Mets players and officials from the last four decades were at Citi Field on Wednesday to honor the team’s longtime PR exec, Jay Horwitz, who is moving into a new role with the team.
Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, John Franco, Mookie Wilson and David Wright were among those who honored Horwitz at a ceremony prior to Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Marlins.
The 73-year-old Horwitz, who dealt with countless issues with the team, both on and off the field, will now serve as the VP of alumni public relations and team historian.
Each speech was filled with anecdotes about pranks players pulled on Horwitz — including sending him a stripper for his birthday at Wrigley Field — and ended with them expressing their gratitude for how much he did for them throughout the years.
“He would fight for the players,” an emotional Franco said. “No matter how bad things were, he was there.”
“He always had our backs,’’ Wright said.
Among the guests Wednesday were Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Edgardo Alfonzo, Bob Ojeda, Ed Kranepool, Sandy Alderson, Omar Minaya, Steve Phillips, Bobby Valentine, Terry Collins and Joe Torre — as well as many current players.
Horwitz, who has been with the Mets since 1980, said he was looking forward to the new opportunity.
“I’m 73 years old now,’’ Horwitz said. “I could be out playing Parcheesi. I have a great job.”
“He’s given his last 40 years to this organization,’’ Wilpon said. “He’s not going anywhere.”