Tony Kubek is your 2009 Frick Winner

[SteveJRogers]

http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081209&content_id=10467&vkey=hof_news

:applaud::applaud:

Anyone know when the Spink and O'Neill awards get announced?

[Cougar]

Excellent choice. A seminal figure in sports broadcasting in his long service on the Game of the Week, and a pretty fine shortstop too.

It's shaping up to be a good year for Yankees.

[Tampa Bay Giants]

Maybe now that Kubek has been given the Frick Award ( congrats ) as a color man, this will open the door for Joe Nuxhall to be elected ( where he should have been last year ).

[Nathan M. Corzine]

If your goal is to honor an analyst/color man, Kubek is the obvious and right choice, I think. He was, in the latter stages of his career, a truly world-class analyst (early in his career he was a classic jock-in-the-booth) and a straight-shooting act on the national stage.

I think there are probably more deserving broadcasters, even if they are ones who didn't get onto that national stage. And I hope that bestowing the award on Kubek is not a specific precursor to honoring other big time "analysts" (I'm looking at you, Tim, and you, Joe.)

Taking nothing away from Kubek and his accomplishments, if you wanted to honor a Blue Jays broadcaster, the late Tom Cheek is still waiting for his deserved posthumous honor. So too the late Bay Area legend Bill King, who was a Hall of Fame caliber play-by-play man in all three major American sports. If it is seminal influences you are looking for - and yes, Kubek did help define the role of analyst - then Graham McNamee and Dizzy Dean (arguably more deserving as a broadcaster than as a player) are still waiting in the wings. Dean certainly did more than anyone to popularize baseball on television and transcended the game to become a cultural phenomenon. This is to say nothing of guys like Ken Coleman who have strong cases but who are, with every passing year, sort of getting lost in local memory.

Ultimately, I don't think Kubek's honor will do much for the cause of local broadcast "color" men. It will do more to, as I repeat myself, set the table for Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan than it will to push the candidacy of a Joe Nuxhall. And Joe, to me at least, was more of a co-play-by-play partner than an "analyst".

All of that said, at least Kubek is alive. I sometimes wonder if they don't go out of their way to find living honorees in order to "enliven" the proceedings rather than have a relative or official handle a posthumous award.

[gman5431]

Maybe now that Kubek has been given the Frick Award ( congrats ) as a color man, this will open the door for Joe Nuxhall to be elected ( where he should have been last year ).

My Man! Thanks! I think this will pave the way for Nuxie to be enshrined down the road. And as mentioned he was a co-play by play guy so this is just another feather in his cap. One day, one day....

G Rizzle

[KCGHOST]

This is a joke, right?? Kubek was simply awful. He just never shut up. Who do you think Tim McCarver most resembles as a color guy?? And Kubek's selection simply opens the door for McCarver.

[Michael Green]

The first job I ever remember wanting as a kid was Dodger broadcaster, and so I have paid a lot of attention over the years to announcers. I also learned something about myself. Listening to the Dodgers, I thought Jerry Doggett was incompetent because Vin was so great. I didn't appreciate Jerry until Ross Porter came aboard. Then Jerry retired, and Don Drysdale made me appreciate Ross. Don died, and Rick Monday has made me appreciate the rest of the broadcasting profession.

All of which is a precursor to saying that I didn't think that much of Kubek until two things happened. One, NBC teamed him with Bob Costas, giving him a true pro as a play-by-play man (no offense to Joe Garagiola, who I thought was ok on pbp but better as an analyst, and allowing that Costas had not yet become the center of the universe, at least in his own mind). Two, the more I heard of McCarver and Morgan, the better I thought Kubek was.

Now to the other point. I think McCarver has devolved into a parody of an analyst. He was terrific when he started out. But he has been at it now for nearly 30 years, more than 20 of them as the main TV analyst for baseball. Sad to say, he probably belongs in the Hall of Fame. And I'm sure when his day comes, his speech will be incredibly long, redundant, and self-centered.

