“Voices of the Game”

By Curt Smith

Diamond Communications

This book, loaned to me to read by Bill Schonely, is quite likely the Bible of baseball broadcasting.

It offers historical perspective on baseball broadcasters and broadcasting from its beginning in 1921. Through 500-plus pages, it covers legends such as Bill Stern, Graham McNamee, Byrum Saum, Red Barber, Ernie Harwell, Vin Scully, Bob Prince, Curt Gowdy, Dick Enberg, Harry Caray, Joe Garagiola and even Jimmy Dudley, the latter Schonely’s partner during his one season with the American League Seattle Pilots.

The book was written in 1987, so in some ways is outdated. Acceptable verbiage in the ‘80s doesn’t always pass the test today. But there are dozens of interviews with some of the profession’s greatest names, including a few (Jon Miller, Bob Costas, Al Michaels, Bob Uecker) who continue to work today.

Smith focuses a great deal of attention on two broadcasters — Dizzy Dean, on whom he wrote a book, and Mel Allen, who as a native New Yorker he idolized as a boy. I found most of the interviews and reminiscing about baseball’s evolution compelling.

What was cumbersome, and at times overwhelming, were the piles of numbers of facts and financial figures and details about the radio and television networks and their contracts with MLB and the various clubs. I found myself skimming through much of that part of the book.

What was unnecessary were paragraphs and pages of social commentary and weighing in on what were front-page headlines from nearly every year the book covers. A little of that can go a long way. Too much can cause the reader to move on to the next page, or even chapter.

Smith left few stones unturned in his quest to provide every bit of information he could on the subject. The book can be had via web services, including Thriftbooks.com. “Voices of the Game” was published when the author was 36; perhaps a second edition covering the past 33 years is in the offing. A more concise version, hopefully.

Readers: do you have a favorite sports broadcaster? I would love to hear who and why in the comments below.

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