Jon Miller
Encyclopedia
Jon Wallace Miller is an American sportscaster
, known primarily for his broadcasts of Major League Baseball
. He is currently employed as a play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco Giants
. He was also a baseball announcer on ESPN until the network chose not to renew his contract following the 2010 season. Miller received the Ford C. Frick Award
from the National Baseball Hall of Fame
in 2010.
.
After graduating from Hayward High School
in 1969, Miller commuted across the bay to take broadcasting classes at the College of San Mateo
. He began his broadcasting career at the college's FM radio station (KCSM-FM) and UHF/PBS TV station (KCSM-TV
), which reached much of the Bay Area. His first over the air baseball broadcasts were from CSM games.
Miller later worked as sports director for KFTY television in Santa Rosa
. In , he landed his first baseball play-by play job, calling that year's World Series
champion Oakland Athletics
.
For a brief period in the 1970s, Miller broadcast for the California Golden Seals
of the National Hockey League
. He also spent the early part of his career announcing San Francisco Dons
and Pacific Tigers
men's college basketball
(1976–1980), the Golden State Warriors
of the NBA
(part-time, 1979
–1982
), and the original San Jose Earthquakes
of the North American Soccer League
.
Jon Miller's first network exposure came in 1976, when he was selected by CBS
-TV to broadcast the NASL Championship Game. From 1974–1976, Miller did play-by-play for the Washington Diplomats
of the NASL. He also announced the Soccer Game of the Week for nationally-syndicated TVS
from 1977–1978.
. After brief stints with the Texas Rangers
(1978
-79
) and the Boston Red Sox
(1980
-82
), he was hired in by Baltimore's WFBR Radio, which at the time served as the flagship station for the Baltimore Orioles
.
, Chuck Thompson
moved from the radio booth to do TV broadcasts full time, and WFBR's president Harry Shriver brought in Miller to handle radio play-by-play duties with fellow broadcaster Tom Marr
. In his first year in Baltimore, Miller called the Orioles' championship
run:
He eventually signed a contract directly with the Orioles and, while the broadcast rights eventually moved to rival station WBAL
, Miller remained their primary announcer through .
At the end of that season
, Orioles owner Peter Angelos
, displeased with Jon's often candid commentary of the Orioles play, declined to renew his contract, citing a desire for a broadcaster who would "bleed more orange and black." Miller returned to the Bay Area
and joined his hometown Giants.
(replacing Hank Greenwald
), calling games on KNBR
radio as well as KTVU
(1997
–2007
) and KNTV
(2008
–present) television. In February 2007, he signed a six-year extension to remain the voice of the Giants through at least the 2012 season. On September 4, 2010, Miller called his first game for CSN Bay Area
as a substitute for Dave Flemming
, who was broadcasting a Stanford Cardinal football
game on the radio.
On May 27, , during a game between the Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks
, Miller called a play involving two defensive errors by the Diamondbacks and at least three separate baserunning mistakes by Giants outfielder Ruben Rivera
. When Rivera was finally thrown out at home plate trying to score what would have been the winning run, Miller declared, The phrase was repeated numerous times on sports radio and highlight shows such as SportsCenter
, and quickly became one of the most famous calls of Miller's long career. He did a similar call on the radio during Game 3 of the 2004 World Series
between the Boston Red Sox
and the St. Louis Cardinals
, when Jeff Suppan
made a baserunning mistake.
On August 7, 2007
, Miller made the call of Barry Bonds
' record-breaking 756th home run on KNBR. His call of the historic home run will likely go down in history as the voice of the moment:
On July 16, 2010, the Giants
organization, including fellow broadcaster Dave Flemming
, honored Miller at AT&T Park
before the game against the New York Mets
, which came about one week before Miller received the Ford C. Frick Award. Before the game got started, Miller threw out the ceremonial first pitch, but by then, the game time was delayed 25 minutes. Current KNTV
news anchor Raj Mathai had to briefly broadcast part of the first inning before Miller took over since Miller had to make his way from the playing field to the broadcast booth.
telecasts, paired with either Tony Kubek
or Joe Garagiola. He also called regional telecasts for The Baseball Network
in -.
From to Miller did national television and radio broadcasts of regular-season and postseason games for ESPN
, most prominently alongside Hall of Famer Joe Morgan
on the network's Sunday Night Baseball
telecasts. Among his ESPN assignments, Miller called 13 World Series
and 10 League Championship Series
for ESPN Radio. In November 2010 it was announced that Miller and Morgan would not be returning to the Sunday night telecasts for the season. Miller was offered, but declined, a continued role with ESPN Radio.
