Vince Cotroneo
Encyclopedia
Vince Cotroneo is a radio play-by-play announcer for the Oakland Athletics
. He signed a two-year contract with the A's on January 13, 2006 to fill a void in the broadcast booth left by the sudden death of longtime lead announcer Bill King
. Number-two announcer Ken Korach
would slide into King's old number-one slot, with Cotroneo serving as the number-two man.
. He attended the University of Central Florida
, graduating in 1983 with a degree in Radio and Television.
organization - now defunct).
1985-1987: Announcer for the Class AA El Paso Diablos
(formerly Milwaukee Brewers
organization).
1988: Spent one season with the AAA Iowa Cubs
(Chicago Cubs
organization), where he was named the National Association League's Minor League Announcer of the Year.
1989-1990: Broadcaster for the Tucson Toros
, at the time a Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros
. It was during this stint in the Pacific Coast League that he would meet his future Oakland broadcast partner, Ken Korach
, at the time working for the Las Vegas Stars
.
. In 1998, he moved upstate to Arlington, where he called the action for the Texas Rangers
for six years, teaming with Eric Nadel
on the radio side. After the 2003 season, Rangers president Michael Cramer elected not to renew Cotroneo's contract.
After spending two seasons out of baseball, Cotroneo submitted a sample of his work to A's Vice President of Broadcasting and Communications, Ken Pries
. In December, Pries interviewed Cotroneo, and the following month, made the decision to hire him.
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....
. He signed a two-year contract with the A's on January 13, 2006 to fill a void in the broadcast booth left by the sudden death of longtime lead announcer Bill King
Bill King
* For the British author and games designer see, William King * For the British naval officer, yachtsman and author, see Commander Bill King*For the Australian rugby league footballer, see Bill King ...
. Number-two announcer Ken Korach
Ken Korach
Ken Korach is a play-by-play announcer for the Oakland Athletics. He has been with the organization since 1996. During the 2005 season, the Oakland Athletics radio team, including Korach, Bill King and Ray Fosse, was ranked as 2nd best in the American League by USA Today...
would slide into King's old number-one slot, with Cotroneo serving as the number-two man.
Biography
Vince Cotroneo was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Orlando, FloridaOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. He attended the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
, graduating in 1983 with a degree in Radio and Television.
Minor-League Broadcasting Timeline
1984: Worked for the Class A Lynchburg Mets (New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
organization - now defunct).
1985-1987: Announcer for the Class AA El Paso Diablos
El Paso Diablos
The El Paso Diablos are a professional baseball team based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The Diablos are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2005 season to the...
(formerly Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
organization).
1988: Spent one season with the AAA Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
(Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
organization), where he was named the National Association League's Minor League Announcer of the Year.
1989-1990: Broadcaster for the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
, at the time a Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. It was during this stint in the Pacific Coast League that he would meet his future Oakland broadcast partner, Ken Korach
Ken Korach
Ken Korach is a play-by-play announcer for the Oakland Athletics. He has been with the organization since 1996. During the 2005 season, the Oakland Athletics radio team, including Korach, Bill King and Ray Fosse, was ranked as 2nd best in the American League by USA Today...
, at the time working for the Las Vegas Stars
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
.
Major-League Broadcasting Timeline
Cotroneo was hired by the Houston Astros in 1991, and remained with them through 1997, calling the action alongside Hall-of-Famer Milo HamiltonMilo Hamilton
Leland Milo Hamilton is an American sportscaster, best known for calling play-by-play for seven different Major League Baseball teams since 1953...
. In 1998, he moved upstate to Arlington, where he called the action for 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...
for six years, teaming with Eric Nadel
Eric Nadel
Eric Nadel is a sports announcer on radio broadcasts for the Texas Rangers baseball organization.-Biography:He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, as a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and decided at a young age that he wanted to be a sports broadcaster...
on the radio side. After the 2003 season, Rangers president Michael Cramer elected not to renew Cotroneo's contract.
After spending two seasons out of baseball, Cotroneo submitted a sample of his work to A's Vice President of Broadcasting and Communications, Ken Pries
Ken Pries
Ken Pries currently serves as the Vice President of Broadcasting and Communications for the Oakland Athletics, a position he has held since March, 2000. His time with the A's stretches back to 1991, when he worked as the team's executive producer of their radio broadcasts...
. In December, Pries interviewed Cotroneo, and the following month, made the decision to hire him.