Jon Miller – Sports Radio Service

The former St Louis Cardinals play by play voice Jack Buck (left) and Fox Sports play by play voice Joe Buck sit in the St Louis Cardinals broadcast booth on Fathers Day June 18, 1995 (AP News file photo)

National Baseball Broadcaster Joe Buck was awarded the Ford C. Frick Award

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting was won today by Joe Buck, of ESPN Sports, who calls Major League games for the sports network. He joins his father, Jack Buck, who won the award in 1987and who was the beloved “Voice of the St. Louis Cardinals” for nearly 50 years.

I have listened to Joe Buck on ESPN baseball but never met him. I did know his father, Jack. In 1999, during a special ceremony at Candlestick Park, last year the Giants played there. Yours truly and Lon Simmons were co-masters of ceremonies for the No. 30 uniform retirement of Giants great Orlando Cepeda.

Mr. Jack Buck also addressed the crowd during the ceremony. He was a St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster; the Cardinals were in town, and Orlando Cepeda also played for St. Louis. Mr. Buck asked me if he should address the crowd in English or Spanish; he spoke conversational Spanish, but he chose to do it in English.

Mr. Buck, the father, was a much more seasoned broadcaster than his son, Joe, and, in my opinion, a better play-by-play man. Congratulations go out today to his son, Joe Buck for winning this prestigious award.

Joe Buck, son of Jack Buck, today became the first father-son duo of baseball announcers to win the Ford C. Frick Award. National broadcasters are heard across the country and therefore carry more weight when it comes to voting for this award.

For example, Jon Miller, who won this award in 2010, was not only known and heard locally as the Voice of the San Francisco Giants, but was paired with Joe Morgan on ESPN nationwide telecasts in games across the country.

I was rooting for my good friend and pioneer René Cardenas, the first to broadcast for an MLB club in Spanish in 1958 with the Dodgers, before Jaime Jarrin (who won in 1998), to win it this season. I spoke via telephone with Rene today, he told me he understands, but told me he feels he is “totally forgotten”. Cardenas is 95 years young.

Congratulations to Duane Kuiper of the Giants, who was also nominated for this award, which yours truly was proud to be nominated for in 2004.

ESPN pays Major League Baseball over half a billion dollars annually under a deal covering the 2026-2028 season, which includes the MLB TV streaming service.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

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New York Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz has been suspended for ten games due to having a foreign substance on his right hand against the Chicago Cubs on Sun Jun 23, 2024 against the Chicago Cubs. (AP News photo)

‘On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 New York Mets reliever Edwin Diaz was caught red handed by crew chief umpire Vic Carapazza as Diaz was coming out to relieve in the top of the ninth inning on Sunday Night Baseball against the Chicago Cubs. Carapazza found a sticky substance on Diaz’ right hand. Diaz said it was rosin and sweat that was on his hand. Carapazza said it definitely was not rosin or sweat. Diaz can appeal the ten game suspension issued by MLB and continue to play until the disciplinary process is completed.

#2 San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr has been placed on the ten day IL after getting a stress reaction on his right thigh bone. Tatis had been complaining about quadriceps injury Tatis had been examined for the stress reaction in his femur he had imaging work done a few days. Padres manager Mike Shildt said Tatis could play but it would better if he got rest.

#3 Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is experiencing soreness during his rehab after having shoulder surgery. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Kershaw has gone through throwing, velocity, and Roberts said that the soreness is where Kershaw is at right now. Kershaw had an MRI done and there had been no reports of new incidents.

#4 The San Francisco Giants held a very special tribute for the late great Giants outfielder Willie Mays who passed away last week Tuesday. Mays was honored by former and current players and the pre game ceremony was MC’d by Giants lead play by play announcer Jon Miller. It was the Giants first game at home since the passing of Mays.

#5 Amaury, we didn’t get the chance to talk to you about the 1974 Oakland A’s reunion at the Oakland Coliseum Sunday afternoon. The A’s paid tribute to their third World Series Championship team. The players who attended included Darold Knowles, Rollie Fingers, Dave Hamilton, Ted Kubiak, Dick Green, Herb Washington, Billy North, Blue Moon Odom, Joe Rudi, Gene Tenace, and Bert Campaneris. It was a special day for those players to see each other again. Knowles said that this would probably be the last time that this group we’ll be getting together.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tag: Jon Miller

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: National Baseball Broadcaster Joe Buck was awarded the Ford C. Frick Award

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Mets Diaz suspended 10 days for foreign substance; Padres Tatis on 10 day IL with right thigh injury; plus more news