Miller received numerous honors for his ESPN work, including a Cable ACE Award and several Emmy Award
nominations. The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association
inducted him into its Hall of Fame in , and in the Baseball Hall of Fame selected him for its Ford C. Frick Award
.
, during a scene where the gang at the bar is watching a Red Sox game on the television. He is also briefly heard in the films 61* and Summer Catch
.
Miller's voice was used as a baseball commentator in a scene in the English release of the animated movie My Neighbors the Yamadas
.
In 1998
, Miller wrote a book with Mark S. Hyman entitled Confessions of a Baseball Purist: What's Right—and Wrong—with Baseball, as Seen from the Best Seat in the House (ISBN 0-8018-6316-3), where he expounds on the current state of the sport.
It is notable that Miller generally pronounces non-Anglo-American names with the source language pronunciation, in contrast with broadcasters who "Americanize" foreign-named players.
Miller will occasionally quote lines from Shakespeare plays during radio broadcasts. He is well known for his foul ball call, "That ball is fooooul", and his emphatic cries of "Safe!" on close plays and "Two!" for a successful double play. Early in his career, Miller would punctuate home runs with the signature call, "Tell it goodbye!" (in emulation of longtime Giants announcer Lon Simmons
), although he has eschewed this in recent years (although he continues to refer to a home run as a "big fly"). His home run call for Hispanic
batters is now punctuated, "Adios, pelota
!"
Miller is noted in baseball circles for his impersonation of Los Angeles Dodgers
announcer Vin Scully
. Miller also imitates Harry Caray
, Chuck Thompson
, Jack Buck
, Al Michaels
, Babe Ruth
, Bob Sheppard
, and Harry Kalas
, among others. During a rain delay at Baltimore, Miller performed a 30-minute impression of Scully talking about the "zen of Baseball," a tape that still travels around the Internet. During one makeup game at Memorial Stadium, Miller struck up a conversation on the air with a fan in the stands wearing a portable radio to liven up a slow game.
Asked how he got into broadcasting play by play of baseball games, he recalled being in the booth for a major league game with one of the announcers of the day. This announcer had a sandwich in one hand and the latest best seller in the other. Between pitches he would read a page, and sometimes take a bite from the sandwich. Miller told the audience (WBAL - 1990s) that he decided that any job where you could watch a ball game, eat dinner and read a good book was the one for him.
While calling games on the radio for the Giants, Miller occasionally introduces himself and his fellow broadcaster(s), followed by the phrase, "your Giants broadcasters". The same is repeated when Miller is on TV, except he replaces the word "broadcasters" with "telecasters." (Miller is referred to by fellow Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow
as "The Big Kahuna".) He would use similar terminology for his Sunday Night Baseball telecasts on ESPN ("your Sunday night telecasters") and his World Series broadcasts for ESPN Radio ("your World Series broadcasters").
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
, known primarily for his broadcasts of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He is currently employed as a play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He was also a baseball announcer on ESPN until the network chose not to renew his contract following the 2010 season. Miller received the Ford C. Frick Award
Ford C. Frick Award
The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." It is named for Ford Christopher Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball...
from the National Baseball Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
in 2010.
Early life and career
Jon Miller grew up in the San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
.
After graduating from Hayward High School
Hayward High School
Hayward High School is a public high school in Hayward, California, one of four high schools in the city. It is one of the oldest high schools in Northern California. The official mascot for Hayward High is the "Farmer" which dates back to Hayward's period as an agricultural center...
in 1969, Miller commuted across the bay to take broadcasting classes at the College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo is a community college in San Mateo, California. It is part of the San Mateo County Community College District....
. He began his broadcasting career at the college's FM radio station (KCSM-FM) and UHF/PBS TV station (KCSM-TV
KCSM-TV
KCSM-TV, virtual channel 60, is an independent, non-commercial television station located in San Mateo, California, USA. Until 2009, KCSM-TV was a PBS member station...
), which reached much of the Bay Area. His first over the air baseball broadcasts were from CSM games.
