QBC 2026: Keith, Zac, Sergio & “State Of The Mets”

The 2027 baseball season might be in peril, but that won’t stop this year’s Queens Baseball Convention! Since 2013, the QBC has brought generations of Mets fans together for the best fan fest around.

This year’s event takes place on Dec. 5 at Four Points by Sheraton, 33-68 Farrington Street in Flushing (near Main Street), from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and will be MC’d by John Saponaro, a QBC staple and co-host of Til Mets Do Us Part.

This year’s headliner is the Mets all-time great first baseman and longtime broadcaster Keith Hernandez. Also attending this year’s event is impressive rookie left-hander Zac Thornton, as well as Michael Sergio, an actor, director, writer, and producer best known for parachuting into Shea Stadium during Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

Also returning is the “State of the Mets” panel, which I’ve been hosting since the very first QBC!

Joining me this year are some brand-new faces, and some old friends.

Colin Cosell – Colin Cosell makes his QBC debut! He is a 3-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster proudly entering his 10th season as PA Announcer for the Mets. Additionally, Colin announces for Army Football at West Point and the Premier Lacrosse League, and has been on the mic for the NHL, NASCAR, MLS, and the NFL Alumni Association. Colin and his wife Julia live on Long Island with their daughter, Eloise.

EJ Stewart – Another QBC first-timer, EJ is an on-air personality, host, and producer for WFAN Sports Radio and Audacy. He hosts the “Orange & Blue Bloods” New York Knicks podcast and is the founder of Nu Generation Media. 

Justin Rocke – Mets fans might know Justin Rocke as the play-by-play voice for the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones, but he’s also the voice of Army / West Point Athletics, and is heard regularly on SiriusXM. He is making his QBC / State of the Mets debut as well. 

Kelley Franco – Back on the State of the Mets panel, Kelley has become a true QBC regular! The baseball media entrepreneur behind Three Inning Fan LLC hosts “Three Inning Fan – The Podcast with Kelley Franco” and delivers engaging talks on the game’s past and present. You can follow her on X and Instagram (@threeinningfan) to watch her “Three Inning Minute” clips, covering everything from baseball history to front-office transactions and legal matters in quick sixty-second bursts. A guest speaker at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and former analyst for CNN Financial Network, Kelley is also a practicing attorney with Franco & Associates in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Dan Bartels – This is Dan’s first appearance on the State of the Mets panel. Dan manages sports social media for the New York Post. He graduated from Fordham University in 2024. While there, he hosted radio shows for WFUV 90.7 FM, covered the Mets, and called Fordham Baseball games for ESPN+.

Anthony Rivera – Returning once again to the State of the Mets panel, Anthony is a staple at the QBC and one of the finest Mets content creators in the game today. A lifelong, die-hard supporter of the Amazins, he hosts and produces the “Subway To Shea Podcast,” a broadcast created by a fan, for the fans. Additionally, Anthony has made regular appearances as a guest on SNY.

Shop vintage cards, Hall of Fame collectibles, artwork, and team gear from vendors, enjoy food and cold refreshments from long-time partner One Stop Venues, and there will be trivia games and contests to win swag like autographed items, bobbleheads, and keepsakes.

Here’s the updated schedule:

QBC 2026 Schedule

Saturday December 5th. Four Points Flushing.

Doors open at 9:30am

See you at the QBC!

For tickets and info, scan the QR Code or visit queensbaseballconvention.com.

Mark C. Healey is the founder and editor of Gotham Baseball. He has worked for a variety of media outlets over the last 30 years, including the Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and SiriusXM Radio. He has appeared on NBC, ESPN, SNY, and WFAN.