mengm@homxa.UUCP (P.MENG) (07/18/85)
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Talking about best announcers I'd have to vote for Tim McCarver
and Ralph Kiner for the Mets, with an extra star for McCarver.
McCarver also does national broadcasts from time to time.
What I look for in an announcer is someone who knows how to talk
baseball, has a listenable voice, and knows how to pass the time
being funny (in a subtle way). There are lots of announcers who meet
the first two criteria, but they usually fall short in the humor
dept. In the NY area, Phil Rizzuto comes close sometimes when he
gets off the subject of baseball and starts talking about Italian
food, his ride to the ballpark, etc, but then he can't really talk
a good game. The Phillies Harry Callas (sp?) has got to have the
best voice.
I really think Jean Shepherd would make an excellent announcer,
(for those of you who don't know, Jean Shepherd is a great
bullshitter, uh, storyteller).
Peter Mengjmh@ltuxa.UUCP (cecw 64lt503310-Jon Mcecw) (07/19/85)
I haven't heard all the announcers across the U.S. and Canada, but Bob Uecker used to be one of the best. He was funny, AND informative. Then he got popular (with the commercials et al.) and the Brewer radio casts turned a little into the Uecker show. He is still good, but he and Merle Harmon used to be great. Now I live around Chicago, and I find that : 1) Harry Caray is not a great announcer, BUT he is a totally different personality - one that goes done in history. 2) Steve Stone is one of the worst announcers I've heard. 3) Dwayne Staats is average at best. 4) Lou Boudreau is verrrrrry dry, but knows his baseball strategy about as well as I've ever heard. (e.g. if he says a guy is going to steal on the next pitch, he's almost always right; or he says things like "well, it's nice that Billy Hatcher made it to third, but he really should have stopped at second."). 5) Which brings me to my final thought: The best team I've heard at this point is Don Drysdale-Ken Harrelson. They are objective but still pull for the Sox a little (not a real lot of "rooting", though). They just tell me what's going on, which is why I listen. Jon Hanrath
woods@hao.UUCP (Greg Woods) (07/21/85)
> What I look for in an announcer is someone who knows how to talk > baseball, has a listenable voice, and knows how to pass the time > being funny (in a subtle way). I agree, but I add a fourth: IMPARTIALITY. Even when I'm a fan of the team involved, a "homer" is really revolting to listen to, because his outlook on the game is so prejudiced that it isn't realistic. Phil Rizzuto is particularly revolting in this area, especially since I'm a Yankee hater. This year in Denver, we've been getting the Royals games instead of the Yankees as in the past (which makes more sense since KC is a lot closer!), and their announcers, although detectably biased, aren't nearly as bad as Phil & Co.! --Greg -- {ucbvax!hplabs | allegra!nbires | decvax!noao | harpo!seismo | ihnp4!noao} !hao!woods CSNET: woods@NCAR ARPA: woods%ncar@CSNET-RELAY
sdd@pyuxh.UUCP (S Daniels) (07/23/85)
One I haven't seen mentioned here is Steve Stone, the color man for the Chicago Cubs. He's very knowledgeable, very articulate, and he doesn't get "cute" like some other announcers. At one time, Stone was an excellent pitcher (I forget which team). While Harry Carey may not be everyone's favorite, you have to give him credit for being unique and enthusiastic. The man's an institution; part of what baseball is all about. He may get sloshed and moan and groan about every managerial move that doesn't work, but there's something that's just "right" about Carey leaning out of the broadcast booth, leading the crowd in a rousing rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Back in the 60's and early 70's, he and Jack Buck were one outstanding team for the Cardinals. Tim McCarver knows his stuff. If he'd only stop listening to the Phil Rizzuto tapes and lay off the dumb stories and bad puns. -- Steve Daniels (!pyuxh!sdd) "I'm counting the smiles on the road to Utopia."
psm@asgb.UUCP (Pat McMonagle) (07/30/85)
We can all put in a plug for the announcers we learned the game from, but I think we should also look at Baseballs Hall of Fame where you usually find baseballs best. The Tigers long-time announcer, Ernie Harwell was inducted into the Hall in 1982. I think this accomplishment speaks for itself. Ernie presents an unbiased call of the game and fills in the lulls with great stories of the game. He recently has published a book full of these stories. The book got great reviews and is selling well in Detroit. (The name and publisher escape me now. Send me mail if your interested.) When deceiding who are the "best" announcers, consideration should be given to those announcers who are/where picked up by the networks to do post-season games. I know Ernie and Jack Buck out of St. Louis both have done this several times. The announcers in TV land are the pits. I watch most of the games with the sound off after the first 2 innings. The worst announcer is Drysdale (sp?). The only comments he makes are criticisms of a pitchers motion. Pat McMonagle Burroughs Advanced Systems Group Boulder, CO
jmh@ltuxa.UUCP (cecw 64lt503310-Jon Mcecw) (07/31/85)
Don Drysdale had a good line last night while broadcasting the Sox-Sox game: " That ball went of [Harold] Baines' elbow like it hit the knob of the bat, if you can visualize that sound." Jon Hanrath
martin@aecom.UUCP (Martin Klaman) (07/31/85)
[The following is based on a movie I saw about Dizzy Dean about 1-2 years ago.]
[What I cite as fact may , therefore, not really be so.]
After Dizzy Dean was forced to quit his career as a pitcher, he became an
announcer for the Cardinals ( the team he had played for).
He gave a very detailed report of the game, embelished (sp?) with
colorful similes. He spoke continuously throughout the game, not like
some of the present day announcers who leave you hanging for (what seems
like) minutes on end. His knowledge and love of baseball made him a
great announcer. However, his English was horrendous. At one time,
the teachers (union?) of St. Louis protested his announcing, fearing
the school children would begin speaking like him. He had to quit his job
as announcer, but was immediately given his job back due to public
pressure. "You learn 'em good in school", Dizzy later told the teachers.
Martin Klamen
"He would 'a been safe if he would 'a slud."
- Dizzy Dean
wimp@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Jeff Haferman) (08/05/85)
Has anyone ever heard of Halsey Hall? He was the radio/sometimes T.V. broadcaster for the Twins up to ~76. He did the play-by-play from the time I was a little kid up to that time, adn though he didn't add a lot of "color" per se, he did a wonderful job of unpretensiously analysing the game.
mcal@ihuxb.UUCP (Mike Clifford) (08/05/85)
> > Has anyone ever heard of Halsey Hall? He was the radio/sometimes T.V. > broadcaster for the Twins up to ~76. He did the play-by-play from the > time I was a little kid up to that time, adn though he didn't add a lot > of "color" per se, he did a wonderful job of unpretensiously analysing > the game. I was in 5th grade when my family moved from the Twin Cities to central Wisconsin. I don't remember specific moments from listening to Halsey Hall, but I know my dad enjoyed listening to him. I recall that he had a gravely voice...and that he passed away ~5 years ago. Mike Clifford