[Nathan M. Corzine]

Now to the other point. I think McCarver has devolved into a parody of an analyst. He was terrific when he started out. But he has been at it now for nearly 30 years, more than 20 of them as the main TV analyst for baseball. Sad to say, he probably belongs in the Hall of Fame. And I'm sure when his day comes, his speech will be incredibly long, redundant, and self-centered.

I think this is what makes Tim McCarver such a "tragic" figure as an analyst. Once upon a time he was really outstanding. That he has become a parody - has been one for a long time - is truly unfortunate because there is, or was, a brilliant analyst underneath the ego and the inanity.

As for the Dodgers, everyone pales in comparison to the legendary Mr. Scully. That said, I always really liked Ross Porter and have really missed him on their broadcasts since he was unceremoniously cast aside several years ago. The work of Monday and Steiner only serves to make that appreciation of Porter grow stronger.

Speaking of appreciation via comparison, somewhere around here I have a copy of Porter and Win Elliott (Win Elliott?!) broadcasting Mr. Jackson's October '77 date with destiny. Elliott's "analysis" (he was an NBC fight guy and game show/quiz show host from the 1950s) would certainly convince me that Tony Kubek is a world-class Hall of Fame color guy. So, too, Joe Nuxhall. And Tim McCarver. Even Mike Shannon (who will never dazzle anyone with his talents, but who holds a special place in this Cardinal fan's heart.)

Joe Morgan, on the other hand, is still unredeemed.

[jb3]

I think what is understated here is how during the era of one or two games on television per week was the impact that someone like Tony Kubek had on a generation of baseball fans in Canada.

When he arrived with the Jays in 1977, I was three and my earliest memories of the Jays were watching them on Sunday afternoons in the early 80s (around 82 and my first game was 83) when Tony Kubek and Don Chevrier were telling me about the Jays - It was Kubek who taugh me a lot about the ins and outs of the game and for that, I am very pleased that he has been elected to the Hall of Fame.

That said, I am disappointed that Tom Cheek is still not in the Hall. I also think that Dave Van Horne should also be there for his 30+ years of work with the Expos. If Chevy and Tony were the guys who taught me about baseball, Van Horne taught me to appreciate the NL and the nuances of the game.

As a baseball fan, not just a Jays fan, I can say that I think that the selection committee got this one right.

And as for Tom, it will eventually happen - As Tony said in an interview, he's sad that he wont be there with his friend when he eventually goes in. It was reported today that Tony actually called the Commissioner's Office prior to the passing of Tom Cheek to see if there was a way to get him honoured by the Hall and MLB prior to him passing. That says alot about his character.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I think what is understated here is how during the era of one or two games on television per week was the impact that someone like Tony Kubek had on a generation of baseball fans in Canada.

When he arrived with the Jays in 1977, I was three and my earliest memories of the Jays were watching them on Sunday afternoons in the early 80s (around 82 and my first game was 83) when Tony Kubek and Don Chevrier were telling me about the Jays - It was Kubek who taugh me a lot about the ins and outs of the game and for that, I am very pleased that he has been elected to the Hall of Fame.

That said, I am disappointed that Tom Cheek is still not in the Hall. I also think that Dave Van Horne should also be there for his 30+ years of work with the Expos. If Chevy and Tony were the guys who taught me about baseball, Van Horne taught me to appreciate the NL and the nuances of the game.

As a baseball fan, not just a Jays fan, I can say that I think that the selection committee got this one right.

And as for Tom, it will eventually happen - As Tony said in an interview, he's sad that he wont be there with his friend when he eventually goes in. It was reported today that Tony actually called the Commissioner's Office prior to the passing of Tom Cheek to see if there was a way to get him honoured by the Hall and MLB prior to him passing. That says alot about his character.

What are your impressions of Jacques Doucet, who has his share of supporters here?

Cheek is at the top of my list. He should make it very soon.

I liked Nuxhall, but there are better broadcasters still waiting, play-by-play and color. There are a lot of guys who are loved where they did their broadcasting as much as Hamilton Joe. That can only be worth so much for this ultimate award.