Miller later worked as sports director for KFTY television in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
. In , he landed his first baseball play-by play job, calling that year's World Series
1974 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 12, 1974 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaReggie Jackson put the A's on the board first with a solo homer in the top of the second off 20-game winner Andy Messersmith...
champion Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
For a brief period in the 1970s, Miller broadcast for the California Golden Seals
California Golden Seals
The California Golden Seals were a team in the National Hockey League from 1967–76. Initially named California Seals, the team was renamed Oakland Seals part-way through the 1967–68 season, and then to California Golden Seals in 1970. The Seals were one of six teams added to the league as part of...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He also spent the early part of his career announcing San Francisco Dons
San Francisco Dons men's basketball
The San Francisco Dons basketball team represents the University of San Francisco in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's college basketball. The Dons compete in the West Coast Conference, in which they have won sixteen regular season and one conference tournament...
and Pacific Tigers
Pacific Tigers men's basketball
The University of the Pacific Tigers Mens Basketball team are an NCAA Division I basketball team, part of the Big West conference. The team is based in Stockton, California. They play their home games at Alex G. Spanos Center and are led by head coach Bob Thomason.-NCAA Tournament Results:The...
men's college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
(1976–1980), the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(part-time, 1979
1979-80 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Coach of the Year: Bill Fitch, Boston Celtics*All-NBA First Team:**Paul Westphal, Phoenix Suns...
–1982
1981-82 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Moses Malone, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Buck Williams, New Jersey Nets*Coach of the Year: Gene Shue, Washington Bullets*All-NBA First Team:**Larry Bird, Boston Celtics...
), and the original San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes (NASL)
San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984. The team began as an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League. From 1983 to 1984, the team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
.
Jon Miller's first network exposure came in 1976, when he was selected by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
-TV to broadcast the NASL Championship Game. From 1974–1976, Miller did play-by-play for the Washington Diplomats
Washington Diplomats
The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium...
of the NASL. He also announced the Soccer Game of the Week for nationally-syndicated TVS
TVS Television Network
The TVS Television Network, or TVS for short, was a syndicator of American sports programming. It was one of several "occasional" national television networks that sprang up in the early 1960s to take advantage of the establishment of independent television stations and relaxation of the AT&T...
from 1977–1978.
Baseball career
Miller was dismissed by the Athletics following the 1974 season1974 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their fourth consecutive American League West title with a record of 90 wins and 72 losses...
. After brief stints with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
(1978
1978 Texas Rangers season
The 1978 Texas Rangers season involved the Rangers finishing 2nd in the American League West with a record of 87 wins and 75 losses.- Offseason :...
-79
1979 Texas Rangers season
The 1979 Texas Rangers season involved the Rangers finishing 3rd in the American League West with a record of 83 wins and 79 losses.- Offseason :...
) and the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1980
1980 Boston Red Sox season
The 1980 Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing 5th in the American League East with a record of 83 wins and 77 losses, 19 games behind the New York Yankees...
-82
1982 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing 3rd in the American League East with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses.- Regular season :...
), he was hired in by Baltimore's WFBR Radio, which at the time served as the flagship station for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
Baltimore Orioles
After the 1982 season1982 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses.- Offseason :...
, Chuck Thompson
Chuck Thompson
Charles L. "Chuck" Thompson was an American sportscaster best known for his broadcasts of Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles and the National Football League's Baltimore Colts...
moved from the radio booth to do TV broadcasts full time, and WFBR's president Harry Shriver brought in Miller to handle radio play-by-play duties with fellow broadcaster Tom Marr
Tom Marr
Tom Marr is an American talk radio host on WCBM in Baltimore, Maryland known for his conservative political views. His radio career spans close to 45 years, mostly in Baltimore, although he has worked in other major markets during that same period of time.In the Talkers Magazine list for 2010 he...
. In his first year in Baltimore, Miller called the Orioles' championship
World Series Trophy
The Commissioner's Trophy is presented each year by the Commissioner of Baseball to the Major League Baseball team that wins the World Series. Recent trophy designs contain flags representing each team in North America's top two leagues, the National League and the American League...
run:
He eventually signed a contract directly with the Orioles and, while the broadcast rights eventually moved to rival station WBAL
WBAL (AM)
WBAL is a news-talk radio station located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. WBAL broadcasts on a clear channel frequency with 50 kilowatts of power. Owned by the Hearst Corporation, WBAL's tri-mast transmitters are located in Randallstown, Maryland...
, Miller remained their primary announcer through .
At the end of that season
1996 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season in which the Orioles finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses and qualifying for the post-season as the Wild Card team. The Orioles broke the all-time record for most home runs hit by a team with 257...
, Orioles owner Peter Angelos
Peter Angelos
Peter G. Angelos , is an American trial lawyer.Angelos is also the majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles, a baseball team in the American League East Division.-Career:...
