Voices of the Game by J. Kyle

Coach Joe Kyle shares what he knows about the game of baseball with the kids he coaches, helps his assistant coaches, and writes poems as gifts for his team —his coaches —and Baseball Almanac.

"You see fans holding their radios here and over there, Intently watching the game, yet listening with care. Some think us strange that we bring our transistorized friend, Then they sit too close, and try to listen in." - Voices of the Game by J. Kyle (2002)
Voices of the Game

by J. Kyle (2002) ©

Published: Baseball Almanac (2003).

You see fans holding their radios here and over there,
Intently watching the game, yet listening with care.
Some think us strange that we bring our transistorized friend,
Then they sit too close, and try to listen in.

So many, many voices of baseball present and past,
A very select few can make you feel that home run blast.
The team in the booth at times is the best,
The fans can hope for along with the rest.

Some of these voices have now faded away,
Going, going, gone to their final play.
The restless nights they talked us to sleep,
Just waiting for someone to take one deep.

Harry was the greatest Cub there ever could be,
There will never be another like him at ol’ Wrigley.
Vin Scully still bleeds that Dodger blue,
While Scooter will always be a Yankee too.

Nuxhall and Brennaman are my favorite radio men,
They have been a duo since way back when.
I was a boy when I first heard that familiar winning call,
“This one belongs to the Reds” now has its own place in the Hall.

So the next time you search for the game on TV,
Turn the volume way down, grab a radio, and you will soon see.
The voices of the game do much more than that old screen,
They bring you the nation’s game in a fashion unseen.

Voices of the Game by J. Kyle ©



Who is your favorite broadcaster? Who is your least favorite broadcaster? Do you prefer radio or television announcers? These topics remain one of the most popular on Baseball Fever and we invite you to join in the discussion.

Did you know that the excellence in broadcasting award — commonly referred to as the Ford C. Frick Award — is given annually to the broadcaster of the year for his or her contributions to Major League Baseball.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown does not actually enshrine broadcasters, but it does recognize their accomplishments by inscribing their names on an exhibit called Scribes & Mikemen.

     

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