They're voices narrate to us what our heroes do night in and night out. When a memorable play happens, their call goes along with it, making it just as memorable.
These people are our heroes too, except their greatness takes place off the playing field, rather than on.
-He called play-by-play for Warriors games during their entire existence in Philadelphia, including Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point game
-He called play-by-play for the Eagles from 1952 to 1966, Phillies from 1962 to 1971 and 76ers from 1972 to 1981
-So basically, back in the day, he was the voice of Philadelphia sports
-From 1987 to 1991 he hosted a sports show on 610 WIP
-He currently does guest appearances, voice overs and a weekly commentary on KYW News Radio 1060 AM
-In 2005, the Basketball Hall of Fame awarded him the Curt Gowdy Award
-In 1938, he started calling Philadelphia Athletics games full time
-The very next season, he joined the Phillies as well and called home games for both teams for 12 seasons
-Although he probably called the most losses ever (between the two teams) at 4,000, his descriptive way of broadcasting allowed him to get the nickname "The Man of a Zillion Words"
-Once away games started to be broadcasted, Saam had to chose one team and he chose the Athletics because of his friendship with Connie Mack. He called A's games until they left town in 1954
-Once the A's left, he joined the Phillies the very next season. Bill Campbell joined him in 1962 and Rich Ashburn in 1963. He called Phillies games all the way up until 1975.
-Unfortunately, Saam was known for calling a lot of the lean years of both the A's and Phillies. As a matter of fact, after he left in 1975, the Phils won the NL-East Division the very next season. Fittingly for Saam, the Phillies invited him back to call the last half inning of the division clinching game. In a quote by Ashburn, "Thirty-eight years and no winner. Damn right he deserved a title."
-However, while he wasn't around for any winner, he called 13 no-hitters, which including Jim Bunning's perfect game in '64.
-When not calling baseball, he called the Philadelphia Warriors and Eagles, including Chamberlain's 100 point game.
-In 1990, he received the Ford Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame for excellence in broadcasting
-Like Campbell, Saam was one of the key voices in the city back in the day
-Color commentated and did a little play-by-play for Phillies games from 1963 to 1997
-Broadcaster for the Phillies during their 1980 Championship season, 1983 and 1993 Pennant winning seasons and 1976, 1977 and 1978 division winning seasons
-Aslo wrote columns for The Philadelphia Bulletin and the Philadelphia Daily News
-Is one of the most beloved sports figures (player and broadcaster) this town has ever seen
-He is famous for rather than spouting off tons and tons of stats, giving anecdotes about the game here and there and very general analysis
-It is also well noted that he and fellow broadcaster Harry Kalas (1971-present) were tremendous friends
-They're friendship stayed true in the broadcast booth and that made them what is considered to be one of the best if not the best broadcast duo in the history of sports
-When he made the Hall of Fame as a player in 1995, over 25,000 fans migrated up to Cooperstown for the ceremony because he was so liked in town
-Unfortunately, "Whitey" died of a heart attack on September 9, 1997 after calling a Phillies win against the Mets at Shea Stadium
-Because of his playing days, but also his broadcast years, hundreds and hundreds of fans came to his viewing at Fairmount Park to pay their respects to "Whitey"
-He is now honored by having Citizens Bank Park's center field concourse area named after him. Ashburn Alley is one of the most popular places at the ballpark. As a matter of fact though, a lot of fans wanted the ballpark to be named after him
-Has called play-by-play with the Phillies since 1971 and is currently signed through the end of this upcoming season
-At first, since he replaced the very popular Bill Campbell, he was not received well, but as we all know, that quickly changed
-He has been the broadcaster for both their 1980 and 2008 Championships, their 1983 and 1993 NL Pennants and their 1976, 1977, 1978 and 2007 NL East Division Championships
-He is famous for his energetic calls and baritone voice, considering the fact he has done voice over for NFL Films since 1975
-As mentioned earlier, was great friends with Rich Ashburn and the two made a great pair together
-He was the master of ceremonies for the opening and closing of Veterans Stadium
-His signature call is "OUTTA HERE!!!" for home runs
-Received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002
-Their is a restaurant at Citizens Bank Park named after him. It's called "Harry the K's."
5. Dave Zinkoff (Philadelphia Warriors Public Address Announcer/Phillies Public Address Announcer/76ers Public Address Announcer)
-Public address announcer at one point for the Philadelphia Warriors, Phillies and most notably, the 76ers (Entire time the Warriors were in Philly and right from the 76ers start in 1963)
-Public address announcer for the Warriors 1947 and 1956 Championship seasons
-Public address announcer for the 76ers 1967 and 1983 Championship seasons and their 1977, 1980 and 1982 Conference Championship seasons
-He was the PA for Phillies games at Shibe Park during the '40s
-He was the Warriors PA announcer until they skipped town
-He was the 76ers PA announcer until his death on Christmas Day 1985
-He was the PA for Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962
-His most famous line is when he would introduce Julius Erving: "From the University of Massachusetts...Captain of the Philadelphia 76ers...No. 6...Julius "The Doctor" Errrrrrrrrrrrvinggggggggg!"
