Most knowlegable broadcaster?

[runningshoes]

I'm not going do a poll on this one. Just tell me who the broadcaster is or was, and why you believe what you do.

I'll add a poll later.

[Lin_Kuei_Fighter]

Steve Stone knows alot about the game. Gives great advice. People around the area trust him, and look up to him. He's an analyst on a local radio station, just a knowledgeable analyst.

[flash143817]

Vin Scully

Listen to a broadcast he does and he can tell a personal story about/during almost every single batter. This guy's database of knowledge is just incredible. 50+ years of broadcasting history too.

[The Commissioner]

I'd definitely put Scully up there.

[Los Bravos]

Depends on what you mean by the term. If you mean nuts and bolts knowledge about the game itself, it's hard to top Don Sutton, Tom Grieve and the recently retired Jim Kaat.

[runningshoes]

The whole package.

[rdonahue]

I'd say Scully. Harwell wasn't bad either.

Buck and McCarver are pretty good, too:laugh :rofl:

[KCGHOST]

What, no Joe Morgan supporters??

[Bill Burgess]

Many good broadcasters have passed away. Carey, Buck, etc. Of the remaining ones, Jon Miller (Giants), gives Vin Scully a good run for his money. IMHO.

[AutographCollector]

The whole package.

Those three words describe Vin Scully's announcing abilities to a "T". :baseball:

[LouGehrig]

Ralph Kiner. He was not a good play by play announcer, but he knows more than most and can explain it.

[metsfanbook]

I second the vote for Kiner, if the issue is being knowledgeable. Ron Darling is also extremely knowledgeable about the game. The thing is that we're really losing something as the older generation of sports announcers retires. I like to hear Ralph's stories about baseball in the forties and fifties and most contemporary announcers are simply not able to tell such stories.

[bluezebra]

Not one announcer, commentator, color man, I've ever heard, knows the rules. Especially the definition of a foul tip. Not even Scully with his 50+ years.

Bob

[Dodgerfan1]

Vinnie is the man. The easiest broadcaster to listen to I've ever heard, and I've heard quite a few of them. VERY knowledgable about the game, as well as entertaining stories and anecdotes. Even though I'm a Dodger fan, I like the way he doesn't engage in blatant homerism. Everyone knows he is pulling for the Dodgers, but he doesn't make it very obvious, as some do. I honestly think he is the most knowledgable. Jon Miller is up there, too, but not as high as Vin, IMO.

[Victory Faust]

It's hard to say, since I never got the chance to listen to guys like Waite Hoyt or Red Barber. (Actually, Barber may have been among the least knowledgeable; if I'm not mistaken, Barber wasn't even a baseball fan when he got the Dodger job).

Usually, you listen to "your guys" and develop a prejudice for them. And being a lifelong Detroit boy, I'll have to say it's Mr. Harwell, with Vin Scully right up there.

Both Harwell and Scully go back to the Brooklyn Dodger days. But Harwell has a more diverse background. He's sort of a renaissance man: He's written songs, poems, books, etc. So, by virtue of his being involved in so many different projects -- and by virtue of having grown up listening to Harwell nearly every night of the week -- I'd give Ernie a slight nod.

[Mariano_Rivera]

What, no Joe Morgan supporters??

Him and McCarver are unrivaled

[The Real McCoy]

I grew up with Scully when he started in Brooklyn, but I'll admit he really came into his own in that other place. He's the best radio announcer of the game I've ever heard probably because he learned from the guy who I'd put in second place. I never thought Scully was much of a TV announcer until I heard the Kirk Gibson call (which should be played in every broadcasting school in the country if only as an example of why silence is golden), but radio is his metier.

That said, I'm not sure I put him in the group photo of "knowledgeable announcers" if "knowledgeable" is defined as knowing the game. For that, I like McCarver who really does understand how and why the game is played although his pedantic style is sometimes tough to listen to. A "comer", on the Mets broadcasts, is Keith Hernandez, who has a great understanding of the game but needs to slow down his Guinness record pace of the use of all forms of the first person pronoun.

[RubeBaker]

Him and McCarver are unrivaled

Only in talking out of their asses.

[sturg1dj]

when Ernie Harwell was at his best there were few, if any, that were better

the problem is now they will occasionally have him on and all it is is an Ernie love fest where they just ask him to tell story after story. He doesn't even do the play-by-play.

[Victory Faust]

when Ernie Harwell was at his best there were few, if any, that were better

the problem is now they will occasionally have him on and all it is is an Ernie love fest where they just ask him to tell story after story. He doesn't even do the play-by-play.



Yeah, it can get embarrassing at times. And Ernie is a low-key guy who seems uncomfortable when other announcers go on and on about him.

But a few weeks ago Ernie was a guest on Sunday Night Baseball, and Jon Miller let him do play-by-play for an inning. Ernie was marvelous.

[BoSox Rule]

I don't really know who broadcasts for who, but I'd say Scully is definitely up there. Remy is awesome to listen to as a Red Sox fan though. He knows what he is talking about and is 100% unbiased.

