San Francisco’s Barry Bonds is making history, but the broadcasters in the press box are reliving it.
During the Giants four-game series against visiting Washington, which began on Monday and concludes Thursday, many of the biggest names in broadcasting are ready to describe the scene when Bonds’ record-breaking home run sails over the fence.
Though Bonds’ 756th home run will be a new chapter in baseball, it will also be another opportunity for broadcasters Jon Miller and Bob Carpenter to add another memorable call on their resumes.
Miller, the voice of the Giants on KNBR, previously worked for WBAL announcing Orioles’ game and described the scene when Ripken played in his major league-record 2,131st consecutive game.
“That was a game we knew about you had some thoughts that you wanted to covey. The Bonds call will be different it will be spontaneous and I am sure that the adrenaline of the crowd will effect the moment.” said Miller.
MASN Nationals broadcaster Bob Carpenter is no stranger to big time home run calls. He was in the booth as the Cardinals announcer when Mark McGwire captivated the country during his 70-home runs season in 1998. He called home run Nos. 60, 61, 67, 68, 69 and 70. Carpenter also called Ken Griffey, Jr.500th in St. Louis on June, 20th 2004.
“I know that Barry could break the record against the Nationals but I never script calls,” Carpenter said. “Fans know when you are being real. When [McGwire] hit No. 61 that was a special one and I let the moment and the accomplishment be the story. After all it is a home run, once it is over the fence you put it in context and hope you get it right.”
Nationals radio voice Charlie Slowes will be calling the games on WTWP and agrees you don’t script historical moments.
You just let them happen.
“I’ve called 400th home runs for Fred McGriff, Jose Canseco and Cal Ripken, just missed Wade Boggs 3,000 hit (wasn’t my inning) but called 2,998 and 2,999 in same game,” Slowes said. ” Still, I think calling the first pitch at RFK in 2005 was the biggest moment I’ve been a part of to date and introducing Frank Robinson on the field before the last game at RFK last season was a big moment for me. As for Bonds record breaking home run if I get to call it I am sure that the excitement of seeing history will make it special and I will do my best to share that moment with the fans.”
However, the men calling the game on the microphone are often linked to the history breaking moment, as their voice will be heard from generation to generation. When the United States’ hockey team pulled on one of the biggest upsets in sports history by defeating the Soviet Union in the semifinals of the 1980 Olympics, one of the most memorable moments is the commentator Al Michaels asking: “Don you believe in miracles?”
We are very likely to hear another broadcaster’s voice go down in history this week. Or maybe, a few of them. If you’re watching MASN, which is broadcasting the four-game series, it will be Bob Carpenter. If you’re listening on WTWP, you’ll hear Charlie Slowes and if you’re a subscriber of to major league baseball’s on-line service or XM radio, you’ll hear Miller.
No matter who makes the call, it will be a memorable one.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
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