November 01, 2005
Frick Voting
You can participate in the Ford Frick Award for broadcasters. The Hall of Fame has an on-line ballot that will decide which broadcasters are included on the final ballot.
I dare someone to nominate John Sterling. Or Tim McCarver. ::shudder::
Fran Healey!!!!! Healey was closer to being a Hall of Fame caliber player than broadcaster.
Looks like the ballot includes every working broadcaster in the majors with 10 years' experience.
Yes, there should be a vote on who should be removed from this ballot.
Great to see Al Michaels up there. I know he didn't have a long career calling baseball, but he was/is one of the best.
Chip Carey? Are they serious?
Then again, I voted for Hawk Harrelson, just to cheese off the people who don't bother to listen to his interesting analysis (he has to do both play-by-play and color, since Darrin Jackson is not exactly the greatest color guy ever). And Ed Rooney was a no-brainer since he's one of the best radio guys in the biz. Obviously, I couldn't make the call on any guys outside of Chicago.
Hawk? Are you kidding? He's so bad at working with anyone else that's in the booth with him, plus he's goofy to annoyance. I have to mute WGN whenever the Sox are on.
I'd like to put my two cents in for voting for the late Bill King. It is a shame it couldn't have happened while he was alive, but it would be a moving tribute to his career to get him in the HOF right after his death. He was one of the most intelligent announcers to ever sit in front of the mic and, for all intents and purposes, he was the Oakland A's for past quarter century.
Ed Rooney was the principal in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. John Rooney and Ed Farmer and the White Sox radio broadcasters (second only to Scully).
I second Melissa's vote and comments on Bill King. He was an outstanding baseball, football (Raiders), and basketball (Warriors) announcer and apparently a great human being. His interests were wide-ranging and he avoided being a "homer" type announcer. When his team screwed up, he would pull no punches in saying so. He was a pleasure to listen to. He will be missed.
Oh boy... RICK MONDAY!
But seriously, folks... I must say I've enjoyed hearing Charley Steiner call the Dodger games this year. He isn't afraid to have opinions, but he isn't an ass about it.
As I'm a Chicago boy, I voted for Steve Stone. I've been a White Sox fan for many years, but I've seen more Cubs games on TV since WGN is everywhere. Hopefully the Curse of Steve Stone will make the Cubs long for the days of the billy-goat. It would be nice to see Steve win the award since the Cubs handed him his marching papers (yes, yes he "resigned", but I think that we all know better). The really important thing is that neither Joe Morgan, nor Tim McCarver win the award. Seeing high octane ignorance like that rewarded would completely destroy any faith I have in humanity.
Frank Messer was as good as it gets as a baseball announcer.
He was 1st class all the way...even when the teams he covered were firmly entrenched in the 2nd division.