BYLINE: Ed Sherman Chicago Tribune

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.

Ed Sherman

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"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."

Yet apart from Sox fans, Harrelson has been criticized for being a homer, at times going over the top. His polarizing style could be a turn-off for some Frick voters who prefer a less partisan call.

So be it, Harrelson said. Early in his broadcast career in Boston, Harrelson noted within a two-week period he got the same advice from Curt Gowdy and Howard Cosell: "Be yourself and don't try to please everybody."

"I have people who love me, people who can't stand me, and there's not too much in between," Harrelson said. "There's not much apathy in there."

Reinsdorf's dream scenario would be for next summer's Hall of Fame ceremony to feature slugger Frank Thomas, who is eligible for the first time, and Harrelson. Harrelson's acceptance speech likely would be a highlight at Cooperstown.

If he doesn't get the nod in December, Harrelson will have to wait another three years to be considered again thanks to a change in format by the Hall. In an effort to recognize announcers who have been overlooked from baseball's more distant past, the Hall decided to place Frick voting on a rotating category basis. This year, it is "The High Tide Era" from 1980 to present; next year will be "The Living Room Era" covering the mid-50s to the early '80s; in 2015, the Frick will consider nominees from "The Broadcast Dawn Era," pre-1950s; then back to the modern era in 2016 for the 2017 ceremonies.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

STRETCH!

They hand this award out to some old fart every year. Sooner or later they will have no one left and will have to be awarding the likes of Hawk or Joe Carter.

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DeWayne Staats is more deserving of a broadcasting award than Hawk or Shannon, and I've hardly heard the man speak.

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"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.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I understand if you don't like Hawk now but there are very few broadcasters who had more impact on the game.

Harry Caray sucked at the end of his run too. It doesn't mean he wasn't great and important at one time too.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Senility aside

Hawk hasnt said much about the game on in front of him for about 15 years.

and the last thing Harry ever was is silent!

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I like Hawk, but dont compare him to Harry Caray.

And Harry never sucked. He was old, but still entertaining.

considering Hawk has been doing this for 35 years and is voted upon by his peers, doesnt this say something?

I would also say that Jerry pushing him for this award might not be seen as a good thing in some guys eyes.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Hawk is still very entertaining. That's why he gets talked about so much.

Harry was bad towards the end. It happens to pretty much every broadcaster that lasts this long. Madden was bad too.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Ill just have to disagree.

He lost a bit, but he was still very good. Not close to "bad"

Hawk gets talked about for complaining about umps, fighting with media guys/his partner and talking about Yaz.

Not sure this is FRICK material

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Didnt Hawk already win this thing?

I feel like we already had this thread

There are two discussions here.

1) Hawk is entertaining now.
2) Hawk was very good before.

I think both are true. I understand that Hawk has lost more than a step now but there are very few announcers who had a bigger impact than him. The amount of phrases he's added to baseball is probably hall of fame worthy on it's own. People are just jaded because Hawk isn't as good as he once was.

When he retires people will forget all about his last few years like they do with all the other announcers.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Rick, I dont think he was ever that good. I mean he's a good old broadcaster.

Anyone who spends over 15 years calling a team's games is going to have a big impact on that teams history.


What phrases are you referring to? Im not sure he's added any phrases that are used for anything other than imitating Hawk

Longevity at his job or actual HOF broadcaster?

Harry and Hawk is a comparison that should never be made.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Harrelson#Catch_phrases.2C_criticism_and_nicknames

Many of those phrases reach far beyond Sox broadcasts. You hear them on sportscenter and other highlight shows a lot.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

For the record, I'm not saying Hawk was better or equal to Harry. Harry is just an example of someone who also saw declines towards the end of his career but it didn't lessen his overall career.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I've always disliked that old coot. I didn't like him when he thought he was a young hipster wearing Nehru jackets and gold chains and I like him less as an old codger in bad sunglasses and members only jackets.

He has always been full of himself.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Yes, when they're showing highlights of the Sox and imitating Harrellson.


The only ones that Ive ever heard anywhere else are put it on the board and grab some bench and I dont think he invented those.

The way he disappeared for the 05 postseason always perplexed me. He shoulda been all over that.

You're right. Hawkisms aren't a thing.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

"Grab some bench" is probably overshadowed by Mike Krukow's similar "grab some pine," at least for those who played MVP Baseball a lot.

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Harry Caray was never at his best as a Cubs broadcaster. In fact, at that point he had become very similar to Harrelson- a cartoon character. Cubs Fan, Bud Man. He slurred his way through broadcasts at the end.

I'm not the biggest Hawk fan in the world, but he's certainly had an impact. And I don't know any Sox fans who are disturbed by silence after Jim Thome hits a home run to put Sox playoff hopes on life support. There really isn't anything to say. It's TV. We all saw the fucking home run.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I don't know if I've heard "grab some pine, meat" ever in my life until today.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Harry was legendary when he came to the Cubs. already had full careers and was a good guy.

Not a pissed off old man.

Point being, nobody had to ask for an award for Harry, like Reinsdorf is for Hawk

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

They are, but just not across all of baseball. It's kind of a local thing.

If Hawk invented "grab some bench" then that's one. That is definitely used everywhere.

But the rest of them, Im not so sure.

I'm convinced. Hawk and his phrases aren't well known.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

FYI, when Hawk was nominated for the award the first time, it was from a fan vote.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!