Best baseball announcing

Duane Kuiper is from Wisconsin and probably played on some of the worst Indians teams of all time while I was growing up here in Cleveland. He is infamously known for only hitting one major league homerun I understand he is pretty popular out in the San Francisco area and he turned a trade late in his career to the Bay Area into a nice opportunity for himself.

When I was a junior in high school in the late seventies, I worked at a fairly exclusive men's clothing store and "Kuipe" would often come in. Of course, all of us "youngsters" would clamor to wait on the local "celebrity" where we were informed in no uncertain terms (by our manager) to leave Duane alone and let the "professionals" take care of him. At the time, Duane indeed gave off the "vibe" that he was too "big" to be bothered by young fans who may have adored him but I have never held it against him. I imagine he has mellowed somewhat over time.

Sorry, Infielddad, as witty as that comment was, I regret to inform you that Mr. Kuiper "borrowed" that remark from somebody else. I'm trying to find the source (and I'll update this post as necessary with the compelte story), but I believe the pitcher was Bob Feller and, perhaps, Yogi was the batter??

Btw, I would put Gary Cohen, the Mets announcer, right up there with anyone out there. He, teamed up with Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez are amusing, critical when called for, and certainly know their balls and strikes.

Slotty is right. Krukow's line is a variation of an old and oft-told anecdote about a batter facing Walter Johnson who allegedly turned to the ump after a called strike and said, "That one sounded low."

The line has also been attributed to victims of Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and other fireballers.

Thanks, Swampboy, that's it! Here's another one along those lines:

"He throws a "radio ball," a pitch you hear, but you don't see." --Gene Mauch, about Sandy Koufax

This is the best baseball announcing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxfeRWCdU5k

quote:

Originally posted by slotty:
Sorry, Infielddad, as witty as that comment was, I regret to inform you that Mr. Kuiper "borrowed" that remark from somebody else. I'm trying to find the source (and I'll update this post as necessary with the compelte story), but I believe the pitcher was Bob Feller and, perhaps, Yogi was the batter??

Btw, I would put Gary Cohen, the Mets announcer, right up there with anyone out there. He, teamed up with Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez are amusing, critical when called for, and certainly know their balls and strikes.

I didn't indicate Krukow originated the line.
My point was the line was perfectly delivered at the perfect time.
The line, to my knowledge, came from the Koufax perfect game and was attributed to a strike call on Joe Amalfitano, who, I believe, was pinch hitting in the 9th.
BTW, I wouldn't feel sorry for me. I love listening to Kruk and Kuip for the reasons illustrated with the video clip, listening to Kuip talking about growing up on the farm in Wisconsin, and the life lessons he learned from his Dad, Henry.
I started the post with the title "best baseball announcing" for a reason.
I didn't call it best baseball announcers.
The idea was to generate some fun on things announcers say and do that make listening to the pastime so enjoyable.

The one and only Vin Scully.

For many people, the "best" announcers are the ones they grew up listening to. I started listening to baseball games when Harry Caray and Jack Buck shared the booth for Cardinals games, so that's my personal standard.

quote:

Originally posted by Swampboy:
For many people, the "best" announcers are the ones they grew up listening to. I started listening to baseball games when Harry Caray and Jack Buck shared the booth for Cardinals games, so that's my personal standard.

That is very true and I will put Joe Nuxhall, the ultimate "homer" in the category of my favorite as a young Reds fan.

But I am no Giants fan, whatsoever...but as a baseball fan...I love, absolutely love listening to Kruk and Kuip. They are great for the game and I'd pay to hear them talk about baseball for hours and hours.

Swampboy,
that is a great point. I could not agree with you more.
When I was very young in Butte, MT, there was one station and after the radio and the Lone Ranger was Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese on TV.
After moving to the Bay Area, the radio was filled with Hall of Famers, Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons.
Buck is right there with the best. Not sure anyone quite reaches the level of Vin Scully.
Darn, there is something about listening to baseball that is soothing, fun and a throw back. Why would I remember Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese and the NBC game of the week.
Speaking of the "best" baseball announcing, it is pretty tough to top Joe Buck and the Gibson HR off Eck in 1988. "I can't believe what I just saw" not referring to Tommy waddling from the dugout.

I think it is hard not to be a homer on this topic. Even among my favorite team's history of broadcasters, I have my favorites. Sean McDonogh replaced Ned Martin as the Red Sox broadcaster in the early 90's, and McDonough has always been my gold standard for TV broadcasters. There is just something about his voice. McDonough now does a variety of sports for ESPN. Closely behind McDonogh and gaining fast is Don Orsillo who does a great job with Jerry Remy on NESN (for the Red Sox). Orsillo teams up with Buck Martinez to do AL playoff games for ESPN. Besides my obvious homer picks, I really like Gary Thorne and JIm Palmer (Orioles). What they all have in common is that they are not intrusive, and it is (at times) difficult to determine who they are broadcasting for. THey keep it on an even keel which is what I like in my baseball broadcasts.