, displeased with Jon's often candid commentary of the Orioles play, declined to renew his contract, citing a desire for a broadcaster who would "bleed more orange and black." Miller returned to the Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and joined his hometown Giants.
San Francisco Giants
Since , Miller has been the primary play-by-play voice of the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(replacing Hank Greenwald
Hank Greenwald
Howard "Hank" Greenwald is a former Major League Baseball announcer, known best for being a play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco Giants.-Early career:...
), calling games on KNBR
KNBR
KNBR, The Sports Leader, is the on-air branding used by two AM radio stations in the San Francisco, California, area broadcasting a sports radio format, owned by Cumulus Media....
radio as well as KTVU
KTVU
KTVU, virtual channel 2 , is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Licensed to Oakland, California, the station has been owned by Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises since 1964, making it the largest Fox affiliate by market size that is not owned and operated by the...
(1997
1997 San Francisco Giants season
-Offseason:*November 13, 1996: Matt Williams was traded by the San Francisco Giants with a player to be named later to the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later, Jeff Kent, Julian Tavarez, and Jose Vizcaino. The Cleveland Indians sent Joe Roa to the San Francisco Giants to complete the...
–2007
2007 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants are an American baseball team. Their 2007 season began with the team attempting to return to the post-season for the first time since 2003. New manager Bruce Bochy was hired to help the club improve on a 76 win season in 2006. Giants left fielder Barry Bonds entered 2007...
) and KNTV
KNTV
KNTV, channel 11, is the NBC owned-and-operated television station in the Bay Area market. It is licensed to San Jose, with its transmitter located on San Bruno Mountain, just south of San Francisco. It shares facilities in San Jose with NBC Universal sister station KSTS and CNBC's Silicon...
(2008
2008 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants are an American baseball team. Their 2008 season marks their 50th Anniversary in the Bay Area since moving from New York in 1958. It is also their first since 1992 without all-time home run champion Barry Bonds, who was not re-signed following the 2007 season...
–present) television. In February 2007, he signed a six-year extension to remain the voice of the Giants through at least the 2012 season. On September 4, 2010, Miller called his first game for CSN Bay Area
CSN Bay Area
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area is a regional sports network that serves cable outlets throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as other parts of Northern California, Central California, Southern Oregon, and Nevada.-History:...
as a substitute for Dave Flemming
Dave Flemming
David Braxton "Dave" Flemming is an American sportscaster and television personality, currently working as a play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball as well as the Stanford Cardinal football and basketball teams.Flemming grew up in Alexandria, Virginia,...
, who was broadcasting a Stanford Cardinal football
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
game on the radio.
On May 27, , during a game between the Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks
2003 Arizona Diamondbacks season
The 2003 Arizona Diamondbacks looked to improve on their 98-64 record from 2002. They looked to contend in what was once again a strong National League West Division...
, Miller called a play involving two defensive errors by the Diamondbacks and at least three separate baserunning mistakes by Giants outfielder Ruben Rivera
Ruben Rivera
Rubén Rivera Moreno is a professional baseball player, who is currently an outfielder for the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League. He played Major League Baseball for five different teams, from to...
. When Rivera was finally thrown out at home plate trying to score what would have been the winning run, Miller declared, The phrase was repeated numerous times on sports radio and highlight shows such as SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
, and quickly became one of the most famous calls of Miller's long career. He did a similar call on the radio during Game 3 of the 2004 World Series
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
between the Boston Red Sox
2004 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox 2004 season was the 103rd Major League Baseball season for the Boston Red Sox franchise. Managed under Terry Francona, the team finished with a 98–64 record...
and the St. Louis Cardinals
2004 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals 2004 season was the team's 123rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 113th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 105-57 during the season and won the National League Central division by 13 games over the NL Wild-Card Champion Houston Astros...
, when Jeff Suppan
Jeff Suppan
Jeffrey Scot Suppan , is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent.-Baseball career:Suppan was drafted out of high school by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 1993 amateur draft, and rapidly ascended to the Majors making his debut at the age of 20...
made a baserunning mistake.
His call of home run #756
On August 7, 2007
2007 Major League Baseball season
The 2007 Major League Baseball season, began on April 1 with a rematch of the 2006 National League Championship Series; the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets played the first game of the season at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, which was won by the Mets, 6–1...
