Watching youth baseball and softball has reminded me how much love there is for this game. I’ve seen the girls on my daughter’s team practicing with their parents, learning the game, and having fun. It feels great to be in person again.
One thing I would love but have noticed isn’t present, is play-by-play for youth sports. One of the fondest memories many of you have shared is the announcers for baseball games that you’ve listened to on the radio. I started to wonder at what age play-by-play announcing starts. I know when my son played youth football, there were announcers. It also made me wonder how many announcers in the pros started out this way.
The play-by-play helps you know what’s going on during the game. We always have people calling to get a radio to take the game and when I first started at C. Crane, I couldn’t figure out why when they were going to the game to watch with their own eyes, they needed to listen on the radio too. After attending some games, I came to understand that the play-by-play commentary gives so much information. Who’s up, what their stats are, the back story. How the coach might impact it. If there’s been an injury and so much more. Watching the game live in person, there’s almost none of that besides the silent screen showing outs and the ball count or the vendor trying to sell you a $15 beer.
After a little research, I learned Jon Miller (the current “Voice of the San Francisco Giants”), started young, “As a teenager, Miller played Strat-O-Matic and recorded his own play-by-play into a tape recorder, adding his own crowd noise, vendors, and commercials.[4][6][7]” Vin Scully, former “Voice of the Dodgers” started his play-by-play broadcasting career in college. Here’s a list of all of the 2022 MLB announcers. It makes a case for offering opportunities to younger folks at these earlier stages. You never know who the next great announcer will be.
I know it’s often said, but the sports radio guys, especially the people doing the play-by-play are some of the most talented and knowledgeable people in radio. Their craft is a bit different than regular talk radio because they have to know the game, their team, and the area inside and out to be taken seriously. You can’t just research a topic or have a guest on and be successful. People’s expectations are for you to know when the team came to this city, who every previous manager was, who got traded where and when, the epic historical moments that defined the team, etc., etc.
We have a local gal, Hailey Dolcini, who has made some big plays this year at the University of Texas and it’s been so fun to follow along. I definitely am not a true baseball fan (although I’m a true fan of my kids) like some of you are, but I have many friends who don’t miss a game. Seeing our small community support her (many even traveling to Texas to watch) reminds me of the many reasons people love this sport. It’s that sense of community. The part of being a part of something bigger than yourself. It’s also the drama. The not knowing the outcome. Getting to watch it unfold. And apparently, it’s also for the play-by-play. That comforting familiar voice, that paints a picture with words. The one that can educate you about the game. The one that envelops you in the drama with their words. And perhaps, just for a moment, it’s the simplicity of a game. An escape from the “real” drama taking place all around. A reminder that there are still a lot of things right in this world.
Please tell us in the comments “Your Favorite Play by Play Baseball Story”.
“The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! They’re going crazy! They’re going crazy!” 1951, walking down the street with a transistor radio glued to my ear. Never forgot Russ Hodges and those words.
I grew up with Curt Gowdy when I was a kid in Connecticut–I thought he was the best
Jessica,
THANK YOU!
My baseball radio experience started in 1970 listening to the mighty KDKA 1020 from Pittsburgh. Never forget Bob Prince and Nellie Briles calling the 1971 World Series victory!
I used a cheap Soundesign portable to listen…signal fading in and out in early October that year. CCrane certainly has made reception better…thanks again & keep up the good work.
You’re welcome and we definitely plan to
My son plays baseball, and the team uses an app called Gamechanger. A coach puts in the batting order and field assignments and follows the game, putting in the plays while they happen. The screen has a picture of the field with the players names and the family members who aren’t there can follow the game in real time for free. If you use the paid version it has a radio feature that announces the game. It has background noises and everything. Its not perfect but my 92 year old grandfather can listen to his great grandson play baseball and he loves it.
This is awesome! What a cool use of technology. Probably doesn’t replace a real voice but I love that your grandfather can have that connection with your son!
“Adios, pelota!” I just love this call from Jon Miller when the Giants make a home run. I get to a few games every year, but I listen to most of them on my CCRadio2E tuned to the local AM station. I live pretty far from San Francisco, but I get excellent reception and get to hear our local baseball guys give all the detail and color. Much better than TV for me.
Bob Uecker in Milwaukee is a treasure. Even if the game is out of hand,
he’s so entertaining to listen to……
“There’s a bouncer over the mound, over 2nd base, Mantilla up with, throws low and wild, Hodges scores and WE go to Chicago.” – Vin Scully 1959 National League playoff game, Dodgers and Braves. Dodgers won to go to the World Series for the first time as the LOS ANGELES Dodgers. I was 14 years old. Have had Scully’s call memorized for ever. Baseball play by play on the radio is the best. Love being able to have a game on the radio as a companion while I do other things.
I think CCrane could issue a list of stations for the Wi-Fi radios that don’t block the Major League games. Just 32 stations to find, but what are they?
I used to work with Cory Provus of the Minnesota Twins when he was doing Virginia Tech women’s basketball games over the phone. It was his first job out of college. I would listen to him sometimes just because he was so good at what he did. I was not surprised to see him become the voice of a Major League team years later.
I don’t know how I missed this, but a year or so later I’ll chime in.
I didn’t go quite as far as Jon Miller and his announcing with Strat-O-Matic, but I did learn how to score ballgames like that, playing Cadaco’s “All-Star Baseball” (anyone remember that?) and later did the scoring for a local softball league as a kid. While some 16 year olds were working in grocery stores or elsewhere, I was sitting on a lawn chair keeping book for ballgames at $15 a game. Not bad!
Later on I turned that stat interest into a similar gig in racing…timing and scoring. That was pretty decent money too, and later on I carried a NASCAR Officials license to do it…then, when the track announcer failed to show up one night, I took over and discovered how much fun THAT was. Also more lucrative! I’m still doing it over 40 years later.
But I still love baseball, and while I can’t get out much anymore, I do follow my local AAA team, the Nashville Sounds, and their ace play-by-play guy Jeff Hem. Not sure I could do a better job myself. My radios get a LOT of use during baseball and racing season, and with multiple receivers, I can have a race going in one ear, and a ballgame in the other.