I’m going with…..
Vin Scully
John Madden
Keith
Bob Costes
what chu got????
Vin Scully
John Madden
Keith
Bob Costes
what chu got????
My Mount Rushmore of sports announcers.
- Thread starter HillcrestHawk
- Start date
Radio:
Vin Scully
Harry Carey/Jack Buck ( as Cardinals )
Ray Scott
Wayne Larrivee
TV:
Dizzy Dean/Pee Wee Reese
Madden/Summerall
Marv Alberts
Jim Nantz/Bob Costas
Vin Scully
Harry Carey/Jack Buck ( as Cardinals )
Ray Scott
Wayne Larrivee
TV:
Dizzy Dean/Pee Wee Reese
Madden/Summerall
Marv Alberts
Jim Nantz/Bob Costas
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I’ll take 2 shots here one list for who I think is the best and a second for who I think is most iconic - and for purposes of this, I’m going to limit it to guys who were national, worked in multiple major markets or were on national cable platforms for years. Guys like Ernie Harwell and Harry Kalas were amazing, but didn’t get as much broad exposure.
Best
Vin Scully
Keith Jackson
Pat Summerall
Jim Nantz
Most Iconic
John Madden
Harry Caray
Howard Cosell
Mel Allen
Best
Vin Scully
Keith Jackson
Pat Summerall
Jim Nantz
Most Iconic
John Madden
Harry Caray
Howard Cosell
Mel Allen
Douglas C. Neidermeyer
HB Legend
IMHO, LA really cornered the market on legendary sports announcers:
Vin Scully - Dodgers
Chick Hearn - Lakers
Bob Miller - LA Kings
Vin Scully - Dodgers
Chick Hearn - Lakers
Bob Miller - LA Kings
Yep, Chick Hearn has to be mentioned in the discussion.
Vin Scully
Keith Jackson
Doc Emrick
Bob Uecker
Keith Jackson
Doc Emrick
Bob Uecker
Douglas C. Neidermeyer
HB Legend
Forgot to mention that Bob Miller is a 1960 Iowa alumnus.
actually met him at an alumni function, back in the day
(yep…CSB)
Gary Dolphin, Ed Podolak, Beth Mowins, The guy that filled in for Gary Dolphin when he was suspended.
Beth Mowins, the guy that filled in for Gary Dolphin while he was suspended, Ed Podolak, Gary Dolphin.
@millah_22 had the right names, just not in the right order.
@millah_22 had the right names, just not in the right order.
You almost have to break this down by sport. It isn't really fair to compare baseball announcers that have to mostly fill in air time with basketball announcers that have to do constant play by play.
Another name that I haven't seen mentioned is Al Michaels who was maybe not elite at any one thing but was pretty darn good across a bunch of sports.
Another name that I haven't seen mentioned is Al Michaels who was maybe not elite at any one thing but was pretty darn good across a bunch of sports.
There are a ton of them...depends where your interests are..
Scully,
Harry Carry
Johnny Most
Red Barber
The old Yankee shortstop...
Brent Mussburger
Whoa Nelly!
I could go on and on, I think...
Scully,
Harry Carry
Johnny Most
Red Barber
The old Yankee shortstop...
Brent Mussburger
Whoa Nelly!
I could go on and on, I think...
Cosell at an event meant it was BIG TIME. For me, the rest are shooting for second place.
Did you know that guys is still calling play by play for the Brewers?
The guy that described the northern illinois punters hands as supple, then said "that was kinda gay," then got fired...
Were you tuned in to the afternoon game against the Twins last week when Ueck told the story of announcing an exhibition game while catching? The pitcher was pissed about it & would only throw fastballs down the middle. The inning ended with a collision at home bc Cecil Cooper didn't cut a throw. That transitioned to talking about Candlestick park, which transitioned to talking about the minor league park in Sacramento. He was calling maybe every fourth pitch of the game he was supposed to be announcing. It was awesome.
What, no love for Dick Enberg?
For that matter, sidekick Merlin Olsen too? Oh, that's right! They were the clerical officiants of the '82 and '86 Rose Bowl.
Still, what a great team they were.
