Major League Baseball on NBC broadcasters

List of announcers by letter

A

*Marv Albert In by|1979, Albert, who was already broadcasting college basketball games for NBC, became the network's pregame baseball host for the series "". When former Yale University president A. Bartlett Giamatti was named president of the National League in by|1986, Albert japed to St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog that there now would be "an opening for you at Yale." Herzog retorted by saying "I don't think that's funny, Marv!"
*Mel Allen (1951-1953; 1955-1958; 1960-1963)
*Sparky Anderson (1979 American League Championship Series)

B

*Red Barber (1948 World Series and 1952 World Series)
*Johnny Bench (1994)
*Len Berman
*Buddy Blattner (1964; 1969)
*Marty Brennaman (1975 World Series and 1976 World Series)
*Jack Brickhouse (1954 World Series, 1959 World Series, and 1951-1953 All-Star Games)
*Jack Buck (1965 All-Star Game)

C

*Ken Coleman and Harry Caray (1967 World Series)
*Bob Costas (1982-1989, 1994-2000)

D

*Bucky Dent
*Leo Durocher

E

*Gene Elston (1968 All-Star Game)
*Dick Enberg (1977-1982)

G

*Joe Garagiola (1961-1964; 1975-1988)
*Gayle Gardner (1989)In by|1989, Gardner became the first female to regularly host Major League Baseball coverage for a television network.
*Curt Gowdy (1966-1975)
*Jim Gray (1995-2000)
*Bryant Gumbel (1976-1981)
*Greg Gumbel (1994-1995)

H

*Merle Harmon (1980-1981)
*Ken Harrelson
*Al Helfer (1955-1958 All-Star Games and 1957 World Series)
*Russ Hodges (1951 World Series, 1954 World Series, and 1962 World Series, 2nd 1959 All-Star Game, and 1st 1961 All-Star Game)

J

*Charlie Jones

K

*Jim Kaat
*George Kell (1962 National League playoff, 2nd 1962 All-Star Game, and 1968 World Series)
*Sandy Koufax (1967-1972)In 1971, Koufax signed a ten-year contract with NBC for $1 million to be a broadcaster on the "Saturday Game of the Week". Koufax never felt comfortable being in front of the camera; he quit before the by|1973 season.
*Tony Kubek (1965-1989)

L

*Barry Larkin (1999 World Series)
*John Lowenstein
*Ron Luciano

M

*Bill Macatee (1982-1989) Macatee joined NBC in 1982, where he hosted and reported on a variety of major events including late-night coverage of Wimbledon and the World Series, as well as the pre-game shows for the League Championship Series, Super Bowl XVII, and college football bowl games.
*Ned Martin and Dick Stockton (1975 World Series)
*Tim McCarver (1980)
*Al Michaels (1972 World Series)
*Jon Miller (1986-1989) Miller would call games for NBC on their occasional doubleheader weeks. If not that, then Miller would appear on Saturday afternoon regionals the day after NBC's occasional prime time telecasts.
*Joe Morgan (1986-1987, 1994-2000)
*Monte Moore (1972-1974 World Series and "Game of the Week" announcer from 1978-1980; 1983)

N

*Lindsey Nelson (1957-1961; 1964, 1971 All-Star Game, 1969 World Series, and 1973 World Series)When NBC got baseball with Lindsey Nelson and Leo Durocher, for a while, the backup team was Chuck Thompson and Bill Veeck.

O

*Bill O'Donnell (1969-1976)
*Keith Olbermann (1997-1998)

P

*Wes Parker (1979 American League Championship Series)
*Van Patrick (1948 World Series)

R

*Pee Wee Reese (1966-1968)
*Phil Rizzuto (1964 World Series and 1976 World Series)
*Jimmy Roberts (2000)
*Ted Robinson (1986-1989)

*Craig Sager (1999 National League Championship Series and 1999 World Series)
*Ray Scott (1960; 1965 World Series)
*Vin Scully (2nd 1959 All-Star Game, 2nd 1962 All-Star Game, 1963 All-Star Game, 1953 World Series, 1955-1956 World Series, 1963 World Series, 1965-1966 World Series, and 1974 World Series; 1983-1989)
*Tom Seaver (postseason telecasts only from 1978-1984 and "Game of the Week" announcer in 1989)
*Mike Shannon
*Jim Simpson (1966-1977)
*Duke Snider (1983 National League Championship Series)
*Hannah Storm (1994-2000)
*Don Sutton (1979 National League Championship Series and pre and post-game analyst for NBC's coverage of the 1987 League Championship Series)

T

*Chuck Thompson (1959-1960; 1966 World Series, and 1970-1971 World Series)

V

*Bill Veeck

W

*Maury Wills (1973-1977)
*Bob Wischusen (2000 American League Division Series)
*Bob Wolff (1962-1965)
*Jim Woods (1957)

Announcers individually

Garagiola and Wolff

In 1961, NBC hired Joe Garagiola to be their Major League Baseball colorman. The following 1962, Bob Wolff began play-by-play. "You work your side of the street [interviewing players] ," said Garagiola to Wolff "and I'll work mine." Wolff liked Garagiola's pizazz as he would say stuff like "The guy stapled him to the bag" or a runner's "smilin' like he swallowed a banana peel."