It is far easier to dislike baseball TV announcers than to really figure out what it is you really like about them.

As far as radio broadcasts, Joe Castiglione is the absolute best in the business.

Another Cleveland plug fenway but I believe Joe Castiglione is from here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGxlDKdEVIk

Here is a youtube montage of post-season calls with some great calls like Russ Hodges the Giants win the pennent, Buck's Go Crazy, and Buck's call of Kirk Gibson's home run. Scully also called that infamous homerun. I challenge people to listen to both versions and see who you like better. In fact, most of these announcers can be found on youtube, why don't people start posting little youtube clips so we can all listen to them?

I was told Scully grew up idolizing and emulating Red Barber. So if you like Scully, you probably like Red Barber without even knowing it.

None of these discussions can leave out the great Ernie Harwell - a southern gentlemen who called the Detroit Tigers games for years and years.

CD,

We're going to have to share Joe. He grew up in New England but got his first professional job in Cleveland. There is just something about his broadcasts. I'll be listening to him this week, as I'll be "off the grid" with only my AM radio.

Joe Castiglione Wiki Profile

quote:

Originally posted by fenwaysouth:
CD,

We're going to have to share Joe. He grew up in New England but got his first professional job in Cleveland. There is just something about his broadcasts. I'll be listening to him this week, as I'll be "off the grid" with only my AM radio.

Joe Castiglione Wiki Profile

I knew I should have done my homework before posting that No need to share

We have a great one here named Tom Hamilton. He's one of the best I've ever heard but I doubt most people have heard of him.

Not sure if they were the best, but the most entertaining announcers that I've heard were Harry Cary and Jimmy Pearsal for the White Sox in the 70's.

They were merciless to the players when they made an error and hysterically on the verge of being out of control (Harry to Jimmy: "you're crazy"; Jimmy: "And I've got the papers to prove it.")

Their antics would never ever be allowed in todays game but for a moment in time they captured the Bill Veeck era and were simply unbelieveable.

Vin Scully...hands down the greatest ever. He's up there in years now, and may not be as sharp as he once was. But he's still the ultimate gentleman and you can listen to his broadcast even if you're a fan of the other team, as he's pretty fair.

I also enjoyed the late Jack Buck, he was another great one. I watched/listened to Harry Caray just to see how close some of the comics were when they attempted to impersonate him.

The Giant announcers are good, and yes, they're pretty funny too...but I hate admitting that as a Dodger fan!

The one announcer that bugs the heck out of me is the ANTI-Vin Scully, "The Hawk"-Ken Harrelson (Whitesox). He's absolutely horrible and the ultimate homer! You have to be a Whitesox fan to enjoy him, and even then I don't know how you could handle him?

Vin Scully brings you into his living room, serves up a cold one and tells you stories about his day, our day and the lives of all today's players. I can only imagine what we in So Cal will do when Vinny is gone next year.

CleveDad--
Fellow tribe fan here, who used to listen to Ernie Harwell call Tiger/Indians games hidden under my blanket with a $4.95 AM radio. Still remember ONE magical Andre Thorton homer in the ninth to beat those nasty Cats. Yeah, I'm old.

But Hamilton is just freakin awesome. Here's his best work from this season, just hit previous/next for another example. I picked the Cabrera DP for even the non-Tribe fans to marvel at, one more time.

http://www.facebook.com/video/...?v=10150243495867603

Hamilton has a little Bob Ueker in him too, for those of you...ahem...who arent familiar.

quote:

The one announcer that bugs the heck out of me is the ANTI-Vin Scully, "The Hawk"-Ken Harrelson (Whitesox). He's absolutely horrible and the ultimate homer! You have to be a Whitesox fan to enjoy him, and even then I don't know how you could handle him?

Harrelson is just a grating, awful homer voice in an empty suit...lol. The Indians beating the Pale Hose is twice as good if I get to listen to Harrelson swallow it. And to think, he played for Cleveland.

Having to hear "he GONE" after every strikeout makes my jaw clench just typing it..whew, glad I got that out of my system.

quote:

Originally posted by slotty:
He, teamed up with Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez are amusing, critical when called for, and certainly know their balls and strikes.

Sorry Slotty,
But every time I listen to Ron Darling, I get the impression he is just irritated to be alive. A real whiney Debbie Downer. It's been a while. Maybe he has cheered up a bit??