See also: Sports commentator
Sports commentary , in broadcasting, is a term that means the reporting of a sporting event with a voiceover describing the details of the game in progress. In North America, in a lot of sports, the sports commentator is assisted by a color commentator, and sometimes a sideline reporter. The first ever Sports commentary was broadcast in April 1921 by Florent Gibson of the Pittsburg Star newspaper covering the fight between Johnny Ray and Johnny Dundee at the Motor Square, Pittsburgh.
Nearly all professional sports teams, most collegiate teams—as well as a dwindling number of high schools have their own Sports commentators, who are usually recognized as the voice of the team on radio broadcasts and are often identified as part of the team like the players or the coaches. In addition, television networks and cable channels will have their own stable of play-by-play announcers that work with various teams.
In North America, the term "play-by-play" is used instead, but the job description is mostly the same. Many sports commentators work on a variety of sports.
Famous sports commentators
Among the best known sports commentators, listed by the sport where their work is best known:
Baseball
See also: List of current Major League Baseball announcers
- Mel Allen, famous voice of the Yankees and New York Giants, as well as This Week in Baseball.
- Red Barber, legendary voice for the Reds, Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees, among many other announcing jobs.
- Marty Brennaman, for more than three decades with the Cincinnati Reds, and also on national radio for the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
- Thom Brennaman, Marty's son, previously with the Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks, but left Arizona to work with his father and the Reds starting in 2007.
- Jack Brickhouse, who covered the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox from 1948 - 1981 on WGN-TV. Brickhouse is also remembered for his coverage of the 1954 World Series, describing Willie Mays' famous catch in game one. Additionally, Brickhouse covered the Chicago Bears on WGN Radio and the Chicago Bulls on WGN-TV.
- Jack Buck, Caray's former color commentator, best known for his work with the Cardinals but also as a network announcer, and the radio voice for Monday Night Football. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Joe Buck, Jack Buck's son, who does baseball and football for Fox Sports. The current TV Play-by-play man for the World Series.
- Harry Caray, best known with the Chicago Cubs, but also worked for many years with the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics. Also worked with the St. Louis Hawks of the NBA and University of Missouri football.
- Skip Caray, Harry's equally-known son, longtime voice on television and radio for the Atlanta Braves, among many other play-by-play duties with various cable channels owned by Ted Turner and successors.
- Chip Caray, Skip's son and Harry's grandson. The trio is the only three-generation team ever to work a single game together in any sport, having done so twice: on May 13, 1991, at a Cubs-Braves game, and in 1989 for an NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat. Chip Caray has worked full time with his father (currently, with the Braves). Chip took over play-by-play for the Cubs on WGN-TV after Harry's death, and left that job after the 2005 season to work with Skip again in Atlanta, where he since succeeded huis father after Skip's death in 2008. He also previously worked for the Magic, and also on national broadcasts (and in-studio hosting) for Fox Sports.
- Herb Carneal, for the Minnesota Twins.
- Don Chevrier, was the first television voice of the Toronto Blue Jays and continued to do the play-by-play of the Jays games for 2 decades.
- Dizzy Dean, the famous player turned broadcaster, though often remembered for his malaprops on the air.
- Joe Garagiola, Curt Gowdy's longtime partner as color commentator on NBC's Game of the Week, who later replaced Gowdy on play-by-play. A top former player for the St. Louis Cardinals, Garagiola was also a co-host of NBC's Today Show and a game show host, and in recent years has done "play-by-play" (of sorts) for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
- Milo Hamilton, with the Houston Astros and before that the Braves; his radio call is often heard in recordings of Henry Aaron hitting his 715th home run in Atlanta.
- Ernie Harwell, a 55-year career as a baseball broadcaster, 42 with the Detroit Tigers, with one of the best-known home run calls, "That ball is loooong gone!", and his trademark called third strike of "He stood there like the house by the side of the road." As a broadcaster for the New York Giants, called Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World " on television.
- Russ Hodges, who did play-by-play for several teams, most notably the New York and San Francisco Giants. Hodges was at the microphone on local radio for Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World ". It was Hodges who cried, "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!..."
- Harry Kalas, winner of the 2002 Ford C. Frick Award, broadcast Philadelphia Phillies games from 1971 to 2009. He was also the voice of NFL Films, Campbell's Soup, and GMC Truck, as well as the voice for the self-guided tour of the United States Mint in Philadelphia. His signature call for home runs was "LONG DRIVE! Watch that baby ... OUTTA HERE!" Kalas died in the broadcast booth at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C., shortly before a game on April 13, 2009.
- Ralph Kiner, Hall of Fame player for the Pittsburgh Pirates and original broadcaster for the New York Mets. Kiner is the longest running broadcaster for the Mets in their History. Kiner began his broadcasting career with the Mets in 1962 and is still a contributor on the Mets television newtwork SNY. Kiner is most famous for his post game show, "Kiner's Korner." Murphy, Nelson and Kiner are the three member of the most notable trio of broadcasters for one team. Kiner's most famous call came when the Mets won their first National League Pennant in 1969, "So the Mets are won out away from their impossible dream, pitch is a curve, topped out to third, Garret has the ball, he THROWS TO FIRST, and the New York Mets are the National League Champions."