[baseballPAP]

Only in talking out of their asses.

Quote of the year? :nod:

[SixFourThree]

I'm a Giants fan, and the only thing I like about the Dodgers is Russell Martin and Vin Scully. Vin Scully is my favorite announcer, and the only reason I ever watch Dodger highlights on MLB.com is if they are at home, since MLB.com's videos have the home announcer's commentary. He is simply a joy to listen to.

[flash143817]

It's hard to say, since I never got the chance to listen to guys like Waite Hoyt or Red Barber. (Actually, Barber may have been among the least knowledgeable; if I'm not mistaken, Barber wasn't even a baseball fan when he got the Dodger job).

Usually, you listen to "your guys" and develop a prejudice for them. And being a lifelong Detroit boy, I'll have to say it's Mr. Harwell, with Vin Scully right up there.

Both Harwell and Scully go back to the Brooklyn Dodger days. But Harwell has a more diverse background. He's sort of a renaissance man: He's written songs, poems, books, etc. So, by virtue of his being involved in so many different projects -- and by virtue of having grown up listening to Harwell nearly every night of the week -- I'd give Ernie a slight nod.


When regarding well-roundedness, don't forget that Scully has broadcasted more than just baseball. He is an all-around sports broadcaster. I know he has done golf often in the past and he was the NFL's broadcaster for awhile as well. If you are familiar with NFL history and "The Catch" then listen to that clip and you will hear that it was Scully doing that game. Before Al Michaels he was a main NFL guy for awhile. I'm not sure if he's ever done basketball in the past but he has golf and football on his resume.

[Bill Burgess]

In one of my endless collected databases, here is my roster of some of the more prominent sports announcers. I apologize for the chaotic appearance. In the actual database, it's all lined up nicely, with the yrs. of work with their various teams that they called them for.




Sports Announcers Born Born-Died Died Age
Clem McCarthy Sept. 9 1882-1962 Jun.4 79
Thomas Graham McNamee Jul. 10 1888-1942 My. 9 53
Harry Edwin Heilmann Aug.3 1894-1951 Jul.9 56
Timothy J. (Ted) Canty Jun. 21 1895-1973 My. 5 77
Frank Fallon Mar.20 1896-1973 Nov.29 77
Arch Linn McDonald My. 23 1901-1960 Oct.16 59
Edward Britt (Ted) Husing Nov. 27 1901-1962 Aug. 10 60
Robert (Bob) Elson Mar.22 1904-1981 Mar.10 76
Eli (Buck) Canal Mar.4 1906-1980 Apr.7 74
William Stern Jul. 1 1907-1971 Nov. 19 64
Walter (Red) Barber ? Feb. 17 1908-1992 Oct. 22 84
James R. (Jimmy) Dudley Sept.27 1909-1999 Feb.12 89
Russell Hodges Jun.18 1910-1971 Apr.19 60
Melvin Allen (Israel) J Feb. 14 1913-1996 Jun. 16 83
Robert F. (Bob) Ingham Jul.29 1913-1973 Nov.6 60
Harry Christopher Caray Mar. 1 1914-1998 Feb. 18 77
Byrum F. (By) Saam Sept.11 1914-2000 Jan.16 85
William W. Brundige Feb.2 1915-2004 Apr.23 89
Mark Scott Feb.21 1915-1960 Jul.13 45
Irwin Elliot My. 7 1915-1998 Sept.17 83
John Beasley (Jack) Brickhouse Jan. 24 1916-1998 Aug. 6 82
Robert (Bob) Prince Jul.1 1916-1985 Jun.10 68
Van Patrick Aug. 15 1916-1974 Sept.29 58
Francis Doyle (Chick) Hearn Nov.27 1916-2002 Aug.5 85
Martin Irving (Marty) Glickman Aug.14 1917-2001 Jan.4 83
Philip Francis (Scooter) Rizzuto Sept.25 1917-
Ernie Harwell Jan.25 1918-SA03
Howard William Cosell J Mar.25 1918-1995 Apr. 23 77
Lindsey Nelson My. 25 1919-1995 Jun. 15 76
Ray Scott Jun. 17 1919-1998 Mar. 23 78
Curtis (Curt) Gowdy Jul. 31 1919-2006 Feb.20 86
John F. MacLean Mar. 9 1921-1973 Sept.12 52
Harry Jones Jun. 6 1921-1983 Aug. 10 62
Gordon Barton McLendon Jun. 8 1921-1986 Sept.14 65
Chuck Thompson Jun.10 1921-2005 Mar.6 83
James Kenneth McManus(Jim McKay) Sept.24 1921-SA02
Ralph McPherran Kiner Oct.27
Robert (Bob) Wolff Feb.14 1923-SA03
Herb Carneal My.10 1923-SA02
Lonnie Alexander Simmons Jul.19 1923-
Edwin (Ned) Martin Aug.9 1923-2002 Jul.23 85
John Francis (Jack) Buck Aug. 21 1924-2002 Jun.18 77
Gerald Francis (Jerry) Coleman Sept.14 1924-
Bob Murphy Sept.19 1924-2004 Aug.3 79
Joseph Henry (Joe) Garagiola Feb.12 1926-SA02
Bill O'Donnell Jun.4 1926-1982 Oct.29 56
Rafael "Felo" Ramirez Arias, 74, Feb.20 1927-SA01
William (Bill) King (27)-2005 Oct.18 78
Milo Hamilton Sept.2 1927-
Vincent Edward (Vin) Scully Nov. 29 1927-SA02
Joseph Henry Nuxhall Jul.30 1928-
Frank Gifford Aug. 16 1930-SA01
George Allen (Pat) Summerall My. 10 1931-SA02
Bill Enis Jan. 24 1934-1973 Dec. 14 39
Richard J. (Dick) Schaap Sept.27 1934-2001 Dec.21 67
Richard Alan (Dick) Enberg ? Jan. 9 1935-SA02
Robert George (Bob) Uecker Jan.26 1935-
Jaime A. Jarrin Dec.10 1935-SA02
Harry N. Kalas Mar.26 1936-
Joseph Donald (Don) Meredith Apr. 12 1938-SA02
Thomas Cheek Jun.13 1939-
Thomas Michael (Mike) Shannon Jul.5 1939-
Jacques Doucet Mar.8 1940-
F. Marty Brennnaman Jul.28 1942-
Dennis G. (Denny) Mathews Nov.14 1942-
Jon Miller Oct.11 1951-SA05
Tris Speaker


