Keith Hernandez Haji HoJo Screengrab: SNY
Local NetworksMLBBy Sam Neumann on

HoJo, Haji — same thing, right?

Well, if you don’t have the slightest clue what we’re talking about, you might not have tuned in for the New York Mets’ game against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Prior to the game, the Mets officially retired No. 16, honoring Dwight “Doc” Gooden with the greatest distinction it can bestow on one of their former players.

Prior to the first pitch, Keith Hernandez, alongside Gary Cohen and Ron Darling, talked about the pregame ceremony and some of Gooden’s former teammates, who were on hand. In addition to Hernandez and Darling, there was Mookie Wilson. Rafael Santana, Jesse Orosco, Rodger McDowell and Darryl Strawberry, among several others. And oh, there was Howard “HoJo” Johnson, too. Or “Haji,” as Hernandez referred to him.

But Hernandez confused his former teammate with his 21.5-year-old cat.

Yes, you read that correctly.

“Hadji. Oh, not Hadji, HoJo,” he said while Ron Darling and Gary Cohen erupted in laughter at the gaffe.

Haji has frequently been mentioned on SNY’s broadcasts over the years and has become a fan favorite, as Hernandez has often kept fans apprised of his beloved cat on social media. But during a Mets-Phillies game in 2021, the broadcast booth and New York’s first home run of the season was overshadowed by a ring doorbell and a slight cat emergency.

But there’s been a lot more happier instances with the beloved Haji:

He’s Keith Hernandez, and he’s a big cat guy.

And next time you hear Hernandez mention Haji on air, you’ll know it’s not just any cat – it’s his beloved 21.5-year-old feline friend and, not to be confused, the New York Mets Hall-of-Famer.

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About Sam Neumann

Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.

View all posts by Sam Neumann