, Miller made the call of Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
' record-breaking 756th home run on KNBR. His call of the historic home run will likely go down in history as the voice of the moment:
Miller honored by the Giants
On July 16, 2010, the Giants
2010 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants are an American Major League Baseball team. Their 2010 season marked their 128th year in Major League Baseball, and their fifty-third year in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season...
organization, including fellow broadcaster Dave Flemming
Dave Flemming
David Braxton "Dave" Flemming is an American sportscaster and television personality, currently working as a play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball as well as the Stanford Cardinal football and basketball teams.Flemming grew up in Alexandria, Virginia,...
, honored Miller at AT&T Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
before the game against the New York Mets
2010 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 2010 season was the franchise's 49th season and their second at Citi Field. The team was attempting to rebound from the injury plagued 2009 season as they sought their first postseason appearance since 2006...
, which came about one week before Miller received the Ford C. Frick Award. Before the game got started, Miller threw out the ceremonial first pitch, but by then, the game time was delayed 25 minutes. Current KNTV
KNTV
KNTV, channel 11, is the NBC owned-and-operated television station in the Bay Area market. It is licensed to San Jose, with its transmitter located on San Bruno Mountain, just south of San Francisco. It shares facilities in San Jose with NBC Universal sister station KSTS and CNBC's Silicon...
news anchor Raj Mathai had to briefly broadcast part of the first inning before Miller took over since Miller had to make his way from the playing field to the broadcast booth.
National baseball work
From –, Miller did backup play-by-play for NBC's Saturday Game of the WeekMajor League Baseball Game of the Week
The Major League Baseball Game of the Week is the de facto title for over-the-air, nationally televised coverage of regular season Major League Baseball games...
telecasts, paired with either Tony Kubek
Tony Kubek
Anthony Christopher "Tony" Kubek is a retired American professional baseball player and television broadcaster....
or Joe Garagiola. He also called regional telecasts for The Baseball Network
The Baseball Network
The Baseball Network was a short-lived television broadcasting joint venture between ABC, NBC, and Major League Baseball. Under the arrangement, beginning in the 1994 season, the league produced its own in-house telecasts of games, which were then brokered to air on ABC and NBC...
in -.
From to Miller did national television and radio broadcasts of regular-season and postseason games for ESPN
ESPN Major League Baseball
ESPN Major League Baseball is a promotion of Major League Baseball on ESPN and ESPN2, with simulcasts on ESPNHD or ESPN2HD. ESPN's MLB coverage debuted on April 9, 1990 with three Opening Day telecasts. ESPN Major League Baseball is guaranteed to remain on air until 2013.The title is derived from...
, most prominently alongside Hall of Famer Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
on the network's Sunday Night Baseball
Sunday Night Baseball
Sunday Night Baseball is the Major League Baseball exclusive game of the week that is televised Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN during the regular season...
telecasts. Among his ESPN assignments, Miller called 13 World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
and 10 League Championship Series
League Championship Series
The League Championship Series is the official name for a round of postseason play in Major League Baseball which has been conducted since 1969...
for ESPN Radio. In November 2010 it was announced that Miller and Morgan would not be returning to the Sunday night telecasts for the season. Miller was offered, but declined, a continued role with ESPN Radio.
Miller received numerous honors for his ESPN work, including a Cable ACE Award and several Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nominations. The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association
National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association
The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, or NSSA, is an organization of sports media members in the United States. It constitutes the American chapter of the International Sports Press Association ....
inducted him into its Hall of Fame in , and in the Baseball Hall of Fame selected him for its Ford C. Frick Award
Ford C. Frick Award
The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." It is named for Ford Christopher Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball...
.
Other appearances
Miller's voice can be heard in an 1982 episode of CheersCheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
, during a scene where the gang at the bar is watching a Red Sox game on the television. He is also briefly heard in the films 61* and Summer Catch
Summer Catch
Summer Catch is a 2001 romantic comedy film starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Jessica Biel, and Matthew Lillard. The story takes place on Cape Cod, but the majority of the film was shot in Southport, North Carolina.-Plot:...
.
Miller's voice was used as a baseball commentator in a scene in the English release of the animated movie My Neighbors the Yamadas
My Neighbors the Yamadas
is an anime film directed by Isao Takahata and released by Studio Ghibli on July 17, 1999. The movie is a family comedy that is presented in a comic strip style which is unusual since all the other Studio Ghibli movies are presented in the traditional anime style of Studio Ghibli...
.
In 1998
1998 in literature
The year 1998 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*March 5 - Tennessee Williams' 1938 play, Not About Nightingales, receives its stage première....
