Baseball Broadcasters

The offseason for baseball broadcasters always brings new hope for announcers hoping to make a move up the ladder.   This offseason provided several opportunities at both the major league and minor league levels.  Applying for openings can be both exciting and frustrating.    For some, this offseason has already been exciting, and for others, frustrating.    One of the most difficult questions to have answered for those who fall short is, “What separated me from the guy you hired?”

This year I’ve had the opportunity to talk to several announcers who applied for, but did not receive job offers for a few of the openings available this year.  Unfortunately, they also failed to receive an explanation as to why they were not selected.  That is where the frustration lies for many talented broadcasters.  We all know that many, if not most decisions are extremely subjective.   The right sound for the ear of the right decision maker often times makes a difference.   Most announcers who fall short just want to know why and how they can improve for the next opportunity.  Yet, the answer many get is, “We just decided to go in another direction.”

I remember several occasions early in my career when I finished out of the running for a few jobs.  Several times I was told I didn’t have enough experience, and other times I was told I just didn’t have the right sound.  Each time I was devastated, but at least I knew why I didn’t get the job.  For several announcers this year, all they had to hang their hats on was, “We’re going in a different direction.”

For those who may be in a position to make or break someone’s career please provided an honest critique of an applicant’s talents.  Something a little more than a general direction.

Mario Impemba is the play-by-play voice of the Detroit Tigers on Fox Sports Detroit

Plenty of great play by play announcers, most in fact, including Hall of Famers, achieved greatness without ever having darkened a newsroom.   So I want readers to understand my news-background approach serves me well, but by no means is it an “end all” solution.

You may have seen a little missive I did back in September on this site concerning Ernie Harwell’s time as a combat reporter for Stars and Stripes during World War II.  In it, I spoke in vague terms about the parallels between covering news and doing play by play.  And, I encouraged youngsters to get a news background before moving forward.  So, all that said, let’s back up a bit and begin the thought process of explaining why I feel news reporters and play by play broadcasters are twins.

Very simply put, the same talents it takes conducting a live report anywhere in the world on CNN, represent the same talents and abilities possessed by an excellent play by play broadcaster.  The best know how to prep and report using interesting presentation skills while connecting viewers/listeners.  It’s all topped off with liberal doses of passion, fire and desire for the work.  Simple.  Right?

First off, just as I did in my news reporting days, I approach each game in my PCL season, constantly looking for THE banner headline of the night.  The headline provides me a way to relay to listeners why tonight’s game matters.  And, it can be presented in any one of dozens of ways. Maybe last night’s game ended on a three run homer in the bottom of the ninth.  It it might have extended a winning streak, ended one…or it could have meant a new team took over the lead in the division.  The list is endless.

The news reporter in me sets the stage, relaying to fans the basics…team records…who is hot..who is not…matchups effecting the potential outcome..the weather and how it might effect what happens…any injuries that could have a bearing on the game.  What I am talking about here simply provides a rock solid connection among fans, players, the game and its potential result.

(Trust me, when I plan out my day as far as pregame preparation goes, it’s nowhere nearly this wordy or technical, but more a touchy-feely, instinctive approach, borne from years of reporting news. That instinct remains a constant, in the mind, editorial process of what to put in and leave out.  The play by play craft represents the best of an off the cuff, off the top of one’s head, adrenaline rush–just like news.)

Here’s another interesting parallel.

During my news reporting days, I wore out telephones, ran up huge long distance charges, drove bosses crazy with mobile phone and then cell phone charges, until they quite rightly realized, I was doing my story preparation. Very simply,  I was educating myself on the topic, be it politics, a police or business scandal, or any other story I might find myself pursuing.  Guess what?   To this day, I do the same thing preparing for a baseball game.

Why do I do that?

Well, I have nowhere near the talent-judging knowledge possessed by my great friends in the scouting industry.   So every single day, as I get ready for a game, if I do not know, let’s say a particular starting pitcher, I will be on the phone for as much as half an hour with a scout who has seen the pitcher before.  This scout will have assessed the pitcher’s strengths and weaknesses. He’ll not only know his physical skills, but his mental makeup as well.  And, same as I did in the news business, I take detailed notes.  Candidly, I might only use a line or two from my half hour discussion, but what I gleaned possesses tremendous value for fleshing out word pictures for the night’s game.

