Road to The Show is Challenging for Broadcasters, Too

by  |  April 26, 2018

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Jenny CavnarWhen Jenny Cavnar sat in front of the camera this week to call the Rockies game against San Diego, she further advanced broadcast journey for women in baseball. She was gracious in acknowledging the pioneers before her but was focused on the game. A good journalist tries to not be the story. An impossible feat in this case.

I tuned in the next night to see how the Rockies broadcast team would address the historical moment, and by that time, it seemed the moment hit her. She thanked all the supporters from her family to the organization and was even a little choked up by the praise. It was a great moment for baseball and women in sports. 

But what goes by the wayside is the journey to that specific moment. The road to the show is filled with people who toiled in Minor League Baseball, who spent time in the Independent Leagues and who weren’t able to reach the pinnacle. In a way, the life of someone who works in baseball reflects the voyage each player takes. Below is a list of play-by-play broadcasters. Some names you know, same you don’t; but we will compare how baseball players and play-by-play broadcasters reach their destinies. Because the one thing you’ll learn, if you ever pick up a headset, is that play-by-play is a monster unlike any other, and baseball is the apex of the craft.

The God

“Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” Famous words from The Sandlot spoken by pretend Babe Ruth, but poignant for our purposes. The real Ruth is synonymous with baseball. The guy who is 100 to the kid who is picking up the ball for the first time. Everyone knows “The Sultan of Swat,” “The Colosus of Clout,” “THE GREAT BAMBINO,” well, everyone except Smalls. In the broadcast world, Vin Scully is the one you dare not look in the eyes for fear of turning your hair white. Sixty-seven years of greatness and a Hall-of-Famer since 1982. He is our George Washington. 

The Natural

Guys like Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale have meteoric rises to the majors. The same happens with broadcasters. Do yourself a favor and listen to Dave Flemming of the San Fransico Giants. In just four years, he went from broadcasting High-A ball with the Vasalia Oaks to the San Fransico Giants. He was weaved into the Barry Bonds chase, won World Series rings and called Kevin Millwood’s no-hitter versus the Giants in 2003. It was the last no-hitter at Veteran’s Stadium in Philadelphia, and I happened to be in the stands because I got a free ticket. Thanks Anthony Zorzi! 

The Pro

I’ve had the pleasure of picking up pointers from this next person, so I might be a little bias. Scott Franzke of the Philadelphia Phillies embodies a pro much like Adrian Beltre. With wit and honesty, Franzke is one of the best in the league. His skills have brought him from Class A to the Olympics to Major League Baseball, where he has long career ahead of him at just 46 years-old.

The Prized Prospect

Fitting that the Chicago White Sox have a farm system filled with prospects, much like their broadcast booth. Jason Benetti is a name familiar to those in Chicago, and his profile is rapidly growing with broadcasts on ESPN, Fox Sports and Westwood One. Blessed with the quintessential broadcast voice, Benetti brings a different style than the White Sox fanbase is accustomed to with Hawk Harrelson. A clean, entertaining and informative broadcast is what you get every time with Benetti. He’s also an inspiring figure as his diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy hasn’t slowed or deterred him. 

Organizational Depth

Chris Garcia was a case study in not focusing on the moment and worrying about what was next. This former Minor Leaguer was drafted twice, once in the 15th round and once in 44th round, but could never stick because of immaturity issues. It’s a shame to see that happen to a guy with a .304/.416/.469 slash line. Obviously, there were deficiencies in his game, but he was a guy who should have advanced past High-A.

Sounds kind of like me during my broadcasting career! It’s the curse of a freelance broadcaster. You do your best to broadcast games. You help with sales, stadium operations and all things associated with the team. Meanwhile, you’re focused on your next job, too. Where are you moving to next, can you pay rent, do you need a second job to get by? If you’re not a talent like the three broadcasters above, you must grind indefinitely and focus intensely. I could have bounced back and forth between teams in Virginia or taken any of the jobs I was offered in the desert of California, the tundra of Iowa or a tiny town two hours outside of Denver. By the time my season in Radford ended in 2013, I was burned out. But those are the things you need to do if you want to make it to the top. That being said, if someone wants to me hire me, I’m available for the right price. 

The Next Wave

Bloodlines are an interesting fabric of baseball. There are top-tier families, like the Bonds and Griffeys, and generational big-leaguers, like the Alous and the Boones. And there’s the new dynasties, like the Bichettes. Dante Sr. was an All-Star talent with an all-star mullet. His offspring have two similar but unfinished stories. Dante Jr. was a talent from Little League participating in their annual World Series in Williamsport. He went on to be drafted 51st overall by the Yankees, but after six seasons of struggles, he was was not resigned. The Colorado Rockies took a peek at their former star’s son before eventually cutting him, too. Meanwhile, Bo is a stud prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays. Currently in Double-A, Jays fans are salivating at the vision of Bo and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being staples in Toronto’s lineup for years to come. 

Much like those families, there’s a handful of broadcasters who have made MLB a family business. The Kalases and Careys are two you might be most familiar with, but have you heard of the Mercers? Patriarch, Bill Mercer, was a former MiLB and MLB broadcaster, most notably with the Texas Rangers. However, granddaughter, Erin Tiedemann, is making noise as the first female in the South Atlantic League to head a play-by-play position. It’s her, along with Kirsten Karbach of the Clearwater Thrashers and Melanie Newman of the Mobile BayBears, who is leading the charge.

It’s truly an exciting time for women broadcasters in baseball. No longer are they relegated to the sidelines as a counterbalance to the male dominated booths. So, to pioneers like Mary Shane, Gayle Gardner and Suzyn Waldman, thank you. Thank you for making our craft better and opening the door for future generations.