via Alyson Footer's MLBlog, here's a shot of Milo in the press box calling a game. He will be missed.
The Houston Astros have only had two play-by-play announcers in the last 50 years. That is pretty damn amazing.
For many, the Voice Of The Astros will always be Gene Elston, the first PBP man Houston had as a major league team. He was with the team from 1962 until 1986 when he exited the team.
That left room for the New Voice Of The Astros, Milo Hamilton, to join and enlist a host of new fans who remember the team through his signature calls. That's my situation, as I've only really known Milo.
What's more, both of the Astros two play-by-play guys have received the Ford C. Frick Award, which is the Baseball Hall of Fame equivalent of inducting broadcasters. Milo was given the award in 1992 and Elston received his in 2006. Both are more than deserving, but doesn't that set the bar pretty high for whoever follows Milo?
That question took on more relevance on Wednesday, when Hamilton announced at a press conference that he was retiring after the 2012 season. It's not entirely surprising, since the man is 85 years old and has been slowly cutting back his responsibilities for a while now.
However, as recently as Saturday at Astros FanFest, Milo was talking about "chasing the rabbit" with the start of spring training and how the new thing he wanted to chase was 70 years of broadcasting, something he claimed no one else had done. To get there, he'd have to work for three more years, but seemed ready to do that.
When the news broke Tuesday night, I talked to a friend of mine about it and he'd heard from a source that Jim Crane was going to announce a lifetime contract for Milo. Of course, that was supposed to be on Tuesday, and then the presser was pushed back a day, allowing time for stories to break that Milo is retiring.
I'm not sure what to make of the change. I do know Crane is smart enough not to push Milo out, because he doesn't need to antagonize fans any more than he as to at this point. I know we criticize Milo a lot now, but he's still an institution and his exit needed to be handled carefully.
The Astros appear to have done that, as Milo said he had planned all along that this would be his last season calling games. Do you think Milo was just being excited on Saturday or do you think Crane pushed for a decision and Milo decided to announce his retirement?
More importantly, who will fill his rather enormous shoes? The duo of Dave Raymond and Brett Dolan have been around a while now, have they grown on you any more? Do you think that one of them could receive a Frick Award down the line? Or, do the Astros go out and grab someone more established to fill that role?
I guess it all depends on how important radio remains to baseball fans. I'm traditional enough to love listening to a baseball game on the radio. There's something great about it. But, with GameTracker, MLB Extra Innings, DVRs and all the other technology we have these days, is there a place for radio to make someone the Voice of the Astros in the future? Or, will one of the TV guys take that title for people?
0 recs | 39 comments
I've always been in favor
of having Bill Brown and J.D. do both casts.
Timothy De Block - February 16, 2012
I agree
ccislanders - February 16, 2012 via mobile
That would work for me
And Crane could save money to boot!
J.D. and Brownie are terrifically underappreciated on the national level. I think they’re one of the best tandems going. I’m really glad they’re in the booth for the Astros.
If I had to listen to (say) Josh Lewin on a regular basis, I’d have gouged out my eyeballs by now with red-hot pokers.
va que va - February 17, 2012
Bring back Ashby...
I for one have never been a big Milo fan. My all time favorite was Elston and Lowell Passe. Dave Raymond and Brett Dolan…stink. They were, IMO, brought in on the cheap once Ashby was shown the door for upstaging Milo. Drayton didn’t want to bring anybody in who would be better than him. Those 2 have no depth of knowledge of the game from a players perspective, like Ash, Dirk, or Brownie.
So I suppose we radio fans will have to suffer through one more year of this, before hopefully the entire radio crew is replaced.
jano4 - February 16, 2012
I was a really big Ashby fan and would love for him to be brought back. I was never a Milo guy myself, but I understand how some people would find it entertaining. The problem over the last decade, if not before, is that I couldn’t even follow along over the radio, as i had no idea what he was talking about. I’d love to pair up Raymond or Dolan with an old pro like Ashby. They’d really hit their stride with a guy like that who can sell analysis and insight.
MadMartygan - February 16, 2012
I think having both Raymond and Dolan was a product of Milo only doing part time duty. If you’re bringing in someone else you’ll only keep one.
Timothy De Block - February 16, 2012
Right. I don’t really have a preference between one or the other, but I think they are hurt by not having a veteran color analyst. Being paired off with each other or Milo didn’t really put them in a great situation.