Curt Gowdy

NBC, replacing CBS traded a circus for a seminar. Pee Wee Reese said cquote|Curt Gowdy was its guy (1966-1975), and didn't want Dizzy Dean - too overpowering. Curt was nice, but worried about mistakes. Diz and I just laughed. Flatstaff Brewery hyped Dean as Gowdy in return said cquote|I said, 'I can't do "Wasbash Cannonball." Our styles clash.-then came Pee Wee Reese. Gowdy added by saying about the pairing between him and Reese cquote|They figured he was fine with me, and they'd still have their boy.

To many, baseball meant CBS' 1955-1964 "Game of the Week" thoroughbred. A year later, NBC bought ABC's variant of a mule so to speak. cquote|We had the Series and All-Star Game. 1966-1968's "Game" meant exclusivity, said NBC Sports head Carl Lindemann. Lindemann added by saying cquote| [Colleague] Chet Simmons and liked him [Gowdy] with the Sox and football-also, getting two network sports for the price of one. As his analyst, Gowdy wanted his friend Ted Williams. NBC's lead sponsor, Chrysler said no when Williams, a Sears spokesman, was pictured putting stuff in a Ford truck.

Before 1966, local announcers exclusively called the World Series. Typically, The Gillette Company, the Commissioner of Baseball, and NBC television would choose the announcers. The announcers represented each of the teams that were in the World Series for the respective year. For the 1966 World Series, Curt Gowdy aired half of each set to while in Los Angeles and Baltimore, Maryland, got Vin Scully and Chuck Thompson, respectively, did the rest. Scully wasn't satisified with the arrangement as he said cquote|What about the road? My fans won't be able to hear me. In Game 1 of the 1966 World Series, Vin Scully called the first 4 1/2 innings. When Curt Gowdy inherited the announcing reigns, Scully was so upset that he refused to say another word.

In April 1966 in New York City, about fifty baseball, network, and ad officials discussed NBC's first year with the "Game of the Week". Ironically, New York couldn't get a primary match-up between the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees with Curt Gowdy and Pee Wee Reese calling the action because of local blackout rules. Instead, New York got a backup game (or "'B' game") featuring Tony Kubek and Jim Simpson calling a game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs.

The end of the Curt Gowdy era

By 1975, Chrysler had become NBC's major baseball sponsor. Joe Garagiola was at that point, under contract with Chrysler and did advertisements for them. Chrysler wanted Garagiola to be NBC's top baseball voice. Thus, they pressured NBC to dislodge Curt Gowdy as the lead play-by-play man.

So starting in 1975, Garagiola and Gowdy alternated as the Saturday "Game of Week" play-by-play announcers with Tony Kubek doing color analysis. Then on weeks in which NBC had "Monday Night Baseball", Gowdy and Garagiola worked together. One would call play-by-play for four and a half innings, the other would handle color analysis. Then in the bottom of the 5th inning, their roles switched.

Ultimately, in November 1975, Chrysler forced NBC to totally remove Curt Gowdy from NBC's top baseball team. Instead, they wanted their spokesman, Joe Garagiola, to call all "A" regular season games, All-Star Games (when NBC had them), the top League Championship Series (when NBC had it), and the World Series (when NBC had it).

Another factor behind Gowdy's dismissal was because of criticism from the national media allegeding that he sided with the Boston Red Sox (a franchise that he had covered prior to his days at NBC) over a controversial play in the 10th inning of Game 3 of the 1975 World Series. Cincinnati Reds pitcher Ed Armbrister reached base on what was ruled an error by Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk on Armbrister's bunt attempt. Gowdy said numerous times that, in his opinion, Armbrister had interfered with Fisk.

Tony Kubek

Tony Kubek initially had trouble adjusting to the world of broadcasting. Although he had a lot to say, he was gangling, he tended to stutter, and talked too fast. Curt Gowdy soon suggested to Kubek that he should work offseason to improve his delivery. Buying a recorder, Kubek often read poetry aloud for 20 minutes a day. In by|1968, Tony Kubek wowed as a World Series field reporter. Pee Wee Reese, who was soon fired by NBC (and replaced by Kubek as the top analyst) said of Kubek cquote|He wormed his way around, but I wasn't bitter. I just think if you don't have anything to say, you should shut your mouth.

