American Pastime: The Top 10 Baseball Announcers of All Time

With baseball season just around the corner, it's time to start considering how to watch and listen to one's favorite team's games. With game video available on every TV, computer, and smart phone, there is still something to be said for the old fashioned radio.

As a disclaimer, this is certain to be up to some debate. There are many more broadcasters that deserve recognition on this list. That being said, here are the 10 greatest at bringing us the game over radio waves.

Honorable Mention: Bill King

I'll admit Bill King isn't as widely known nationwide, but this eccentric broadcaster deserves this mention. The voice of the Oakland Athletics from 1981 until his passing in 2005 was known for his trademark call "Holy Toledo".

Prior to his Athletics career, he was a member of the San Francisco Giants first broadcast team with Russ Hodges. For some time, he was also the voice of all three Oakland sports: the A's, Raiders and Warriors.

An impassioned sports fan himself, he once received a technical foul for swearing at the referee during a Warriors game.

10. Bob Uecker

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MILWAUKEE - JUNE 6: Broadcaster Bob Uecker announces a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers on June 6, 2007 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Cubs defeated the Brewers 6-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Bob Uecker is entering his 40th year of broadcasting for the Milwaukee Brewers. His personality could best be exemplified by his Ford Frick Award speech, where he stated "my only regret was that I didn't go in as a player", as most career .200 hitters don't get inducted.

He also appeared as the alcoholic announcer Harry Doyle in the Major League film series. Certainly one of the most humorous announcers, his wit and longevity won't soon be topped.

9. Dave Niehaus

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COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 27: Dave Niehaus gives a speech after accepting the Ford C. Frick award for excellence in broadcasting at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 27, 2008 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by

When one's thinks of the Seattle Mariners, Dave Niehaus is the first name that comes to mind in broadcasting. He served as lead radio broadcaster since their inception in 1977. 2011 will be their first year without him at the helm due his passing last November.

Known for his calls "My, oh my" and "swung on and belted" for a home run, he was also the first to dub Alex Rodriguez "A-Rod".

His legacy will always be remembered in the northwest and in the broadcasting world.

8. Harry Kalas

His career as Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster began in 1971 and continued through the 2008 season. Over his career, he called six no-hitters, six NLCS and three World Series.

His home run call "Swing...and a long drive, this ball is...outta here! Home run" has been co-opted by several other broadcasters around the league. He received the Ford Frick Award in 2002 and was a member of the charter class of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.

His passing was honored by the entire Phillies organization by wearing a black patch with HK for the 2009 season.

7. Jack Buck

Full time radio voice of the St. Louis Cardinals beginning in 1961, Jack Buck was at the heart of every Cardinals broadcast up until his retirement.

He had many memorable calls in his time, including: Ozzie Smith's walk off home run in game five of the 1985 NLCS, Kirk Gibson's home run in the 1988 World Series and Mark McGwire's 61st home run in 1998.

A part of Cardinal's lore past his death in 2002, his legacy will be carried on by his son Joe Buck.

6. Harry Caray

With a broadcasting career stretching from 1945 until his retirement in 1997, Harry Caray's career stretched from St Louis to Oakland to Chicago. Despite spending 25 years with the Cardinals organization, he will always be remembered for his tenure with the rival Chicago Clubs.

Made famous by his trademarked look, singing of Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the seventh inning stretch, and his call "Holy Cow", Caray will be always be associated as the voice of the Cubbies.

5. Russ Hodges

This nomadic announcer spent the first decade of his career with the Chicago Cubs, Washington Senators, and Cincinnati Reds before alighting in the Big Apple. From 1940-1949, he was the voice of New York baseball, calling home games for both the Giants and Yankees. 

When teams decided to start broadcasts of all 154 games, Hodges became the full time broadcaster of the Giants. He held the position for next 22 years in New York and later in San Francisco until his retirement in 1970.

Bobby Thomson's Shot Heard Round the World was proclaimed by Hodges with his famous "the Giants win the Pennant, the Giants win the Pennant", a much echoed and forever remembered broadcasting moment.

4. Ernie Harwell

Ernie Harwell spent 42 of his 55 broadcasting career with the Detroit Tigers. From 1960 until his retirement in 2002, Harwell called a pair of all-star games and two World Series for national radio.

Known for his conversational style of broadcasting, some of his many trademarked phrases were "that one is long gone", It's two for the price of one", and "He stood there like the house by the side of the road and watched it go by."

This Midwest marvel remained involved with the Tigers organization until his passing in 2010.

3. Red Barber

Walter Lanier Barber, known affectionately as "The Ol' Redhead", spent four decades pioneering baseball broadcasting with the Cincinnati Reds, Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees.

His first game doing play by play was opening day 1934,  when the Cubs defeated the Reds 6-0. He became well known for his term "Sittin' in the catbird seat", referring to a player performing well. In 1939, he broadcast the first ever baseball game on TV.

He was the first broadcaster to receive the Ford Frick Award in 1978 along with former partner Mel Allen.

2. Mel Allen

After landing a job as a color commentator for he 1938 World Series, Mel Allen found himself as a Yankees broadcaster shortly after. He became lead broadcaster after Russ Hodges departed for the Giants in 1950. Allen remained with the Yankees on and off until 1985. 

He had many catchphrases including "Hello there, everybody!", "How about that!" and "going, going, gone" when referring to a home run.

Allen became the host of This Week in Baseball in 1977, and his catchphrases remains on the show today.

1. Vin Scully

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LOS ANGELES - APRIL 13: Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully gives the call of 'It's time for Dodger baseball!' during pregame ceremonies for the Los Angeles Dodgers home opener against the San Francisco Giants on April 13, 2009 at Dodger Stadiium in Los Angel

The voice of Dodgers since 1950, Vin Scully's 61 years of broadcasting are the most of any broadcaster with any single organization in sports history. Scully became the primary Dodgers announcer after Red Barber departed in 1953. That same year, Scully became the youngest ever to broadcast a World Series at the age of 25.

Vin Scully followed the Dodgers to southern California. In 1964, he turned down the chance to be Yankees lead broadcaster opting to stick with the Dodgers.

He's been behind the mic for the Dodgers 1955 World Series victory, Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, Sandy Koufax's perfect game in 1965 and Kirk Gibson's dramatic hobble off home run in the 1988 World Series.

Though his role has diminished to mostly home games in recent years, it looks as if he has no immediate plans to retire.