MadMartygan - February 16, 2012
Brett Dolan is the better of the two - lots better
Neither are hall of fame material but Dolan does a competent job if had a strong partner. Dave Raymond has not grown intot e job
As I’ll write more later down the thread, I’d like an Ashby-Dierker combo.
Joe in Birmingham - February 21, 2012
who’s the play by play guy?
Timothy De Block - February 21, 2012
If I’ve got the names correct, I’m pretty sure it’s Dolan.
MadMartygan - February 21, 2012
Timothy De Block - February 21, 2012
Oh. Oops. I know that Ashby wanted the play by play job before his departure. I’d have him over Dierker who’s a perfect color man.
MadMartygan - February 21, 2012
Ashby would be great
I thought he was great in the booth, even considering his role was often to explain what Milo just said (or didn’t say). Raymond and Dolan are okay although I’m still not sure which is which.
garyfan - February 16, 2012
seriously
if you’re gonna have two commentator, at least choose two with different voices. they sound the friggin’ same. confusing as hell.
HTown80 - February 17, 2012 via Android app
I'm not going to miss Milo
Milo was good 20 years ago, but that was 20 years ago. I figured McLane brought in 2 radio guys who are the human equivalent of generic fat free cream cheese to avoid any controversy. Ashby was just a little too uncontrollable and when Milo got too Milo, or simply just missed calls due to age you could tell when Ash had enough. While I would love to put Dierker and Ashby back together I’m afraid that ship has sailed. Surely though, there must be better alternatives than Drett and Bave. On the other hand, maybe without Uncle Draconian they’ll be allowed to do a legit broadcast. They are both products of very selective universities, you would hope that would mean something.
Dirtshirt - February 16, 2012
it's his voice
I still get chills hearing him say “holy toledo, what a play”. I can’t see how any astros fan wouldn’t feel the same.
HTown80 - February 17, 2012 via Android app
Nobody ever really thought Milo was good. That’s why he continued to get fired, and that’s why the two goofballs, Milo and Harey Carey, hated each other, they tried to make it about them. I’m a Vin Scully guy, and I like the baseball to draw me in, and not the catchphrases or the singing.
MadMartygan - February 17, 2012
I do love when the Astros play the Dodgers. It’s the only time I look forward to the away feed.
Timothy De Block - February 17, 2012
For sure. Everything sounds just a little more important.
MadMartygan - February 17, 2012
“Uncle Draconian”…LOL!
va que va - February 17, 2012
How about Morgan Ensberg as the color guy for the radio?
clack - February 16, 2012
He’s not bad. He’s been doing some good work on, is it the pac 10 net? He’s got some experience and also big league service. He always seemed like a smart guy.
MadMartygan - February 17, 2012
I didn’t know that about M. Good to know.
va que va - February 17, 2012
Yes! Yes and triple yes.
Timothy De Block - February 17, 2012
I liked him a lot when I heard him during the College World Series. I also enjoyed his blog when he kept up with it. I’d really like hearing him with Baggy in the booth, reminiscing about the early 2000’s.
AstroAndy - February 19, 2012
personally
I prefer listening on the radio, especially when you’re at the game.
HTown80 - February 17, 2012 via Android app
bags would be great
except he just seems so drab when he’s in the booth. idk, but dolan and raymon are not the right pair in my view.
HTown80 - February 17, 2012 via Android app
I think he likes his gig now where he’s only a part time broadcaster and gets to hang in the booth with Brownie and J.D. (who wouldn’t).
Timothy De Block - February 17, 2012
Milo--good and bad
The guy’s voice was made for radio at a time when reception of the signal wasn’t always optimum. In the middle of nowhere (I said this in another thread last week), it’s always reassuring when I tune in 740…and it’s quiet for a while (between pitches)…and THEN MILO’S VOICE comes in loud and clear, despite a weak signal.
But those same positives are a little rankling when the signal’s good (IMO), or when he was on TV for a while a number of years back—the voice is just a bit too much IMO, and I think as he’s gotten older, he’s gotten a bit more voluble than he used to be (although I could be wrong about that). I just find his voice to be a little wearying if the game goes long. Sort of like being too close to someone who loves their megaphone too much.