, Miller wrote a book with Mark S. Hyman entitled Confessions of a Baseball Purist: What's Right—and Wrong—with Baseball, as Seen from the Best Seat in the House (ISBN 0-8018-6316-3), where he expounds on the current state of the sport.
Commentating style
Miller's delivery is notable for his easygoing, sometimes-humorous manner and measured use of hyperbole, particularly in banter with his partner sportscasters. He livens up many broadcasts with a few Hawaiian and Japanese phrases spoken with impeccable pronunciation, and has been known to announce a half inning totally in Spanish.It is notable that Miller generally pronounces non-Anglo-American names with the source language pronunciation, in contrast with broadcasters who "Americanize" foreign-named players.
Miller will occasionally quote lines from Shakespeare plays during radio broadcasts. He is well known for his foul ball call, "That ball is fooooul", and his emphatic cries of "Safe!" on close plays and "Two!" for a successful double play. Early in his career, Miller would punctuate home runs with the signature call, "Tell it goodbye!" (in emulation of longtime Giants announcer Lon Simmons
Lon Simmons
Lon Simmons born on July 19, 1923, in Elko, Nevada, is an American baseball and football broadcaster, and is currently broadcasting part-time for the San Francisco Giants.-Career:...
), although he has eschewed this in recent years (although he continues to refer to a home run as a "big fly"). His home run call for Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
batters is now punctuated, "Adios, pelota
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
!"
Miller is noted in baseball circles for his impersonation of Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
announcer Vin Scully
Vin Scully
Vincent Edward Scully is an American sportscaster, known primarily as the play-by-play voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team on Prime Ticket, KCAL-TV and KABC radio...
. Miller also imitates Harry Caray
Harry Caray
Harry Caray, born Harry Christopher Carabina, was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
, Chuck Thompson
Chuck Thompson
Charles L. "Chuck" Thompson was an American sportscaster best known for his broadcasts of Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles and the National Football League's Baltimore Colts...
, Jack Buck
Jack Buck
John Francis "Jack" Buck was an American sportscaster, best known for his work announcing Major League Baseball games of the St. Louis Cardinals. Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and is honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame...
, Al Michaels
Al Michaels
Alan Richard "Al" Michaels is an American television sportscaster. Now employed by NBC Sports after nearly three decades with ABC Sports, Michaels is one of the most prominent members of his profession...
, Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, Bob Sheppard
Bob Sheppard
Robert Leo "Bob" Sheppard was the long-time public address announcer for numerous New York area college and professional sports teams, in particular the MLB New York Yankees , and the NFL New York Giants .Sheppard announced more than 4,500 Yankees baseball games over a period of 56 years,...
, and Harry Kalas
Harry Kalas
Harry Norbert Kalas was an American sportscaster, best known for his Ford C. Frick Award-winning role as lead play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies...
, among others. During a rain delay at Baltimore, Miller performed a 30-minute impression of Scully talking about the "zen of Baseball," a tape that still travels around the Internet. During one makeup game at Memorial Stadium, Miller struck up a conversation on the air with a fan in the stands wearing a portable radio to liven up a slow game.
Asked how he got into broadcasting play by play of baseball games, he recalled being in the booth for a major league game with one of the announcers of the day. This announcer had a sandwich in one hand and the latest best seller in the other. Between pitches he would read a page, and sometimes take a bite from the sandwich. Miller told the audience (WBAL - 1990s) that he decided that any job where you could watch a ball game, eat dinner and read a good book was the one for him.
While calling games on the radio for the Giants, Miller occasionally introduces himself and his fellow broadcaster(s), followed by the phrase, "your Giants broadcasters". The same is repeated when Miller is on TV, except he replaces the word "broadcasters" with "telecasters." (Miller is referred to by fellow Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow
Mike Krukow
Michael Edward "Mike" Krukow is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently a television color commentator for the San Francisco Giants.-Early life:...
as "The Big Kahuna".) He would use similar terminology for his Sunday Night Baseball telecasts on ESPN ("your Sunday night telecasters") and his World Series broadcasts for ESPN Radio ("your World Series broadcasters").
External links
- Jon Miller's ESPN Bio
- KFTY newscast from 1972 featuring a young Jon Miller
- Audio clip of Jon Miller's call of Ruben Rivera's infamous baserunning gaffe
- Jon Miller Wows Hall of Fame Audience
- Radio made Jon Miller raconteur in TV booth
- YouTube video of Miller during his time as Baltimore Orioles broadcaster