- Bob Murphy, Hall of Fame announcer and original broadcaster for the New York Mets, Murphy is one member of the most famous sportscasting trio. Murphy's career with the Mets started in 1962 and ended in 2002. Murphy called 4 World Series for the Mets in 1969, 1973, 1986, and 2000. Murphy's most famous calls include that of Bill Buckner's ground ball error in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series at Shea Stadium, "and the pitch by Stanley...a ground ball, trickiling..it is a fair BALL! GETS BY BUCKNER!! ROUNDING THIRD, KNIGHT, THE METS WIN! THEY WIN!"
- Lindsey Nelson, Hall of Fame announcer and original broadcaster for the New York Mets. Nelson's career with the Mets began in 1962 and ended in 1978. Nelson then went on to broadcast San Fransicio Giants game for a few years. Nelson is also famous for being the voice of Notre Dame Football for many years. Nelson's most notable call came when the Mets won their first division title and post season berth in 1969, "At 9:07 on September 24th, the New York Mets have won the championship of the Eastern Division of the National League."
- Dave Niehaus has been the voice of the Seattle Mariners since the franchise's birth in 1977. His signature calls are "Fly Away" (for home runs) "Get out the rye bread and mustard grandma, it's Grand Salami Time" (for Grand Slams), My-oh-My (for any great play).
- Vin Scully, who has worked more than half a century with the Dodgers, beginning in Brooklyn and then moving to Los Angeles. Scully has worked many national assignments, including the Major League Baseball Game of the Week on NBC for six seasons, and also the National Football League on both radio and television.
- Mike Shannon, Jack Buck's color partner with Cardinals, who later replaced Buck on play by play.
- Bob Uecker, better known for his comedic act and mediocre baseball career (the frequent topic of his comedy), but also since 1971 the play-by-play man for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Football
- Myron Cope, the Pittsburgh Steelers radio announcer for many many years, famous for his sqeaky voice, and phrases such as "DOUBLE YOI!" and "Okle Dokle"..
- Keith Jackson, the decades-long voice of college football for ABC Sports. He also was the very first play-by-play man for Monday Night Football where he first worked with Howard Cosell, and also called NBA and MLB games for ABC.
- Pat Summerall, a top NFL player in his own right, but for many years partnered with John Madden on NFL games with CBS and Fox, and also on many golf telecasts.
- Al Michaels, the voice of Monday Night Football on ABC from 1986-2005, now does NBC's Sunday Night Football with Cris Collinsworth, starting September 13, 2009, but up until that time, from the debut of the show, with John Madden. Michaels has also called the World Series and NBA Finals when he was with ABC. Was also one of the announcers of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" Winter Olympics hockey game, when an upstart American side upset the powerhouse team from the Soviet Union en route to a gold medal; coined the line, "Do you believe in miracles?"
- Pete Gross, the voice of the Seattle Seahawks from 1976 until his passing from cancer in 1992. Gross's signature "TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS" was beloved by Seahawks fans from Alaska to Southern Oregon. He was the second person inducted in
PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS SHOW w Sean & Keith - The Team 990 - Montreal's ...
Our radio station station offers everything you need and want. We engage our listeners with online contesting, prizes and give aways. You can't miss this.
Play It Again Sports || Store Locations
Play It Again Sports is your neighborhood sporting goods store that buys, sells and trades ... 2100 Decarie Boulevard Montreal, QC H4A 3J3
New Gear - Play It Again Sports Cornwall
New Gear - Play It Again Sports Cornwall Great brands. Great prices. We promise you fantastic deals ... Montreal Canadiens Christmas Touques!
Play it Again Sports - 2100, boulevard Decarie, Montreal, QC - 514-484 ...
Play it Again Sports - 2100, boulevard Decarie, Montreal, QC - 514-484-5150. Sport-Articles-Détaillants, Exercices physiques-Equipement, Exercices physiques-Equipement
CANOE -- SLAM! Sports - Hockey NHL - Montreal
Canada, Sports news, scores, stats, features and more in ... Montreal Canadiens coach Jacques Martin keeps breaking up his ... Price thinks Halak should play Oct 26 ... ...
Play It Again Sports || Tell Us Your Story
Montreal, QC. Peewee team undefeated! This team of 11 and 12 year olds finished their season undefeated scoring 169-46 against their opponents! Thanks to Play It Again Sports and ...
Play It Again Sports — Montreal Plus.ca
Check out Play It Again for great prices and selection on new and used sporting goods.
Play It Again Sports - Ottawa, ON
If you have children involved in sports, then you NEED to shop at Play it Again Sports. ... Site Map | Calgary | Edmonton | Halifax | Hamilton | Kitchener | Montréal | Ottawa
Story - Sports - Montreal Gazette
Sports. Canadiens/Hockey; Alouettes/Football; Baseball ... Booing U.S. anthem gives Montreal a bad name; Soundoff: Can the ... Deep balls have Lions rolling once again; Stampeders tune ...
Play it Again Sports - buy and sell new and used sports equipment ...
Play it Again Sports - buy and sell new and used sports equipment, Brossard Montreal, South Shore