Russ Hodges's frantic pronouncement at Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World": "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!" and Jack Buck's incredulous remark after Kirk Gibson's heroic home run in the 1988 World Series: "I don't believe what I just saw!" are just a couple examples. The sometimes downright hysterical commentaries of broadcasters very often become more memorable than even the games they describe. Though countless studies have weighed the merits of our great players, none has assessed the virtues of the men who turn diving catches and soaring home runs into the stuff of myth. In The Voices of Summer, Curt Smith has compiled a list of 101 classic announcers—from national celebrities to local favorites, overlooked giants to upcoming stars—in search of the greatest baseball broadcaster of all time. From the poetic reflections of Dick Enberg to the Falstaffian frenzy of Harry Caray, Smith answers the timeless questions: Was Mel Allen better than Ernie Harwell? Does Joe Buck compare to his legendary dad? Which of today's young broadcasters really matches the all-time greats? Irreverent, authoritative, and uncommonly addictive, this book will be the definitive guide to baseball announcing for any and all baseball fans.
If anything arouses baseball fans more than the teams they follow, it is the announcers who call--indeed, embody--the games those teams play. Smith, longtime sports--broadcasting historian, certainly understands this notion as he offers his provocative selection of the top 101 baseball announcers of all time, from the pioneers of the 1920s (Graham McNamee) to today's best (Jon Miller, Skip Caray, Tim McCarver). Each entry lists (and judges) a broadcaster's longevity, continuity, awards, fan popularity, use of language, quality of voice, and knowledge--ending with a point total and ranking. Most impressive is Smith's encyclopedic yet readable essay on each broadcaster, many of whom he seems to have known personally. His top pick, Dodger announcer Vin Scully, may be beyond argument; everyone else is fair game. Readers will probably agree with many of Smith's picks--Red Barber, Harry Caray, and Mel Allen near the top--while finding other selections, well . . . ludicrous: Jack Brickhouse, God rest him, higher than ESPN's Jon Miller or Seattle's Dave Niehaus? Of course, that's the fun of it. A must for the baseball collection. Alan Moores
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