-Exactly three months after his death in '86, his microphone was retired by the 76ers
-Is currently in his 15th season as 76ers television play-by-play man and his 25th as a part of the 76ers broadcast group
-Also called Flyers games for a little bit
-Play-by-play guy for the 76ers 2001 Eastern Conference Championship team
-Has won Emmy for best sports play-by-play broadcaster 10 times
-Color commentated 76ers games on television full-time with Marc Zumoff from the 1995 to 2007 seasons
-Spent 20 full seasons on the 76ers broadcast group, as he only did road games earlier in his broadcasting career
-Did a short stint of color commentating on the radio with Bill Campbell in 1975 after breaking his ankle in the second half of the season. Yes, he played for the 76ers back in the day.
-Color commentated during the 76ers 2001 Eastern Conference Championship season
-Him and Zumoff were well regarded and considered a good duo together
-His nickname was "The Mayor"
-I know Wikipedia did a bad job on his bio. Philadelphia76ersBlog.com and the 76ers Web Site from a handful of years back, do a better job.
-Has been calling play-by-play for the 76ers on the radio for over a decade
-He was play-by-play man for the 76ers 2001 Eastern Conference Championship team
-Is famous for "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" and "O O BABY!"
-For most of his 76er broadcaster career, he has been by himself, but for a short stint, former 76er big man Todd MacCulloch joined him for color commentary. MacCulloch stopped after last season.
-Broadcasted Flyers games both on television and radio from the beginning of their existence to the 1995 season
-Broadcasted during their 1974 and 1975 Stanley Cup Championships and their 1976, 1980, 1985 and 1987 Conference Championship seasons
-As it is always said, "He taught the Delaware Valley hockey."
-His most famous call game during Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals: "Ladies and gentleman, the Flyers are going to win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! They Flyers have won the Stanley Cup!"
-His signature line was: "From all of us, to all of you, Gene Hart, Good Night, Good Hockey
-He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997 for being awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
-In 1997, he came out of retirement to broadcast for the Phantoms and called the game when they won the Calder Cup in 1998. He stopped calling Phantoms games at the end of the 1999 season
-Sadly, Gene Hart died due to a multitude of illnesses on July 14, 1999
-His daughter Lauren Hart, sings the National Anthem and occasionally God Bless America with a video recording of Kate Smith during every Flyers home game
-He is in the Flyers Hall of Fame
-Has been doing Flyers play-by-play for first radio and then television from the 1994 season to today
-He was doing television play-by-play during the Flyers 1997 Eastern Conference Championship season
-He also does pregame and postgame radio shows for the Phillies
-Has been calling play-by-play on the radio for the Flyers since the 1998 season
-He also calls Phantoms games on television
-He has been calling Eagles games since 1977. At first, he was very briefly a color commentator, shortly after, he went strictly to play-by-play.
-He was the play-by-play announcer when the Eagles won the NFC Championship in 1980 and 2008
-His signature line is "It's Gooooood!" He does that when the Eagles make an extra point or field goal.
-Along with play-by-play, he also does many other radio like gigs for sports in the Philadelphia area.
-Here is an example of one of his calls:
-He has been doing PA for the Phillies since 1972 and Eagles since 1985
-He was the PA for the Phillies during their 1980 and 2008 World Series Championships, when the Phillies won the Pennant in 1983 and 1993 and when the won the NL East in 2007
-He was the PA for the Eagles when they won the 2004 NFC Championship and obviously, was the PA for the 2002 and 2003 NFC Championship games as well
-Called play-by-play for the Phillies from 1976 to 2001.
-He called play-by-play during the Phillies 1980 Championship season, 1983 and 1993 NL Pennant seasons and 1976, 1977 and 1978 NL East Division winning seasons.
-He also called Eagles and 76ers games sometimes
-Returned for the Final Innings of the Vet to call the Final Innings Ceremonies on television with Chris Wheeler
-Broadcaster for Phillies on television and radio since 1977 and has done both play-by-play and color commentating
-Broadcaster for 1980 and 2008 Championship seasons, 1983 and 1993 NL Pennant winning seasons and 1977, 1978 and 2007 NL East Division winning season
-His nickname is "Wheels"
I am working really hard to get the last two Info Sessions in tonight. If not, they will definitely be in tomorrow.
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