By: Jim Williams
As part of the many things that Bob Costas wanted to do when he joined the MLB Network was to be able to return to the broadcast both. Today he makes that return in grand style joining Jim Kaat and Harold Reynolds as they broadcast the first ever regular season game to be played in the new Yankee Stadium.
At 1PM the Yankees will host the Indians as they open their new ball park and the game will be broadcast nationally on MLB Network.
Earlier this week via conference call I spoke to Costas and Kaat about the meaning of this game.
Costas: “I wanted to make sure Jim Kaat was a part of the group because he pitched in the true original Yankee Stadium. His career began in 1959 so he pitched against Ted Williams, he faced Mickey Mantle at the old Yankee Stadium, and while the broadcast won’t be exclusively about new stadium, old stadium, it certainly has to be part of it. I thought that Jim’s perspective would be important and as Tony said, Harold has been such a prominent part of the network that it is appropriate that he be involved on this first broadcast. So I think it’s going to be a combination of introducing people outside of New York to the new Yankee Stadium, but also talk about the Yankees prospects and the Indians prospects for the season ahead and the pitching pairing that the rotations hold is CC Sabathia against Cliff Lee so you can’t ask for much more than that. So as long as the weather holds up, I think were in good shape.”
Kaat: ““I’d just like to say that I’m grateful to Tony for giving me the opportunity to get back into the broadcast booth on the MLB Network. When I visited with Tony some time ago in January, he speculated about putting Bob and I together, and it’s particularly thrilling because I know what a baseball fan Bob is. And it’s also an added thrill to be a part of the on-field pre game ceremonies as well, which the Yankees were gracious enough to invite me to be a part of. It’s going to be an exciting day and I’m looking forward to it.”
The duo also commented on the loss of broadcasting legend Harry Kalas.
Costas: “He was more than just admired for his craft; he was a beloved institution in Philadelphia. I think this is generally true, in an era where players, even great players, come and go the real fixture in baseball is often the local radio voice. That’s the person that links generations to each other that people can say they grew up listening to. Richie Ashburn passed away not too long ago, and now Harry Kalas and you’d have to be, and I’m not saying I would understand this fully but I understand the idea of it from St. Louis or the voices I grew up listening to in New York, people in Philadelphia feel a personal sense of loss right now. This is a voice that took them from childhood into adulthood through passages in their life, things change a lot, but you continue to follow your club, the personnel of the club, turns over from generation to generation, Harry Kalas is always calling the game, so this is a civic loss when someone like that passes away. Obviously Harry was a great announcer, he’s even in the Hall of Fame because of that, but you couldn’t convince someone from Philadelphia that there was anyone better to call a game than Harry Kalas. You couldn’t convince someone in St. Louis that there was anyone better to call a game than Jack Buck or before that, Harry Caray, and that’s the way it should be. If you live in Cincinnati, than Marty Brennaman is what baseball sounds like to you. And Ernie Harwell is what it sounded like in Detroit. That’s part of the beauty of baseball broadcasting.”
Kaat: “We all liked to imitate Harry when I was with the Phillies and say “Michael Jack Schmidt” and you said the timber in his voice, but it was more than that. Harry was a good friend. There were 16 of us that usually gathered in the winter time and played golf for four days down in Florida and Harry regaled us with his “Hail to the Redskins” time after time. So beyond just the broadcaster with the booming voice, it was a privilege to know him as a friend. Of course I knew he was not in good health having seen him a few weeks ago, obviously saddened by the news but not surprised.”
I kidded Costas about being away from the booth for so long and I asked him if ever muted the TV sound and did the games play by play. He laughed and said “No I enjoy listening to other broadcasters and watching how they call the game is entertaining to me.”
The last game he called was ironically at the old Yankee Stadium for NBC on October 17, 2000, where the Yankees closed out the ALCS with a win in Game Six over the Seattle Mariners.
I am sure that by the end of the first inning of today’s game on the MLB Network Costas will sound like he is in mid season form. Hey it’s Costas doing baseball – how good is that. Welcome back Bob we missed you.
