Golden Voices of Sports

SI Staff | Jan 7, 2011

Golden Voices of Sports /

Golden Voices of Sports

Vin Scully

As the legend of internet sensation Ted Williams and his golden voice continues to grow, SI takes a look at the best voices in sports broadcasting history. Our first choice is Vin Scully, whose 61 years with the Dodgers is the longest tenure of any broadcaster with one professional sports team. He has been known as "the Voice of the Dodgers" since 1950, when the team was still in Brooklyn.

Marv Albert

A New York native, Albert was the radio and TV voice of the Knicks for 37 years, before being let go in 2004. Since, he has continued to do play-by-play on TNT for national games and on the YES Network as the voice of the Nets.

Red Barber

Walter "Red" Barber broadcast Major League Baseball over four decades in stints with the Cincinnati Reds, Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees. Barber's slow, southern style produced catchphrases like "Can of corn" and "Rhubarb," and led to the veteran radio man to refer to players as "Big Fella" or "Mister."

Keith Jackson

Jackson's 40-year career as a sportscaster with ABC Sports came to an end in 2006. He focused primarily on college football, but also broadcast the MLB, NBA, NFL, boxing, auto racing, college basketball and the Olympics. Jackson is credited with naming Michigan's stadium "The Big House" and the Rose Bowl "the Grandaddy of them All."

Mel Allen

Fifteen years after his death, Allen is still known as "the Voice of the Yankees." In his time as New York's primary broadcaster, "How About That!" became Allen's go-to home run call. In more than 50 years on the mic, Allen also broadcast college football, pro football, bowling and a handful of non-sports programs.

Ernie Harwell

Harwell spent 55 years broadcasting baseball for the Dodgers, Giants, Orioles, Tigers and Angels. Harwell was the only announcer in history to be traded for a player when the Dodgers acquired his contract in 1948. He is best remembered for his 42 years in Detroit, which earned him the moniker "the Voice of the Tigers."

Harry Kalas

Though he called Phillies games for 38 years and was named Pennsylvania Sportscaster of the Year 18 times, Kalas is best known as the booming baritone voice of NFL Films from 1975 until his death in 2009. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Jack Buck

Before Joe Buck was Fox's main man, his father Jack was a baseball announcer most famous for his time with the St. Louis Cardinals, starting in 1954. Buck's deep voice and distinctive descriptive style made him unique, and he is the voice of many of baseball's most famous calls. On Kirk Gibson's 1988 Game 1 World Series home run: "I don't believe what I just saw!"

Charlie Jones

Jones made his name covering professional football, first for the AFL's Dallas Texans and later covering the NFL for NBC. In addition to football, the Arkansas native also covered the Olympics, Ryder Cup, Wimbledon, The World Cup and college football. Jones also owns the distinction of being one of the few sportscasters to win an Emmy Award. He took home the prize in 1973 for his role as producer, writer and host of the documentary Is Winning the Name of the Game?

Jack Brickhouse

Brickhouse covered a variety of sports during his broadcast career, including college football and even pro wrestling, but most famously was a TV announcer with WGN for the White Sox and Cubs. Brickhouse was also on the call for Willie Mays' famous spectacular catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series at the Polo Grounds.

Lindsey Nelson

Nelson served as the voice of the Mets from 1962 to 1979 before moving onto the Giants, where he stayed three seasons. Nelson was awarded the Ford C. Frick Award in 1988 and a Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991.

Published Jan 7, 2011

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