[Michael Green]

I'd like to echo Brother Corzine in his praise for Ross Porter. Ross could have been #1 anywhere else, in my opinion.

I listened to that World Series broadcast with Ross Porter and, yes, Win Elliot, who by then was doing sports news updates for CBS Radio. Porter was almost literally a public address announcer while Elliott just chattered away. CBS used Porter and Bill White of the Yankees from the participating teams in 1977 and 1978 with Elliot. In 1979, Elliott went to the pre- and post-game, and the announcers were Scully and Sparky Anderson, who were a fun crew, since Vin was Vin, and Sparky yielded the floor but was knowledgeable and never met an infinitive he couldn't split.

As to the Frick Award, I have not heard much of the other nominees mentioned and know very well that is my loss. I think Bill King deserves the call, though, and I would be inclined to support professional, lead announcers and/or top analysts over #2 announcers--which, with all due respect, is what Nuxhall was during his Reds career.

I have been surprised that neither Ned Martin nor Jim Woods has attracted much notice. Woods was the all-time #2 announcer and while Martin wasn't the lead Red Sox announcer for much of his career, he was their most prominent announcer for a lot of his career.

[Los Bravos]

This is a joke, right?? Kubek was simply awful. He just never shut up. Who do you think Tim McCarver most resembles as a color guy?? And Kubek's selection simply opens the door for McCarver.
:applaud:

This is just beyond appalling, especially with the likes of Tom Cheek, Bill King and Skip Caray on the outside looking in.

I've written it here before, but it bears repeating: Kubek very nearly killed my burgeoning interest in the game with his torturous GOTW broadcasts with the similarly useless Garagiola. Between his grating voice, glass grinding excuse for a laugh and his slavish and utterly incessant kissing up to everyone he perceived as an authority figure in the game, (he'll likely stop at Kuhn's ill-gotten plaque and genuflect before inflicting his speech on us), he's about as bad a choice as possible.

Milo Hamilton is no longer the worst Frick Award winner. Adjust your lists accordingly.

[Tampa Bay Giants]

As to the Frick Award, I have not heard much of the other nominees mentioned and know very well that is my loss. I think Bill King deserves the call, though, and I would be inclined to support professional, lead announcers and/or top analysts over #2 announcers--which, with all due respect, is what Nuxhall was during his Reds career.

With all due respect, Nuxhall might have been #2 announcer up until 1974, but then it became Marty AND Joe, not Marty Brenneman with Joe Nuxhall.

[Michael Green]

No disrespect meant to Nuxie. I meant that he was not the main play-by-play man; Marty Brennaman did the most innings. I know they were on the air together and Nuxie was--and is--a beloved figure for Reds fans.

[hartman74]

The only active broadcaster with career longevity not in the Hall of Fame is
Dave Van Horne.
He has 41 seasons; 32 with Montreal Expos and 9 with Florida Marlins

[jb3]

What are your impressions of Jacques Doucet, who has his share of supporters here?

Cheek is at the top of my list. He should make it very soon.

I liked Nuxhall, but there are better broadcasters still waiting, play-by-play and color. There are a lot of guys who are loved where they did their broadcasting as much as Hamilton Joe. That can only be worth so much for this ultimate award.
Jacques Doucet would be a fine addition to the Hall, but to be honest with you, if Tom and DVH don't get in, Jacques wont - despite the fact that he is still involved in baseball broadcasting with the Capitales de Québec on Corus Radio Québec.

Tom had that remarkable streak and two world series calls for the Jays - and he called all of the All-Star Games, LCSs and World Series for Telemedia up until 95 when Headline Sports took over. Jacques did the same from Radio-Mutuel in Québec, since it was the same company (Télémédia Inc.).

We all have our favourite broadcasters and that's what hurts so much in this discussion, because I really think that the three mainstays of Canadian baseball broadcasting should go in together - don't forget that they all, at one time, at the same time, called Expos games.

[bambambaseball]

Excellent. He deserves it! :clapping