I find Dolan and Raymond easily distinguishable for some reason, and I think the latter’s voice is easier to listen to. Dolan also unwittingly misspeaks more than either Raymond or Milo, and doesn’t seem to “catch” those missteps. Not a huge deal, though. They’re both solid, but if there’s one to be kept I would vote for Raymond, and give Dolan a solid rec. letter. Pairing R. with Ashby would be very solid, I think, and pretty well received by the fanbase. (Or Ensberg and Raymond, if the former has any experience—I don’t know why, but I suspect Crane would not hire a former player with no booth experience.)
Brownie and J.D. would by far be my first pick, though, to do both. But I suspect that won’t happen. FWIW.
And I definitely enjoy radio. Baseball, unlike most sports, is pretty much OK on radio, IMO (although that tends to be truer for old farts like me born before 1960 anyway).
va que va - February 17, 2012
Brownie and JD are the voices of the Stros right now, and I think they have been for a while now. They’re the best in the business.
MadMartygan - February 17, 2012
JD makes Brownie
While I fall into the previously described old fart demographic my radio needs are limited/indulged almost exclusively while driving. The siren song of HD is too strong. Even so, that’s often enough that it matters. There was a time when I listened to the radio broadcast while watching but that is long past. Brown has always been too straight laced and vanilla for me but he makes a great foil for JD. Va, I’m glad somebody can distinguish Dolan from Raymond. Part of my confusion lies in the fact that even though I very much enjoy radio, those two caused me to plug in my Pod more than once with their drivel and inanities. I always figured that they were better than that but were on eggshells due to McLane. Part of me wants to find out (What better year than this?) and part of me just wants them gone.
Dirtshirt - February 17, 2012
First ray of sunshine
Finally a piece of good news about the Astros. How long has it been?
With Milo it’s not about the game. He thinks we are there to listen to him and the game is just the vehicle for us enjoying his voice. When they dumped Ashby I figured it was because he corrected the stupid things Milo said. Good riddance Milo. Not that I give a @#$% about AL baseball.
Seriously? - February 18, 2012
sarc font?
i sure hope so. but if not, it’s still the internet so i am in no way trying to control what you said, even though it’s effing stupid. hell, i’ll even applaud you for going against the grain on such a well renowned broadcasting career
Jameson Vernon - February 20, 2012
Nope
Read the fourth post in the thread. Famous doesn’t mean good. I haven’t been able to stand listening to the Astros on the radio since Ashby got the boot for having the temerity to correct Milo’s baseball mistakes.
Seriously? - February 20, 2012
wow dude!
I love learning new words. Temerity. I had to look it up! Excellent word! and I did not know about that with Ashby either. To bad how egos always get in the way. Gotta say I still soft spot place in my heart for Milo, having grown up listening to him. Always good to get “the rest of the story”, as it were
Jameson Vernon - February 22, 2012
don't go, Milo!
being the youngun i am, i did not realize milo was 85 or had been around that long. the words holy toledo are ingrained in my mind having grown up in H-town listening to him. Goodness that’s some warm fuzzy childhood memories. We’re gonna miss you Milo! I feel that his voice has always been younger, so to speak, maybe that’s the seasoned broadcaster in him. Maybe it’s me, but I would have never guessed he was in his 80’s, or 70’s while growing up listening to him
Jameson Vernon - February 20, 2012
I like Milo
Despite his being more interested in talking with guests than broadcasting the game the broadcasts are still better with Milo than the road game broadcasts without him.
My pick to succeed Milo is to Alan Ashby and Larry Dierker -If Alan Ashby is happy at hiis current post, Dierker and Brett Dolan may be adequate.
Clack brought up Morgan Ensberg, While I was never a big fan of Morgan Ensberg as a player, I found his Baseball IQ blog to be he most insightful blog I’ve read about basebal. I cannot remember hearig him on the radio – Does he have the voice or personality to pul it off. He definitely has the perspeictive to be a good one.
As a long shot, I’d lke Clack to get the gig.
Joe in Birmingham - February 21, 2012
Ashby-Dierker sounds like a pretty good combo. Ashby is not your typical play by play guy, but I’m sure he could handle it.
MadMartygan - February 21, 2012
Damn
We’ve got nothing left. Nothing.
Caradoc - February 22, 2012
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