There’s no way you can tell me that listening to a baseball game on the radio is better than watching it on TV.
I mean, come on. If a batter gets beaned in the head, I want to be able to see his helmet shatter. Yet some old timers will insist baseball games are better on radio.
While I disagree with that, I’ve always found it remarkably cozy to listen to good baseball announcers. In fact, I’ll often have a game on the TV in the background just to hear the voices.
With the playoffs in full gear — and the Cubs headed for the World Series* — I’ve been thinking about the best baseball broadcasters, past and present. Mind you, I haven’t been around for 60 years. And I haven’t heard games broadcast in every state. But here are my top ten announcers:
10.) Bob Brenly.
Okay, here’s where my bias comes into play since, you know, he is the color analyst for the Cubs. But the former World Series manager is pretty insightful. And I love how he and booth mate Len Kasper talk about music during the games. In fact, the source of two of my blog posts about music came from them.
9.) Ernie Harwell.
I have to admit, I’m not terribly familiar with the longtime voice of the Tigers, but the guy did it for 55 years, so let’s give him his due.
8.) Bob Uecker.
“I must be in the front row.” Remember those beer commercials? Good stuff. While that was scripted, Uecker was always funny, which is why he was a frequent guest on “The Tonight Show” during the Carson years (a.k.a., when it was good). The Brewers broadcaster always reminded me of a goofy uncle. Ironically, he’s fairly serious as a play-by-play guy.
7.) Steve Stone.
A few years ago, Stone riled up some crybaby millionaires when he wasn’t as much of a homer as the home team wanted him to be. While Cubs players confronted him — one pitcher even called him during a game to complain — fans and WGN stood by Stone. But he quit anyway.
Known for his uncanny ability to predict what will happen — and for providing serious balance to partner Harry Caray’s silly – Stone is now a radio announcer for the White Sox.
6.) Joe Morgan.
Much like Stone, Morgan seems to have ESP when it comes to what’s going to happen on the field. Plus, the ESPN announcer has a calming voice, and the former Reds infielder is not afraid to be critical of players.
5.) Jack Brickhouse.
When I first started watching the Cubs, Brickhouse — with his famous “Hey, Hey!” home run call — was a staple of the Cubs and WGN. Known for his enthusiastic support of the teams he called for, Brickhouse also worked games for the Bears, White Sox and Bulls. Remember that famous Willie Mays catch in the World Series? Brickhouse called it.
4.) Jon Miller.
I can’t really pin it down, but Miller just has a soothing voice that I could listen to on any occasion. He calls games for the Giants, but he’s best when paired with Joe Morgan on ESPN. Articulate and well-spoken, his most famous call came when Barry Bonds broke the home run record last year.
3.) Mel Allen.
When I was a kid, I watched “This Week in Baseball” religously, mostly to hear Allen’s voice. Primarily known as the voice of the Yankees, Allen called 22 World Series contests and 24 all star games. His many catch phrases included the most famous – “How about that!”
2.) Vin Scully.
There may not be a cozier baseball voice out there. While Scully has been the voice of the Dodgers for 59 years, I first heard him doing NBC games with Joe Garagiola – perhaps the greatest baseball commentator pairing of all.
There are too many great Scully calls to mention, but to name a few: Kirk Gibson’s World Series homerun, Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s homerun record, and Dwight Clark’s endzone catch in the NFC championship game.
1.) Harry Caray. 
Of course! Remember my aforementioned bias? But, really — Harry was a true character. Although known mostly for his work with the Cubs, he started out with the Cardinals, the A’s and then the White Sox before settling on the North Side.
It was with the White Sox that he started singing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch. But Harry was known for many other things, like spelling people’s names backwards and boasting about his alcohol consumption.
One broadcaster I interviewed said Caray had a cooler full of Buds he dipped into every game. And a friend who met Caray once asked the broadcaster for an autograph, which he agreeed to give in exchange for the 6-pack the autograph seeker holding.
Hey, Cubs — “Let’s. Get. Some. Runs!”
* I know — I’ve fallen off the deep end
Posted on September 26th, 2008 by Pat
Filed under: The World According to Pat
[...] Free games by Pat [...]
There are fewer things more enjoyable than listening to Vinnie call a game. I love that he works alone and that he treats the opposing team as human beings. He’s mindful of their stories — especially those of the guys who took a long to break into the league. And he is consistently positive and upbeat about the game of baseball. And that’s a lot of innings on a lot of dull nights that he’s called. He used to broadcast from the stands in Brooklyn before he got his booth job. He still sounds and looks much the same as that young kid in Brooklyn. Here’s to my choice for the number one — Vinnie.
But Joe Morgan technically is the most knowledgeable about the game of any announcer I’ve heard. Every Little Leaguer, and especially high school and college players, should have to listen to Joe talk about positioning, swinging, throwing, game situations, and the rest. Joe is a bad man. He’s a bad man.
Good topic Pat. Blogger of the year, baby.
Hey, little bugger here. I appreciate you writing about baseball. Not enough people are into baseball, if you ask me. What’s with this? It’s the best sport, ever! I will be forever bonded with you because of the cubs fannery thing. Cubs forever baby!!!!
When I lived in Illinois, I would usually listen to the Cubs radio announcers, even if I watched the games on TV. I think the interplay between Pat Hughes (sp?) and Ron Santo is great. But even before them, the Cubs always had solid people on the radio side.
Jon Miller is easy to listen to, his sense of humor, depth of knowledge and you get a two announcers for one with Jon. He does one of the best Vin Scully impressions in the world. Red Barber had a good run as commentator on NPR after he retired from play by play. Here’s a link to an NPR roundup of favorite announcers.
I like the list- you left off a lot of dry-as-toast ‘greats’ that drain the life out of the action and reduce it to statland. I have heard miller on both coasts for many years and he is a true great.
on tv v radio: the tv audience is by nature broader, less informed and generally less fanatic, so they get today-show quality people or the deadly straight men like joe buck types that make me turn off the game. or worse, ‘personalities’ like tim mccarver that went asleep a while back and have ZERO to say. they just don’t get into the nuance of player positioning, pitching strategies, recent production or struggles, or other aspects of real time that you see at the park, but that they miss.
in balwmer when I was there the O’s stunk much like the cubs for many years- but it didn’t matter. miller knew what was happening on and off the field and could communicate it. from high of cal’s streak to lows of …well, millions of them, he was the consummate baseball announcer. except for his mild endorsement of baroid bonds, I have enjoyed his giants calls as well. in bawlmer the deal was turn on the tv, turn down the sound, and listen to miller on radio. sweet.
Hey what about Jerry Coleman — “”Oh Doctor!”, “You can hang a star on that baby!”
The “Master of the Malaprop” once announced: “That’s the fourth extra base hit for the Padres — two doubles and a triple.”
I remember the Padres second game in the 1983 season. There was a pop-up that catcher Terry Kennedy was able to catch by going into the dugout. Said Coleman: “There’s the play of the season!?
I grew up following basketball, not baseball, but I can relate to what you say about the warm, comforting nature of an announcer’s voice.
For me, the voice of Bill Schonley — longtime announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers — will always conjure up nights spent riding around with my dad in our battered little pickup truck.
Schonely was the voice of Blazermania in the 1980s and ’90s, coining phrases like “Rip City” and “Bingo bango bongo” and lighting up the court with his exuberant calls. The Schonz retired from that role in 1998, but I still remember being thrilled when he was invited to conduct my high school choir.