Baseball Address 2013 List Ships!

Harvey Meiselman has done it again.

He wrote: “Just to let you know I shipped the initial batch of orders this past Saturday, January 5th, right on schedule. 427 packages out the door.”

Although 427 collectors have a headstart on you, it’s not too late. In fact, now’s the best time to order his Baseball Address List. Because of the Jan. 27 U.S. Postal Service rate hike, Harvey has to increase his price to $37 to cover the new expense. Order before Jan. 27 to get the old $35 postage-paid deal.

Harvey has all his bases covered. Remember December’s feature about collecting Ford Frick Award honorees? Harvey’s list is the place for all the addresses.

To order or learn more, go to http://sportsaddresslists.com/.

Baseball’s Best Broadcasters: Collecting Ford Frick Winner Autographs

Brian Flam (www.theautographcard.com) brings new hope to the TTM hobby. He pointed out one attractive subset of baseball history that many autograph buffs have overlooked: the Ford Frick winners, as honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Although many early pioneers have died, Brian noted that he’s had good success through the years writing to broadcasters in care of their teams.

I agree. I treasure the bonus photo I received years ago from Jack Buck. He added “HOF 1987” and “Go Crazy Folks.”

Who’ll be the next names on the list? Get them early.

1978 Allen, MelMel Allen New York Yankees
1978 Barber, RedRed Barber Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees
1979 Elson, BobBob Elson Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Mutual
1980 Hodges, RussRuss Hodges New York/San Francisco Giants
1981 Harwell, ErnieErnie Harwell Detroit Tigers
1982 Scully, VinVin Scully Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, NBC
1983 Brickhouse, JackJack Brickhouse Chicago Cubs
1984 Gowdy, CurtCurt Gowdy Boston Red Sox, NBC
1985 Canel, BuckBuck Canel New York Yankees, New York Mets
1986 Prince, BobBob Prince Pittsburgh Pirates
1987 Buck, JackJack Buck St. Louis Cardinals, CBS
1988 Nelson, LindseyLindsey Nelson New York Mets
1989 Caray, HarryHarry Caray St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs
1990 Saam, ByBy Saam Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics
1991 Garagiola, JoeJoe Garagiola NBC
1992 Hamilton, MiloMilo Hamilton Houston Astros
1993 Thompson, ChuckChuck Thompson Baltimore Orioles
1994 Murphy, BobBob Murphy New York Mets
1995 Wolff, BobBob Wolff Washington Senators, NBC
1996 Carneal, HerbHerb Carneal Minnesota Twins
1997 Dudley, JimmyJimmy Dudley Cleveland Indians
1998 Jarrín, JaimeJaime Jarrín Los Angeles Dodgers
1999 McDonald, ArchArch McDonald Washington Senators
2000 Brennaman, MartyMarty Brennaman Cincinnati Reds
2001 Ramírez, FeloFelo Ramírez Florida Marlins
2002 Kalas, HarryHarry Kalas Philadelphia Phillies
2003 Uecker, BobBob Uecker Milwaukee Brewers
2004 Simmons, LonLon Simmons San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics
2005 Coleman, JerryJerry Coleman San Diego Padres
2006 Elston, GeneGene Elston Houston Astros, CBS Radio
2007 Matthews, DennyDenny Matthews Kansas City Royals
2008 Niehaus, DaveDave Niehaus Seattle Mariners
2009 Kubek, TonyTony Kubek NBC, Toronto Blue Jays
2010 Miller, JonJon Miller Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, ESPN
2011 Van Horne, DaveDave Van Horne Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins
2012 McCarver, TimTim McCarver New York Mets, ABC, CBS, Fox

Giants, A’s Broadcaster Lon Simmons Downplays Hall Of Fame Status As Ford Frick Winner

Thankfully, the ghost
of Frick hasn’t put
an asterisk by
Simmons’ name!

Any Bay Area baseball fans will recall his calls. He’s the voice that beckoned Giants and Athletics followers. He’s Lon Simmons.

In an amazing reply of blunt humility, the acclaimed broadcaster questioned his 2004 Frick Award honor from the Baseball Hall of Fame. He wrote:

“I did not and do not feel I deserved to be inducted into Cooperstown. But it was the first year fans were allowed a vote in the process. Bay Area fans cast enough votes for me to join the final ten and it didn’t take a great number of votes from the committee to give me the honor.”


Simmons did accept the award. He recalled the ceremony:

“I was overwhelmed by the fact that there were fifty Hall of Famers at the ceremony, most of whom I was privileged to speak about and with in my time with the Giants and A’s. Also a good friend from my years with the A’s — Dennis Eckersley — was inducted in the same ceremony.”


Didn’t make it to Cooperstown that year? Relive the glory courtesy of the Bay Area Radio Museum, offering a replay of Simmons’ acceptance speech!

Coming Friday: Simmons salutes Giants broadcaster Russ Hodges!

Marlins Voice Dave Van Horne Reveals Origin of His Signature Homer Call: "Up, Up and Away!"

In my eyes, Dave Van Horne is a Hall of Famer.

