wide-ranging conversation about journalism, storytelling, and the life lessons that baseball can teach. Davidoff discusses his new book 101 Lessons from the Dugout, including how David Wright became involved by writing the foreword, why the book resonates far beyond the field, and how baseball terminology mirrors real-life decision making. The conversation also dives into Ken’s decades covering the Mets and Yankees, memorable human-interest stories, relationships with iconic figures like Bobby Valentine, Ron Hunt, and Jesse Orosco, and why those behind-the-scenes stories matter more than ever in today’s media landscape. A thoughtful, nostalgic, and insightful episode about baseball, people, and perspective. 00:00 – Opening memories & first Mets game covered00:44 – Ken Davidoff’s journalism career and teaching01:06 – 101 Lessons from the Dugout and David Wright’s foreword02:40 – Turning baseball terminology into life lessons03:50 – David Wright as a coach and father05:12 – Decades working together and human-interest storytelling06:17 – Ron Hunt, Shea Stadium seats, and fundraising efforts07:58 – Rusty Staub, community impact, and meaningful stories09:01 – Bobby Valentine, Subway Series memories, and interleague play11:13 – Mets writers dinners and staying connected to the game12:14 – The 1986 Mets and unforgettable personalities14:09 – Why this book is different and what baseball teaches us16:34 – Book release details and future plans ⏱️ Timestamps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    18 min
4.7
out of 5
98 Ratings

About

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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