In order to view this database, here is a way.

If one wishes to view the files below, but doesn't have Microsoft's Office installed on their hard drive, they will probably not be able to open the following Excel spreadsheet files. So, one may have to go to the following website to correct this situation.

If one goes to this site, you can then download a program for free, Excel Viewer 2003, which will allow one to then open and view Excel files ever after. Here it is. Then, for the very first time, others can see my work. (Microsoft Office would have taken 191 MB of space on one's hard drive, while Excel Viewer 2003 takes 30.96 MB of space.)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c8378bf4-996c-4569-b547-75edbd03aaf0&displaylang=EN
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Links to Bill Burgess' work:

http://baseballguru.com/bburgess/analysisbburgess19.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[HDH]

My favorite TV broadcaster was Yogi Berra's childhood friend and fellow catcher, Joe Garigiola. He seemed to know the game's finer points and explained them better than others.

[Stray Cat]

My favorite TV broadcaster was Yogi Berra's childhood friend and fellow catcher, Joe Garigiola. He seemed to know the game's finer points and explained them better than others.

Joe and Tony Kubek when they did the Saturday game of the week, and Curt Gowdy. I can't decide if former players or managers are better. I don't like Joe Morgan, when he and Jon Miller are doing a game they tend to stray from the action.:( Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow, Giants, know a lot but they show a lot of fan cams and I watch the game for the game.:crazy
Ray Fosse and Bill King with the A's :highfive:
Today I like Orel Hershiser. :clapping

[philipthegreat]

although I'm not being original in saying this i would argue for vin scully.

[downstairs]

Another vote here for Steve Stone.

And here's hoping he starts working for my Chicago White Sox next year, as a rumor has it...

[downstairs]

although I'm not being original in saying this i would argue for vin scully.

I know I'll get ripped a new one here... but I actually don't like Vin any more. I used to decades ago, but I think he's slipped a bit and is getting tired.

No disrespect to his legacy. He was the best.

And, in no way am I saying the current crop of "back, back, back, back, back" idiots are anywhere near close to listenable.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

I'll throw in a vote for Tom Cheek. He was great to listen to, and is very similar to Scully in the way he used to call a game, IMO.

[philipthegreat]

Very similar but not as good as Scully.

[Dodgerfan1]

Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow, Giants, know a lot but they show a lot of fan cams and I watch the game for the game.:crazy

I almost said the exact same thing when I posted before. I don't care for all the shots of the fans and Kuiper and Krukow going on about what's happening in the stands. I guess some people do, but it just detracts from the game to me. They'll show someone in the stands and make some comments, then switch back to the next pitch, then go back to the fan, etc. It's not real annoying when they do it once, but they seem to do it several times a game with different fans and it's distracting. Maybe I have ADD or something, but I'd rather they stay on the game. Otherwise, I like that broadcasting team just fine.

[brett]

What, no Joe Morgan supporters??

I don't know why but I find it painful to listen to Joe.

[Stray Cat]

I don't know why but I find it painful to listen to Joe.

Because he is condescending.
We the fans know nothing, he the hall of famer knows everything.
I don't need everything explained to me. Give the fans some credit.:blah:

[mordeci]

I like Morgan, don't like McCarver at all.

Since others are throwing in their local guy I'll mention Marty Brennaman. He's been here for 30 years and isn't afraid to criticize anyone. His standard line when a player, even Griffey Jr., confronts him about the criticism - "I was here before you and I'll be here when you're gone".

That being said, there's only one Vin Scully (as a kid I thought his name was Vince Gully). He's the best by a wide margin.