Garagiola and Kubek

Joe Garagiola was pushed to the succeed Curt Gowdy, who by 1978 was reduced to being a roving 1978 World Series reporter, as NBC's #1 play-by-play announcer (and team with color commentator Tony Kubek) in by|1976. NBC hoped that Garagiola's charm and unorthodox dwelling on the personal would stop the a decade-long ratings dive for the "Game of the Week". Instead, the ratings bobbed from 6.7 (1977) via 7.5 (1978) to 6.3 (1981-1982). cquote|Saturday had a constituency but it didn't swell said NBC Sports executive producer Scotty Connal. Some believed that millions missed Dizzy Dean while local-team TV split the audience.

Scotty Connal believed that the team of Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek were "A great example of black and white". Connal added by saying cquote|A pitcher throws badly to third, Joe says, 'The third baseman's fault.' Tony: 'The pitcher's'. Media critic Gary Deeb termed theirs "the finest baseball commentary ever carried on network TV."

Merle Harmon

In late 1979, Milwaukee Brewers announcer Merle Harmon left Milwaukee completely in favor of a multi-year pact with NBC. Harmon saw the NBC deal as a perfect opportunity since according to "The Milwaukee Journal" he would make more money, get more exposure, and do less travelling. At NBC, Harmon did "SportsWorld", the backup "Game of the Week", and served as a field reporter for the 1980 World Series. Harmon most of all, had hoped to cover the American boycotted 1980 Summer Olympics from Moscow. After NBC pulled out of their scheduled coverage of the 1980 Summer Olympics, Harmon considered it to being "A great letdown." To add insult to injury, NBC fired Harmon in 1982 in favor of Bob Costas. Ironically, long time NBC "Game of the Week" announcer Curt Gowdy replaced Harmon, who was working with ABC a year earlier.

Dick Enberg

According to his autobiography, "Oh My", Dick Enberg (then the lead play-by-play voice for "The NFL on NBC") was informed by NBC that he would become the lead play-by-play voice of "Major League Baseball Game of the Week" beginning with the 1982 World Series (where he shared the play-by-play duties with Joe Garagiola alongisde analyst Tony Kubek) and through subsequent regular seasons.

He wrote that on his football trips, he would read every "Sporting News" to make sure he was current with all the baseball news and notes. Then he met with NBC executives in September 1982, and they informed him that Vin Scully was in negotiations to be their lead baseball play-by-play man (teaming with Joe Garagiola while Tony Kubek would team with Bob Costas) and would begin with the network in the spring of 1983.

Therefore, rather than throw him in randomnly for one World Series, Enberg wrote that he hosted the pregame/postgame shows while the team of Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek did the games. According to the book, Enberg wasn't pleased about the decision (since he loved being the California Angels' radio voice in the 1970s and was eager to return to baseball) but the fact that NBC was bringing in Scully, arguably baseball's best announcer, was understandable. Enberg added that NBC also gave him a significant pay increase as a pseudo-apology for not coming through on the promise to make him the lead baseball play-by-play man.

The Vin Scully era (1983-1989)

By by|1983, Joe Garagiola had stepped aside from the play-by-play duties for Vin Scully while Tony Kubek was paired with Bob Costas on NBC telecasts. The New York Times observed the performance of the team of Scully and Garagiola by saying cquote|The duo of Scully and Garagiola is very good, and often even great, is no longer in dispute. A friend of Garagiola's said "He understood the cash" concerning NBC's 1984-1989 407% Major League Baseball hike. At this point the idea was basically summarized as Vin Scully "being the star" whereas, Joe Garagiola was Pegasus or NBC's junior light.

When NBC inked a $550 million contract for six years in the fall of 1982, a return on the investment so to speak demanded Vin Scully to be their star baseball announcer. Vin Scully reportedly made $2 million a year during his time with NBC in the 1980s. NBC Sports head Thomas Watson said about Scully cquote|He is baseball's best announcer. Why shouldn't he be ours? Dick Enberg, who did the "Game of the Week" the year prior to Vin Scully's hiring mused cquote|No room for me. 'Game' had enough for two teams a week.