For that matter, sidekick Merlin Olsen too? Oh, that's right! They were the clerical officiants of the '82 and '86 Rose Bowl.
Still, what a great team they were.
He was originally on my list, but I pulled him for Summerall. You’re right, he was excellent at everything for decades.
Vin
Keith Jackson
Pat/John (they have to be on together, so put 5 on if you must)
Mel Allen
This Week in Baseball (Allen) followed by Game of the Week (Vin) was summers when I was a kid. Both iconic. Keith was the voice of college football and Pat and John the voices of the NFL (moreso, to me, than Cosell). There is no one I'd pick in any of those to listen to more than them.
And Vin was the best of them all. His voice, his style, his stories, his timing, the dude was the best announcer ever.
Keith Jackson
Pat/John (they have to be on together, so put 5 on if you must)
Mel Allen
This Week in Baseball (Allen) followed by Game of the Week (Vin) was summers when I was a kid. Both iconic. Keith was the voice of college football and Pat and John the voices of the NFL (moreso, to me, than Cosell). There is no one I'd pick in any of those to listen to more than them.
And Vin was the best of them all. His voice, his style, his stories, his timing, the dude was the best announcer ever.
Slightly off topic...
One of the few things I will absolutely say was better in "the good old days" was announcing. The old school announcers, the guys who came up in the 40s-60s, were the best (for the most part). They grew up listening to the early announcers and learned how to paint a picture, how to describe the game, by listening to the early ones. And they perfected it.
Guys like Buck, Allen, Scully, Caray, Hearn, Jackson, Harwell, Brickhouse, etc... were great because they knew most of their listeners weren't going to "see" the games. They had to learn to make the fans a part of it.
My grandma was a (nearly) lifelong Cubs fan. She got that way listening on the radio. She could describe Wrigley, almost perfectly, and she didn't see even a picture of it until she was in her 50s and never attended a game there. She got that because of guys like Bob Elson, Russ Hodges, Brickhouse, Boudreau, Bert Wilson, etc.
That old generation of announcers can't be touched by the newer guys because the newer guys came up with different "requirements" than the old guys. They didn't just call the game, they made it real, like you were there real.
One of the few things I will absolutely say was better in "the good old days" was announcing. The old school announcers, the guys who came up in the 40s-60s, were the best (for the most part). They grew up listening to the early announcers and learned how to paint a picture, how to describe the game, by listening to the early ones. And they perfected it.
Guys like Buck, Allen, Scully, Caray, Hearn, Jackson, Harwell, Brickhouse, etc... were great because they knew most of their listeners weren't going to "see" the games. They had to learn to make the fans a part of it.
My grandma was a (nearly) lifelong Cubs fan. She got that way listening on the radio. She could describe Wrigley, almost perfectly, and she didn't see even a picture of it until she was in her 50s and never attended a game there. She got that because of guys like Bob Elson, Russ Hodges, Brickhouse, Boudreau, Bert Wilson, etc.
That old generation of announcers can't be touched by the newer guys because the newer guys came up with different "requirements" than the old guys. They didn't just call the game, they made it real, like you were there real.
Another favorite of mine who will most likely go unmentioned in this thread is Gary Thorne. I'm not saying he belongs on a Mt. Rushmore, but wanted to give him some recognition.
He was best as a hockey announcer, but I do remember him calling a Hawkeye football game on ESPN once upon a time and he was noticeably better prepared than most announcers we get.
He was best as a hockey announcer, but I do remember him calling a Hawkeye football game on ESPN once upon a time and he was noticeably better prepared than most announcers we get.
That is awesome.
Pretty sure someone had him on 2024 death guesses pool. I hope they are wrong.
For baseball, you almost have to go with a guy based on radio work. Jon miller and Vinny are my top two.
when I start to think of other sports, I move quickly to “all arounders”. On that list, I’d include guys like dick enberg, joe beninati (caps hockey), Al Michaels, and Jim nance. Interestingly, other than beninati these guys sort of became characatures of themselves late in their careers
when I start to think of other sports, I move quickly to “all arounders”. On that list, I’d include guys like dick enberg, joe beninati (caps hockey), Al Michaels, and Jim nance. Interestingly, other than beninati these guys sort of became characatures of themselves late in their careers
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