Who are the BEST baseball broadcasters?

[Hotseat]

You can't get any better than Vin Scully. I still have a tape of him doing a spring training game in 1991. Can't they just hold up the game until he finishes his story?

Marty Brennaman

Pete Van Wieren. Now that he does mostly radio. Solid.

Carry on.

 

[larnov]

Yes, Vin Scully is the very best.

 

[MusicMaestro]

Yes, Vin Scully is the very best.

DUH!! Nearly 60 years at it, & he is STILL THE BEST EVER!

 

[bigtalkradiofan]

I'd put Bob Uecker (Milwaukee Brewers) on any Top10 best baseball broadcasters ever list.

Here's the website devoted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum - Ford C. Frick Award Honorees (Baseball Broadcasters):

http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/frick.jsp

Ford C. Frick Award Honorees

The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." The award, named after the late broadcaster, National League President, Commissioner, and Hall of Famer, has been presented annually since 1978. Frick was a driving force behind the creation of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and he helped foster the relationship between radio and the game of baseball.

The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Each award recipient (not to be confused with an inductee) is presented with a calligraphy of the award during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and is recognized in the "Scribes & Mikemen" exhibit in the Library of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Below is a complete list of the Ford C. Frick Award recipients. ...

Here's a website devoted to baseball broadcasters:

http://www.baseballvoices.com/index.html

Baseball Voices
Hall of Fame Series

 

[macrinus]

Being from the Detroit area originally, I have to put in a vote for the duo of Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey on WJR. Since I grew up with those amazing voices, I will always be prejudiced in their favor. I still remember Paul Carey getting bent out of shape whenever someone would do a different (unSousa-like) interpretation of the national anthem!

Kind of gets me a little misty thinking about that, actually. Who would've thought I still had it in me about baseball?

Though Bob Uecker is really incredible, I must admit. Very very entertaining, funny, and right on the mark. Another indelible and irreplaceable facet of humid summer evenings in Wisconsin.

 

[The Beave]

I'd put Bob Uecker (Milwaukee Brewers) on any Top10 best baseball broadcasters ever list.

I'll back that.

"And a pitch...just a bit outside"

 

[jughead]

Vin Scully

Marty Brennaman

Pat Hughes

Ed Farmer

Bob Uecker

John Ronney

Michael Kay

John Miller (when he's not trying to impersonate Scully)

Harry Kalas

 

[SCV_Ears]

What's that they say about never forgetting the first ... Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons on KSFO and the Giants' Golden West Radio Network.

Up until a few years ago, when Lon cut back his schedule, once or twice a year he was scheduled to do a game with Jon Miller. It was not to be missed. One even rooted against close games, just to hear the two of them tell stories.

 

[sfradio]

kruk and kuip
John miller

 

[fells]

No one on the planet is better than Vin Scully. I can listen to him call a game and I can "see" everything he is talking about. The man is a walking, living and breathing encyclopedia of knowledge and makes calling a game solo sound more like art.

 

[EnbyCee]

No one on the planet is better than Vin Scully. I can listen to him call a game and I can "see" everything he is talking about. The man is a walking, living and breathing encyclopedia of knowledge and makes calling a game solo sound more like art.

You can especially appreciate Scully if you listened to Harry Caray turn into a bad self-parody in his final years.

Vin sometimes makes a mistake these days (he IS 80 after all) but for the most part he's still sharp as a tack. Makes it fun to be a Dodgers fan even when the team is mediocre.

A couple of radio guys I'll also nominate purely based on entertainment value: Mike Shannon of the Cards and Ron Santo of the Cubs.

 

[Goodtimesandgreatoldies]

Vin Scully is the best!!!!!!!!!! Pete Van Weieren of the Atlanta Braves is number two!!!!!!!! I am 40 years ago and grew up listening to Pete. He does every game on the Braves radio network now. He has only gotten better over the years. He works with Skip Carey and has for over 30 years. Skip is goos in his own entertaining way. Skip was very pis$ed off at TBS last year for not putting him on the playoof games. His voice this year seems to be a little soft. Skip has lost a few steps, but is sounding more like his daddy Harry Carey did in later years.

 

[woody1394]

I like Vin Scully as well, but more for his baseball knowledge and frankly his experience; has so many baseball stories from his many years in broadcasting that he's fun to listen to. But I have to admit that he's not necessarily the most exciting announcer; sometimes it's hard to tell from his tone if a player hit just a foul ball or a grand slam.

As far as that goes, Oakland A's announcer Ken Korach is a blast to listen to. He is full of energy and makes the game much more exciting to listen to. I'll watch the game on TV and turn off the sound so I can hear Ken's calls rather than those on TV.

Bill King and Ken Korach made probably the most exciting duo in the play-by-play booth, because you can feel the game through them. Losing Bill a couple years ago hurt badly, but Ken is still Ken. My vote is for Ken Korach, and a posthumous vote for Bill King.

And for second place, I forgot his name offhand but the announcer for the Cleveland Indians is also a lot of fun to listen to. I'll throw Jon Miller in there too.

 

[Winwahoo]

<And for second place, I forgot his name offhand but the announcer for the Cleveland Indians is also a lot of fun to listen to.>

Ditto! That would be Tom Hamilton. As a die-hard Tribe fan, I've had the distinct pleasure of listening to Tom since he came on-board with Herb Score in '94. There was nothing quite like Tom reeling off the p-b-p on a Vizquel-Alomar double-play. While he doesn't have Jon Miller pipes, I don't believe you'll hear a finer HR call, or a 6-4-3 when the Indians need it most. (and they sure have needed it this year!) Plus, having worked for various Ohio radio affiliates, I can attest to the fact the Hammy is a first-class guy all the way.

The other guy who doesn't get alot of "props" but should is the Pirates Greg Brown. Lanny Frattare is the long-time (and probably future Frick winner) guy in the 'Burgh and some of the best 'chords in the game . But Brownie is the guy who is really the best at generating excitement, especially on radio.

 

[larnov]

Being from the Detroit area originally, I have to put in a vote for the duo of Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey on WJR. Since I grew up with those amazing voices, I will always be prejudiced in their favor. I still remember Paul Carey getting bent out of shape whenever someone would do a different (unSousa-like) interpretation of the national anthem!

Kind of gets me a little misty thinking about that, actually. Who would've thought I still had it in me about baseball?

Though Bob Uecker is really incredible, I must admit. Very very entertaining, funny, and right on the mark. Another indelible and irreplaceable facet of humid summer evenings in Wisconsin.

Ernie Harwell is also one of the best ever. I only got to hear him when he did National Games on CBS Radio about 10 years ago. but he is poetry much like Scully. He is also one of the best interviews on Radio and TV, I love hearing him telling stories>

 

[larnov]

No one on the planet is better than Vin Scully. I can listen to him call a game and I can "see" everything he is talking about. The man is a walking, living and breathing encyclopedia of knowledge and makes calling a game solo sound more like art.

You can especially appreciate Scully if you listened to Harry Caray turn into a bad self-parody in his final years.

Vin sometimes makes a mistake these days (he IS 80 after all) but for the most part he's still sharp as a tack. Makes it fun to be a Dodgers fan even when the team is mediocre.

A couple of radio guys I'll also nominate purely based on entertainment value: Mike Shannon of the Cards and Ron Santo of the Cubs.

Ron Santo is fun to listen too. and he belongs in the HOF. Also saw the name John Rooney. He is very good too.