Forde inducted into Irish-American Baseball HOF

NEW YORK -- Mets senior director of media relations Shannon Forde was among six inductees into the Irish-American Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday at Foley's NY Pub & Restaurant in Manhattan.

Forde went into the Hall alongside former Marlins manager Jack McKeon, former Royals first baseman Mike Sweeney, current Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu, actor (and Minor League Baseball team owner) Bill Murray and broadcaster Dave O'Brien.

Joining the Mets as a media intern in January 1994, Forde is one of the organization's longest-tenured employees. She has been active in raising breast cancer awareness and funds since being diagnosed with the disease in 2012.

In a tribute speech to Forde, Mets vice president of media relations Jay Horwitz called her a "trailblazer" as one of the first female PR executives in baseball. Mets COO Jeff Wilpon and general manager Sandy Alderson were also on hand for the ceremony, in addition to Forde's family.

"Today," Horwitz said, "is really a testament to how much people love Shannon."