Another parallel involves constant dialogue with front office personnel, managers, coaches, trainers, players, and anyone tangentially involved with this great game.  Good reporters, like good play by play broadcasters realize change remains constant.  So, discussions and updates must remain constant.  In conclusion, neither profession does a very good job of hiding folks who don’t love talking about the craft, or love being around others actively involved.  But then, you knew that.

Capps has called Round Rock Express baseball for 10 seasons. He has worked on-air and behind-the-camera for WFAA-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth, for ABC News in St. Louis and KPRC-TV in Houston. While working for CNN, Capps covered the Gulf War as well as the Waco Siege, which garnered him an Emmy Nomination and a CableACE Award.

The following originally appeared on thesoundofbaseball.com in April, 2006.

One of the great things about spring training is having the chance to catch up with broadcasters from the other league. Recently in Lakeland, FL, I had a chance to meet three announcers who are in their first year in the big leagues after spending many seasons broadcasting in the minor leagues chasing the big league dream.

Brett Dolan and Dave Raymond of the Astros and Dave Jageler of the Nationals were in town broadcasting for their respective teams and I had an opportunity to chat with all three. I couldn’t help but to think back to my first year broadcasting big league baseball after eight seasons in the minor leagues. I wondered if these three announcers were going through the same things I was. The odd feeling of both excitement and anxiety.  Getting your first real opportunity and hoping that you make the most of it.

I have always appreciated how lucky I was to break in when I did with a consummate professional.  Bob Starr was the lead voice of the California Angels when I was hired to be his partner in 1995. There was one striking difference between us. He was in his sixties, and I was in my early thirties. A generation apart in age to be sure. But the one thing that really impressed me about Bob was his willingness to help me grow and establish myself, instead of trying overshadowing me. Bob was known as the “Burly Broadcaster” to his friends. I assumed it was because of his size, but I never did ask because I was too afraid to.  In my mind though, the only thing burly about Bob was his generosity. He was always quick to pick up the check at every dinner on the road and even purchased an expensive briefcase for me to carry my stuff around my first year.

He was generous with his money, but he was also well respected for his talent. Broadcasting in the shadow of the great Vin Scully in Los Angeles most of his career, Bob was one of the lesser known treasures of baseball broadcasting. LA has produced some of the giants in the sports broadcasting industry. Whether it was Scully with the Dodgers, Chick Hern with the Lakers or Bob Miller with the Kings, Bob Starr always seemed to be in the background.  He didn’t mind. Bob never chased attention. In fact, he hid from it.  I’ve said this many times, but for me, Bob Starr was what baseball broadcasting should sound like.  A deep smooth voice with a down home tinge that made you feel like listening to the Halos on your radio was like being at the game.

My one enduring memory of Mr. Starr (everyone called him that, including me) was the night in Baltimore in 1995 when Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played. As luck would have it, the Orioles were playing the Angels, and there we were at Camden Yards. I called the play-by-play for the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but because the record would become official in the fifth inning, I decided that I would turn the mic over to Bob. He insisted that I call the inning because it was mine and he wanted me to enjoy the experience. I told him that it was he was the senior member of the crew and it was only right that he have the honor.   Besides, I was convinced that I would find a way to screw it up and we needed the “A” team calling the historic moment. When the game became official and Ripken took his lap around the field, I simple turned my mic off and listened.  It was the best fifteen minutes of radio I have ever heard. He captured the moment to perfection. Bob would look over to me as if to say, “Well, are you going to say something?”   I just smiled and took it all in.

Bob always had a saying about players.  “Just because you wear a big league uniform doesn’t make you a big leaguer.”   The point was that you needed to earn that respect. Bob was always a big leaguer.   As I look back at that first year in a big league booth, I realize now how much his friendship and guidance helped shape my attitude toward the profession. Mr. Starr made it fun to come to the park and always made you respect the game and your job.

Bob passed away in 1998, but for me, the memories still live.