Andre Dawson, Whitey Herzog and Doug Harvey are the newest members of the
Hall of Fame, with Jon Miller winning the Ford C. Frick Award and Bill Madden the Taylor Spink Award. The Sports Virus, Joe Castellano and the Doctor, Michael Duca discuss what criteria you should use when doing your own Hall of Fame voting.
ALSO AVAILABLE ON ITUNES: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/thesportsvirus/id382724152
ShareTags: Andre Dawson, Bill Madden, Doug Harvey, Hall of Fame, Jon Miller, Whitey Herzog
When it comes to baseball play-by-play, Jon Miller is a 5-tool announcer.
He has that amazing voice, he knows how to build drama, he has a great personality with a perpetual sense of humor, he paints the overall picture perfectly while describing the action on the field and he is well prepared. He makes you want to listen even if it’s a blowout, the true test for a baseball broadcaster. Congratulations Jon Miller on being the 2010 Ford Frick Award winner. Well deserved.
I’ve lived in San Francisco the last eight years and been spoiled by getting to listen to Jon almost every day in the summer on the radio doing the Giants broadcasts. And, of course his ESPN work is terrific as well. It was a real treat interviewing him just after he got the Call from The Hall. I’ll never forget the first time I met Jon on the field at AT&T Park. He saw my XM microphone flag and knew my name since he listened to my talk show from time to time on his drive home. I was flattered.
My two favorite calls by Miller:
-His description of former Giant Ruben Rivera’s horrible baserunning, which he called the worst in the history of the game.
-The game-winning hit by Kenny Lofton in the bottom of the 9th of game 5 of the 2002 NLCS as the Giants beat the Cardinals to reach the World Series for the first time since 1989. I loved the way he pronounced the Cardinals dead! Spontaneous and original.
Now the question is, who is the next deserving Hall of Fame announcer? I’m thinking of the current broadcasters and there are several that come to mind. Gary Cohen (Mets), Pat Hughes (Cubs) and John Rooney (Cardinals) are at the top of my list. They have everything you look for in a great baseball announcer. Cohen is one of the smartest people I’ve ever been around. Hughes makes me laugh every time I listen to him and Ron Santo. Rooney has a great presence. I enjoy their passion, they are never boring and their credibility never wavers. When it’s time to criticize players on the team they cover they are not afraid. Nor do they shy away from raising their level of enthusiasm for an outstanding play by the opposing team. I hope to see them as Ford Frick winners in the near future.
Listen to Podcast with Jon Miller
ALSO AVAILABLE ON ITUNES: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/thesportsvirus/id382724152
ShareTags: Hall of Fame, Jon Miller, Major League Baseball Announcers
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