Best baseball radio announcer in the east.

August 30, 2010 6:43 PM

There's something special about listening to a baseball game on the radio, and even though I'm not a huge baseball fan, I'd like to start listening to more games. Since I don't have any particular geographic preference (having lived all over the US), I'm free to choose any team in the east; I live in the mid-Atlantic area but can regularly pull in stations from Chicago, St. Louis, New York, Atlanta, etc. So, which baseball announcer is the best?

I've also checked out "Help me learn to love baseball" which has lots of good book/video recommendations but nothing on specific teams and/or announcers. Keep in mind that I'm not so much asking which team to follow, but rather which announcer can best help me to appreciate the game, to grow as a fan, and to really enjoy the sport.

posted by math to sports, hobbies, & recreation (21 answers total)

Pat Hughes on WGN Radio 720 AM out of Chicago is one of the best. Even though the Cubs have tanked this year, I still listen to Pat and Ron Santo call the games. Pat Hughes completely puts you on the field, he has incredible baseball knowledge, and he doesn't take himself too seriously. In fact--I'm listening right now!
posted by bookmammal at 6:54 PM on August 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

My real answer is that I think this is really subjective and you should listen to a game or two from lots of different teams. My fake answer is: Tom Hamilton, Cleveland Indians.
posted by Kwine at 7:03 PM on August 30, 2010

We listen to a lot of different announcers because of the way our XM radio works. We're Tigers fans, and love their hometown guys, but we also have enjoyed the Indians guys.
posted by dpx.mfx at 7:29 PM on August 30, 2010

Vin Scully. The Dodgers aren't much to listen to these days, but Vin's the best.
posted by carsonb at 7:33 PM on August 30, 2010 [4 favorites]

I am a huge Yankee fan, but do not waste your time listening to their announcers on 880.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:54 PM on August 30, 2010

Is your question "which baseball announcer is the best?" or "which baseball announcer is the best in the East?" Because the best announcer is Jon Miller, once the voice of my Orioles, now the voice of his hometown Giants. I think the current Orioles team of Fred Manfra and Joe Angel are pretty good, too -- same kind of subdued vibe you get from Miller.

If you've got an iAppliance you can get the radio broadcasts for every MLB game with the AtBat 10 app: 10 bucks flat fee for the whole season.
posted by escabeche at 8:04 PM on August 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm partial to Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen on the Phillies broadcast. 1210 AM.
posted by smoothhickory at 8:06 PM on August 30, 2010

I can't stand the current crop of Cardinals announcers. Dan McLaughlin is just eh, and Mike Shannon drives me nuts with his inane chatter. (brilliantly parodied here)
posted by chrisamiller at 8:06 PM on August 30, 2010 [2 favorites]

It's important to find an announcer whose voice you just plain like listening to. For example, I know Vin Scully is widely respected, but his voice just bugs me for some reason. And Pat Hughes and Ron Santo -- especially Ron Santo, oh my God -- drives me absolutely batty with the homerism and Santo's hideously annoying verbal tics and catchphrases.

And yet, as bookmammal indicates, they are deeply beloved by Chicago fans.

So yeah, subjective. I'd suggest flipping around those stations (or picking up up MLB's Gameday Audio package through the website -- it's possible to get a just-audio subscription, I think, but it takes a bit of digging around) and just flipping around the various teams until you find somebody you just like.

Unless it's the Yankees radio broadcast team. May God have mercy on their souls, because when I rule the world, I won't. And I'm a Yankees fan.
posted by joyceanmachine at 8:10 PM on August 30, 2010

Howie Rose & Wayne Hagin on 660 WFAN-AM out of NYC broadcast Mets games and are the best of the Radio announcers in the East that I 've heard (I've heard Boston, Philly, Baltimore, and both NYC teams' radio broadcasts, for a point of reference).
posted by KingEdRa at 8:17 PM on August 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

I like Jon Miller and Dave Fleming on KNBR for Giants games but I also really like the banter between Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper but they tend to do the tv broadcasts more and I'm in the blackout shadow.

The Giants also bring in old players to call games every once in a while, its fun listening to JT Snow or Kirk Reuter talk the game.

Oddly enough, most of the rest of KNBR drives me batty.
posted by fenriq at 8:19 PM on August 30, 2010

Give the Cubs a shot, they're fun for a while. I like the way the Mets' radio announcers call a game, and Jon Miller's radio work has made me more tolerant of his ESPN stuff. And by all that is held holy by anyone anywhere, avoid the Yankees announcers like they're a hive of flea-infested plague ridden rats. They make want to figure out a way to listen to the game with the radio off. (and yes, I'm a Yankees fan)
posted by mollweide at 8:28 PM on August 30, 2010

Nthing Jon Miller. One of the best in the biz, just damn entertaining and informative, both about baseball and in general.

I kind of agree on the Scully thing - I've actually tired to listen to him and been a bit bored. That being said he is widely respected, YMMV
posted by bitdamaged at 8:33 PM on August 30, 2010

Jeez, SOMEONE didn't read the question carefully. Vin Scully only calls Dodgers home games and away NL West games. Not East in the least, but still the best. He's a veritable font of information on even the unlikeliest players, and he knows the game back to front, top to bottom. So hey, sorry for the bad good rec.
posted by carsonb at 9:01 PM on August 30, 2010

Jon Miller is the best, no doubt. Here's an interview of his hilarious imitation of Vin Scully.
posted by jasper411 at 10:08 PM on August 30, 2010

Vin Scully is THE best. Age 82 and still going strong.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 12:07 AM on August 31, 2010

Bob Ueker.

I also give top credit to Pat Hughes and Ron Santo. Santo can be annoying, but that is a valid facet of the game. Think of it like you are sitting on the bench with the grizzeled veteran bench coach. Like watching a ball game with Don Zimmer.

Steve Stone, while not on the radio now, stuck in TV hell with Hawk Harrelson, is also one of the best ever.

Chip Caray was also very good, but I'm not sure if he's on the radio side or the TV side.
posted by gjc at 5:38 AM on August 31, 2010

If by east you mean east of the Mississippi, check out Bob Uecker and Cory Provus on the Brewers broadcasts. Uecker is probably the only broadcaster to be in both the Baseball Hall of Fame and Wrestling Hall of Fame.
posted by drezdn at 5:59 AM on August 31, 2010

Joe Castiglione from your very own Boston Red Sox.
posted by eggman at 7:20 AM on August 31, 2010 [1 favorite]

Seconding Howie Rose. Wayne is infuriating sometimes and I yell "WHERE IS THE BALL, WAYNE" at least twice during a game, but Howie is one of the best.

Jon Miller is tolerable when he's not partnered with Joe Morgan.

Chip Caray got fired from the postseason last year for a very good reason. I can't understand how anyone could recommend him.
posted by micawber at 7:58 AM on August 31, 2010

nthing the Cubs. Pat and Ron have an excellent rapport. It's especially amusing listening to Pat Hughes strain not to be overly patronizing or condescending. The only problem is listening to Santo's bipolar swings between hope and despair can get old.
posted by odragul at 9:59 AM on August 31, 2010