I consider myself very fortunate. Most of my professional baseball knowledge was acquired over the radio in the first fifteen years. Richie Ashburn, a broadcaster from the Philadelphia Phillies, was my mentor.
I have had the pleasure of hearing the voices and stories of Harry Caray (Vin Scully), Jack Buck, Bob Uecker, and Jack Buck. Thanks to satellite radio, I was able recently to receive every major league broadcast via my XM radio.
What are the greatest radio broadcasters doing better than anyone else? These are the things that make them stand out from the crowd and I want to share them with all of you.
A. A.
“The pitch is to Gonzalez downstairs for a ball.” This statement is repeated continuously throughout a nine-inning game of baseball. While it may seem innocent enough, it’s the next sentence that can make all the difference.
The best broadcasters often fill this time without saying anything. This is an important element of their success. They realize that they do not need to be constantly talking about their stats or personal opinions. Instead, they let the listener hear the crowd, see the scene, and anticipate the next pitch 국내축구중계.
B. B.
“We’re at the bottom of the fifth, with one out. The Cubs are leading the Phillies by 5-3. This is a great sentence for Cubs and Phillies fans who just started to turn on the radio. It allows you to immediately get up to speed on the game.
I distinctly remember hearing a broadcaster a few years ago say that he used to keep an hourglass next to him in his booth. What was the point of this practice? Because every time the hourglass filled up, it reminded him to update his listeners about the inning or the score.
I’ve heard more than my fair share baseball games that the announcers spent their time telling stories rather than talking about the game. It’s frustrating to hear about people’s lives, old stories and birthday celebrations while you are just trying to listen to the game.
C. They love and support their teams without being too dramatic
“Longggggggg Drive Deep Left Field, Outta Here Homerun Mike Schmidt”, “Oh Brother”, and “Harry, what just happened?”
These are some of the most memorable phrases I remember from my childhood. These phrases were given to Harry and Richie by Richie and I will never forget them. It is amazing to me how important these phrases were to me if they had been broadcast every day.
Richie, Harry, and others saved the most dramatic moments for the right moment. They were familiar enough with the game to be able to identify when it was important and to give an emotional response. This sense is not shared by all sports announcers. Just listen to Brent Musburger, either on radio or TV, and you’ll see what I mean.
They love their teams. Their emotions can be heard in their voices, both when things go well and when things go south. However, their emotions don’t compromise the integrity of the broadcast. They are actually more beloved by the local fan, who anticipates that dramatic ninth inning strikeout call to let them know that their team has won.