Ford Frick Award winner Van Horne is being honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame this year. No, he is not an inductee. He will not have a plaque. However, I still think he has a Hall of Fame voice. I’ll never condemn a broadcaster who signs “HOF” with his award-winning year after.

For someone thinking that a Frick winner is common, consider this: the award began in 1978. Only one man has been honored each year. I think this puts Van Horne in select company.

Van Horne has been a baseball broadcast tradition since 1969. He sent me a reply I’ll treasure. I consider it a preview of the acceptance speech he’ll be making in Cooperstown later this year.

I asked the man who called the first Montreal Expos game in 1969 about his first place of employment, Jarry Park:

“A very unique ballpark, built in the corner of a huge municipal park facility, just north of the downtown area, north of Mount Royal. It really didn’t compare to other ballparks of that time (1969) but I guess, in a way, it was not unlike Colt .45 Stadium.”

Van Horne solved one mystery, in part.

“‘Up, Up and Away’ began in the 1970 season. ‘Stole’ the line from the 5th Dimension hit song. I don’t remember the first time I used it, but it probably would have been after a home run by Bob Bailey, Mack Jones, Coco Laboy or Rusty Staub. I’m just guessing here.”

Everyone ALWAYS asks baseball insiders to name an all-time all-star team. I wanted Van Horne to tell me the “go to” players who helped him take care of his business. In short, an all-time INTERVIEW team!

“Best interview subjects over the years. There was so many. Staub, Bobby Wine, Gary Sutherland, Ty Cline, Ron Fairly, Ron Hunt, Gene Mauch, Cal McLish and many other Expos. Making the short list of non-Expos: Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Willie Stargell, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Phil Niekro, Jerry Reuss, Steve Garvey, Willie McCovey, Tommy Lasorda, Danny Murtaugh, Felipe Alou, Buck Rodgers and many, many others to numerous to mention here.”

Could you tell someone why you’re a baseball fan? Let this award-winning Marlins ambassador go first. Sense the gratitude and awe in Van Horne’s heart-felt assessment of the sport:

“I’ve always loved the game. I’ve enjoyed being in the company of so many wonderful people, on and off the field. Every day, every game, a new adventure. No one knows what’ll happen one pitch to the next. Strong, fast, gifted athletes playing a game that requires the mastery of so many skills; who could ask for anything more than to be able to watch them play the game, every day, every season, for a 43-year career (and counting).”

To borrow from another hit song, in Van Horne style, I second that emotion.

Tomorrow: Pat Gillick, baseball’s newest Hall of Famer, shares his roots.

Marlins Voice Dave Van Horne Reveals Origin of His Signature Homer Call: “Up, Up and Away!”

In my eyes, Dave Van Horne is a Hall of Famer.

Ford Frick Award winner Van Horne is being honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame this year. No, he is not an inductee. He will not have a plaque. However, I still think he has a Hall of Fame voice. I’ll never condemn a broadcaster who signs “HOF” with his award-winning year after.

For someone thinking that a Frick winner is common, consider this: the award began in 1978. Only one man has been honored each year. I think this puts Van Horne in select company.

Van Horne has been a baseball broadcast tradition since 1969. He sent me a reply I’ll treasure. I consider it a preview of the acceptance speech he’ll be making in Cooperstown later this year.

I asked the man who called the first Montreal Expos game in 1969 about his first place of employment, Jarry Park:

“A very unique ballpark, built in the corner of a huge municipal park facility, just north of the downtown area, north of Mount Royal. It really didn’t compare to other ballparks of that time (1969) but I guess, in a way, it was not unlike Colt .45 Stadium.”

Van Horne solved one mystery, in part.

“‘Up, Up and Away’ began in the 1970 season. ‘Stole’ the line from the 5th Dimension hit song. I don’t remember the first time I used it, but it probably would have been after a home run by Bob Bailey, Mack Jones, Coco Laboy or Rusty Staub. I’m just guessing here.”

Everyone ALWAYS asks baseball insiders to name an all-time all-star team. I wanted Van Horne to tell me the “go to” players who helped him take care of his business. In short, an all-time INTERVIEW team!

“Best interview subjects over the years. There was so many. Staub, Bobby Wine, Gary Sutherland, Ty Cline, Ron Fairly, Ron Hunt, Gene Mauch, Cal McLish and many other Expos. Making the short list of non-Expos: Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Willie Stargell, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Phil Niekro, Jerry Reuss, Steve Garvey, Willie McCovey, Tommy Lasorda, Danny Murtaugh, Felipe Alou, Buck Rodgers and many, many others to numerous to mention here.”

Could you tell someone why you’re a baseball fan? Let this award-winning Marlins ambassador go first. Sense the gratitude and awe in Van Horne’s heart-felt assessment of the sport:

“I’ve always loved the game. I’ve enjoyed being in the company of so many wonderful people, on and off the field. Every day, every game, a new adventure. No one knows what’ll happen one pitch to the next. Strong, fast, gifted athletes playing a game that requires the mastery of so many skills; who could ask for anything more than to be able to watch them play the game, every day, every season, for a 43-year career (and counting).”

To borrow from another hit song, in Van Horne style, I second that emotion.

Tomorrow: Pat Gillick, baseball’s newest Hall of Famer, shares his roots.