The legendary Scully had to wait over 15 years to get his shot at calling the "Game of the Week". Prior to 1983, Scully only announced the 1966 and 1974 World Series for NBC (during the time-frame of NBC having the "Game of the Week") since they both involved Scully's Dodgers. Henry Hecht once wrote cquote|NBC's Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek, and Monte Moore sounded like college radio rejects vs. Scully. Vin Scully earned approximately $2 million per year for his NBC baseball broadcasting duties. Besides calling the Saturday "Game of the Week" for NBC, Scully called three World Series (1984, 1986, and 1988), four National League Championship Series (1983, 1985, 1987, and 1989), and four All-Star Games (1983, 1985, 1987, and 1989). Scully also reworked his Dodgers schedule during this period, as he would only broadcast home games on the radio and road games for television.

Additional notes

*Vin Scully was unable to call Game 2 of the 1989 National League Championship Series (on Wednesday, October 4) because he had come down with laryngitis. Thus, number two play-by-play man Bob Costas filled-in for him. Around the same time, Costas was assigned to call the American League Championship Series between Oakland and Toronto. Game 2 of the NLCS occurred on Thursday, October 5, which was an off day for the ALCS. NBC then decided to fly Costas from Toronto to Chicago to substitute for Scully on Thursday night. Afterwards, Costas flew back to Toronto, where he resumed work on the ALCS the next night.

Costas and Kubek

When Tony Kubek first teamed with Bob Costas in by|1983, Kubek said cquote|I'm not crazy about being assigned to the backup game, but it's no big ego deal. Costas said about working with Kubek cquote|I think my humor loosened Tony, and his knowledge improved me. The team of Costas and Kubek proved to be a formiadable pair. There were even some who preferred the team of Kubek and Costas over the musings of Vin Scully and the asides of Joe Garagiola.

Bob Costas considered the "Game of the Week" his dream job saying cquote|You can put a personal stamp on a baseball broadcast, be a reporter, something of a historian, a storyteller, conversationalist, dispenser of opinion.

Hannah Storm

Prior to Game 3 of the 1995 World Series, Cleveland Indians slugger Albert Belle unleashed a profanity-laced tirade at reporter Hannah Storm of NBC. Storm was waiting in the Indians' dugout for a prearranged interview with Indians leadoff man, Kenny Lofton. Then out of nowhere, Belle came screaming profanities towards Storm. On the same day, Belle snapped at a photographer near the first base line during batting practice. Belle was ultimately fined $50,000 for his behavior towards Storm.

This particular World Series was remembered for baseball television history being made three times--two of them by Hannah Storm. Prior to Game 2, she became the first female sportscaster to host a World Series game, and after Game 6 she would be the first female sportscaster to preside over the presentation of the Commissioner's Trophy to the World Series champions. But she was not the first female sportscaster to cover the World Series. That honor fell to then-ABC Sports reporter Lesley Visser, who served as a field reporter during Game 1, as well as in Games 4 and 5.

Bob Uecker

In 1998, Bob Uecker abruptly left NBC Sports before a chance to call the All-Star Game from Coors Field in Colorado. Uecker underwent a back operation in which four discs were replaced. For the remainder of contract (1998-2000), only Bob Costas and Joe Morgan called the games.

The Jim Gray/Pete Rose interview

In 1999, NBC's field reporter Jim Gray, who had previously covered Major League Baseball for CBS, came under fire for a confrontational interview with banned all-time hit king Pete Rose. Just prior to the start of Game 2 of the World Series, Gray pushed Rose, who was on hand in Atlanta's Turner Field to accept the fan voted honor of being named to MasterCard's "All-Century Team", into admitting to betting on baseball games while as manager of the Cincinnati Reds ten years earlier. After NBC was flooded with tons of viewer complaints, Gray was forced to clarify (much less apologize) his actions to the viewers at home prior to Game 3. Regardless of Gray's sincerity, Game 3 hero Chad Curtis of the New York Yankees boycotted Gray's request for an interview live on camera; Curtis had hit a game winning home run to send the World Series 3-0 in the Yankees' favor. Curtis said to Gray cquote|Because of what happened with Pete, we decided not to say anything. [ [http://www.everwonder.com/david/jimgray/ Anti Jim Gray ] ] [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/1999/postseason/world_series/news/1999/10/28/nbc_gray_ap/ CNN/SI - 1999 MLB World Series ] ]

Despite the heavy criticism he received, Gray offered no apology for his line of questioning toward Rose.

cquote|I stand by it, and I think it was absolutely a proper line of questioning, said Gray.

kip Caray

During NBC's coverage of the 2000 Division Series, regular play-by-play man Bob Costas decided to take a breather after anchoring NBC's prime time coverage of the Summer Olympic Games from Sydney. In Costas' place came Atlanta Braves announcer Skip Caray, who teamed with Joe Morgan before Costas' return for the ALCS.

References

See also

* List of current Major League Baseball announcers