My latest Chicago Tribune column is on Ken Harrelson, a finalist for this year’s Frick Award. However, the White Sox announcer knows it is a process to win the Hall of Fame’s highest honor for an announcer.
You also can access the column via my Twitter feed at Sherman_Report.
From the column:
*********
Jerry Reinsdorf is talking up Ken Harrelson, who rarely needs help calling attention to himself.
The long-time White Sox play-by-play voice is a candidate for the 2014 Ford Frick Award, the Hall of Fame’s highest honor for a baseball broadcaster. The team chairman gives such a ringing endorsement, it almost seems as if he would be happier than Harrelson if he won.
Reinsdorf, 77, calls the 72-year-old Harrelson “a brother,” although he puts his sentiments in another context.
“You always take more pleasure from seeing your kids succeed,” Reinsdorf said.
Harrelson is one of 10 finalists for the Frick Award, which recognizes long and meritorious service in the booth. The group includes Mike Shannon from the Cardinals and Dewayne Staats, the former Cubs announcer who now works for the Rays.
The voting committee is made up of all 16 living Frick Award winners, including Vin Scully and Bob Uecker, and a panel of five broadcast consultants, including Bob Costas. The winner will be announced Dec. 11 at the Baseball Winter Meetings.
The Frick Award doesn’t mean the recipient technically is in the Hall of Fame. But he does get a plaque in Cooperstown.
It is as big as it gets for announcers, as Harrelson seeks to join previous winners with Chicago ties — Harry Caray, Jack Brickhouse, Bob Elson and Milo Hamilton. However, he is realistic about his chances. He knows winning the Frick Award is a process.
“I used to call (Mariners announcer) Dave Niehaus, and say ‘This is your year, Buddy,'” Harrelson said. “He’d say, ‘I’ve been a finalist 14 or 15 times. I don’t even think about it anymore.'”
What happened to Niehaus, who finally won the Frick in 2008, shows voters tend to go with candidates who have been finalists for many years. This is Harrelson’s second time on the final ballot.
Length of service with one team also is a top priority. Harrelson just completed his 27th year with the Sox. Meanwhile, Shannon, one of this year’s favorites, has logged 42 years with the Cardinals.
In other words, Harrelson might have to get in line.
“I have a 100-mile drive (from the South Bend area, where I live during the season) to do the Sox games,” Harrelson said. “After our game, I listen to a lot of the games (on satellite radio). Shannon is terrific. He’s old school. All of the guys on the list are deserving to be in the Hall of Fame.”
Indeed, it is up to Reinsdorf to do any sort of campaigning for Harrelson. He hired him along with Don Drysdale to man the White Sox TV booth in 1982.
“He has all his ‘Hawkisms,’ but if you get through, ‘The put-it-on-the-board’ stuff, he tells you a lot about the game,” Reinsdorf said. “When you think of Hawk, you think of the White Sox. There’s no question he’s extremely popular with our fans.”
******
Click on my Twitter feed to win the entire column.
At one time the combo of Don Drysdale and Hawk were one of the best in the game. I respect what Hawk has done over his career but in my opinion it’s not Hall of Fame worthy, particularly the last few years with the ranting, the periods of silence when the Sox are playing bad and the tension which is pretty clear between him and Steve Stone.
This is Reinsdorfs kind of guy ! Not 1 ounce of objectivity in him . Lot of dead air when the Sox are playing bad and always complains about the umps. I can’t to listen to him anymore . I don’t know how poor Steve Stone can sit beside him doing color . Speaking of Stone he should be nominated some day, He’s the best !