Results tagged ‘ Richie Ashburn ’
Several Phillies announcers are up for the Ford C. Frick Award for Broadcasting.
The former center fielder and offensive catalyst, who entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as a player in 1995, is among the names on the preliminary ballot for the Ford C. Frick Award.
The award is given to a broadcaster yearly, and this is the first step in the process. The top three vote-getters by the fans automatically qualify for the 10-member ballot that will be announced Oct. 6.
Ashburn,the longtime colorful color man to Hall of Famer announcer Harry Kalas, known as “Whitey,” could be named in July. Veteran announcers Chris Wheeler, Larry Andersen and former broadcaster Andy Musser are also included on the ballot.
Andersen, who completed his 11th season as a broadcaster, is on the preliminary ballot for the second time.
The Ford C. Frick Award recognizes one broadcaster each year who is then enshrined with the immortal voices of the sport. Legends Kalas (2002) and Byrum Saam (1990) are already enshrined in the broadcasters’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and wouldn’t mind company.
Of the 122,505 fans who participated in the online election last year, 82,304 (67.2 percent) voted for Joe Nuxhall, who died Nov. 15 from pneumonia at the age of 79. King received 7,659 votes and Morgan 6,065.
More than 470,000 votes were cast in the first five years of online balloting. Bay Area broadcaster Lon Simmons, who won the award in 2004, received the most fan votes in ’03. Niehaus topped the online voting in ’04 and King was the leader in ’05 and ’06.
Voters are asked to base selections on the following criteria — longevity; continuity with a club; honors, including national assignments such as the World Series and All-Star Games; and popularity with fans.
The voting electorate consists of 20 members, featuring 2005 Ford C. Frick Award winner Jerry Coleman and the other living Frick Award winners, including Marty Brennaman, Joe Garagiola, Ernie Harwell, Jaime Jarrin, Milo Hamilton, Kalas, Felo Ramirez, Vin Scully, Simmons and Bob Uecker. Paper ballots will be cast by voting members in January and the final results will be announced by the Hall of Fame in February.
Ashburn, arguably the most popular athlete in Philadelphia sports history, was enshrined as a player in 1995 by the Veterans Committee. Retiring in 1962, he joined the broadcast team of Saam and Bill Campbell, then teamed with Kalas beginning in 1971. His 35-year broadcasting career ended when he passed away on Sept. 9, 1997.
This season marks Wheeler’s 36th year with the Phillies. He joined the organization in 1971 — the first year of Veterans Stadium — as assistant director of publicity and public relations. He was added to the broadcast team in 1977 and has been on the air since.
Along with Kalas, Wheeler has witnessed many of the greatest games in Phillies history. He helped call three no-hitters, as well as a World Series championship in 1980 and National League pennants in 1976-78, ’83 and ’93.
Musser spent all 26 of his seasons with the Phillies from 1976-2001. He replaced Saam in 1976 and formed a trio with Kalas and Ashburn for more than 20 years. Musser missed only two games while with the Phillies because of laryngitis.
Other candidates with Philadelphia broadcasting ties are John Gordon — who began his career in 1965 with the Spartanburg Phillies — Tim McCarver (1980-82) and Al Helfer (1958). (H/T Phillies.com)
So, Richie Ashburn can be in the Hall not only for his bat and glove but also for his voice? Never thought that would ever be possible. Well, I’d already voted, and who did I vote for? Ashburn, Tony Kubeck and Phil Rizzuto. Go Richie!!!
Juan Samuel becomes the 30th Phil to join the Phillies’ Walk of Fame.
That’s how the player known for his hustle and determination went into the Phillies Wall of Fame, as its 2008 inductee on Friday. The career moments also showed Samuel with a constant smile, a common aspect of his personality.
“This is special,” Samuel said. “It’s mind-boggling to me that every time I visit a town I’m visiting, people recognize me as a Phillie. I’m proud of that.”
Surprisingly, Samuel didn’t slide headfirst onto the podium to accept the honor. The mountain of black hair that used to barely fit under his cap has been replaced by short graying hair.
Smiling as he listened to roars from the Citizens Bank Park crowd, Samuel became emotional when thanking the fans. With tears streaming down Samuel’s cheeks, he stopped mid-sentence to wipe his eyes.
Just then, it seemed the gravity of sharing a stage with nine Phillies greats who were present — Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts and Jim Bunning, plus Bob Boone, Tony Taylor, Dick Allen, Greg Luzinski and Dallas Green — finally sunk in for the team’s 30th inductee to the Phillies Wall of Fame.
“Some of the guys I played with, some coached me and some I watched play on my black-and-white TV in the Dominican,” Samuel said. “It’s special that they’re here to share this moment with me.”
Samuel, 47, debuted in 1983 and had an exciting combination of power and speed. His 28 homers in 1987 stood as a record for homers by a second baseman until Chase Utley broke it in 2006.
Samuel remained with the Phillies until June 18, 1989, when he went to the Mets in a deal that brought Lenny Dykstra and Roger McDowell to Philadelphia. He was crushed to leave the city, and still considers himself a Phillie nearly 20 years later.
“I do,” said Samuel, who is the third-base coach for the Orioles. “There’s so many people here that I know very well that I keep in touch with. I want this team to go as far as it can and win a championship for those folks. I follow them.”
Samuel said that most of his memorabilia is from his days with the Phillies — uniform jerseys, his Silver Slugger Award from 1987, the ball from his first hit and first home run. Memories.
“Sammy was the most exciting player on the Phillies in the early ’80s. He had power, average, great arm and speed to burn,” Schmidt said. “He hit in front of me and created RBI situations every game. He was my young son’s favorite player through the ’80s.”
The applause for the popular Samuel seconded that notion. Many came out on 8-8-08 to honor the player who wore No. 8.
“Perfect, Samuel said. “Somebody must have planned it that way. This is a good day.” (H/T Phillies.com)
And Juan Samuel now joins the likes of Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Tony Taylor, Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts into the Phillies’ Walk of Fame. And I’m happy to hear that he’d loved playing baseball in this city and that he still follows the team. Hey guys, can we quit embrassing yourselves in front of Juan? I’m just saying!!! As I’d said when it was announced that he would be joining the Walk of Fame that it was a shame that the Phillies couldn’t get into the post-season while he was playing here.
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