BBWAA NY Chapter Names Ethan Wilson Heart Award Co-Winner

Mets staff and players earn multiple BBWAA New York Chapter honors

The New York Mets organization received several prestigious honors from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) New York Chapter, recognizing both individual resilience and community impact.

Ethan Wilson, a longtime employee who has worked in the Mets media relations department since 1999, was named a co-winner of the Arthur and Milton Richman “You Gotta Have Heart” Award. Wilson, a Massachusetts native, was recently released from the hospital following weeks of rehabilitation after undergoing emergency brain surgery. He shares this honor with Peter Botte, a veteran reporter for the New York Post and New York Daily News, who is recovering after a severe bacterial infection necessitated the amputation of much of his lower leg. Botte recently reached a personal milestone by walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding last month.

During his hospital stay, Wilson received support from various figures, including a video message from former Patriots player Tom Brady. Francisco Lindor, who recently won the Roberto Clemente Award, also visited Wilson in the hospital. Lindor noted the deep connections within the organization while speaking during the World Series in St. Petersburg.

“We all love Ethan,” Lindor said. “Ethan, he’s one of the core people in the organization, and I needed to go see him. … That, to me, is giving back. He has helped me a lot, along with the PR department, to sit here and answer questions.”

Lindor further noted that Wilson’s sister expressed feeling as though she had discovered a “whole different family” within the Mets organization during his recovery. Lindor told Wilson to prioritize his rehabilitation so he can return to work next year.

Community service and long-term dedication recognized

The BBWAA New York Chapter also issued awards for community engagement and career-long service. Francisco and Katia Lindor were named the recipients of the Joan Payson and Shannon Forde Award for community service. This follows Lindor’s recognition as the recipient of Major League Baseball’s highest off‑field honor, the Roberto Clemente Award.

Howie Rose, who retired in September, received the William J. Slocum and Jack Lang Award for long and meritorious service. This marks a recurring theme of resilience for Rose, who previously won the “You Gotta Have Heart” Award in 2023 after overcoming bladder cancer.

Other chapter honors included:

Bo Bichette: Won the Ben Epstein and Dan Castellano “Good Guy” Award, designated for the player who best assists media members in performing their duties.
Steve Bieser: Received the “You Could Look It Up” Award, an honor reserved for individuals not previously recognized by the chapter. Bieser was cited for his pinch‑running involvement in the inaugural 1997 Subway Series, an event that famously prompted Yankees pitcher David Cone to commit a run‑scoring balk.