List of Detroit Tigers broadcasters
The following is a list of Detroit Tigers broadcasters, past and present:
Radio
Current
The current flagship radio stations for the Detroit Tigers are WXYT, at 1270 AM, and WXYT-FM, at 97.1, both sports stations.[1] Dan Dickerson calls play-by-play while former Tiger catcher Jim Price serves as color analyst; both double as pre-game and post-game show hosts.[2] The games are simulcast on both stations unless there is a conflict with Detroit Red Wings hockey or Detroit Lions football.
Former flagships
WJR was the Tigers' flagship station from 1964-2000. Other former Tigers flagships include WWJ, WXYT (currently known as "CBS Sports Radio 1270") and WKMH (currently known as WDTW off the air since 2013).
Former radio announcers
- Ty Tyson (1927–1942, 1951)
- Harry Heilmann (1934–1950)
- Paul Williams (1951)
- Van Patrick (1952–1959)
- Dizzy Trout (1953–1955)
- Mel Ott (1956–1958)
- George Kell (1959–1963)
- Ernie Harwell (1960–1991, 1993, 1999–2002)
- Bob Scheffing (1964)
- Gene Osborn (1965–1966)
- Ray Lane (1967–1972)
- Paul Carey (1973–1991)
- Rick Rizzs (1992–1994)
- Bob Rathbun (1992–1994)
- Frank Beckmann (1995–1998)
- Lary Sorensen (1995–June 1998)
- Al Kaline (2009, substitute analyst for several road games)[3]
- John Keating (2009, substitute analyst for several road games)[4]
- Dan Petry (2012, substitute analyst for several road games)[5]
2000s
| Year | Flagship stations | Play-by-Play | Color Commentary |
| 2014 | WXYT / WXYT-FM | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2013 | WXYT / WXYT-FM | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2012 | WXYT / WXYT-FM | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2011 | WXYT / WXYT-FM | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2010 | WXYT / WXYT-FM | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2009 | WXYT / WXYT-FM | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2008 | WXYT / WXYT-FM | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2007 | WXYT | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2006 | WXYT | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2005 | WXYT | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2004 | WXYT | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2003 | WXYT | Dan Dickerson | Jim Price |
| 2002 | WXYT | Ernie Harwell Dan Dickerson |
Jim Price |
| 2001 | WXYT | Ernie Harwell Dan Dickerson |
Jim Price |
| 2000 | WJR | Ernie Harwell Dan Dickerson |
Jim Price |
1990s
| Year | Flagship stations | Play-by-Play | Color Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play |
| 1999 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Jim Price |
| 1998 | WJR | Frank Beckmann | Lary Sorensen (April–June) Jim Price (June–September) |
| 1997 | WJR | Frank Beckmann | Lary Sorensen |
| 1996 | WJR | Frank Beckmann | Lary Sorensen |
| 1995 | WJR | Frank Beckmann | Lary Sorensen |
| 1994 | WJR | Rick Rizzs | Bob Rathbun |
| 1993 | WJR | Rick Rizzs Ernie Harwell |
Bob Rathbun |
| 1992 | WJR | Rick Rizzs | Bob Rathbun |
| 1991 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1990 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
1980s
| Year | Flagship stations | Play-by-Play | Color Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play |
| 1989 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1988 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1987 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1986 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1985 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1984 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1983 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1982 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1981 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1980 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
1970s
| Year | Flagship stations | Play-by-Play | Color Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play |
| 1979 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1978 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1977 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1976 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1975 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1974 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1973 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Paul Carey |
| 1972 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Ray Lane |
| 1971 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Ray Lane |
| 1970 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Ray Lane |
1960s
| Year | Flagship stations | Play-by-Play | Color Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play |
| 1969 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Ray Lane |
| 1968 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Ray Lane |
| 1967 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Ray Lane |
| 1966 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Gene Osborn |
| 1965 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Gene Osborn |
| 1964 | WJR | Ernie Harwell | Bob Scheffing |
| 1963 | WKMH | George Kell | Ernie Harwell |
| 1962 | WKMH | George Kell | Ernie Harwell |
| 1961 | WKMH | George Kell | Ernie Harwell |
| 1960 | WKMH | George Kell | Ernie Harwell |
1950s
| Year | Flagship stations | Play-by-Play | Color Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play |
| 1959 | WKMH | Van Patrick | George Kell |
| 1958 | WKMH | Van Patrick | Mel Ott |
| 1957 | WKMH | Van Patrick | Mel Ott |
| 1956 | WKMH | Van Patrick | Mel Ott |
| 1955 | WKMH | Van Patrick | Dizzy Trout |
| 1954 | WKMH | Van Patrick | Dizzy Trout |
| 1953 | WKMH | Van Patrick | Dizzy Trout |
| 1952 | WKMH | Van Patrick | |
| 1951 | WXYZ | Ty Tyson | Paul Williams |
| 1950 | WXYZ | Harry Heilmann |
Television
Current
The television rights are currently held by Fox Sports Detroit, in an exclusive contract that runs until 2018.[6] Mario Impemba serves as the play-by-play announcer, while former Tiger players Rod Allen, Kirk Gibson, and Jack Morris rotate color analyst duties.[7] Pre-game and post-game show hosts and reporters include John Keating, Mickey York, Trevor Thompson, Justin White, and Johnny Kane, while Craig Monroe provides studio analysis.
Former Television Outlets
The Tigers have spent most of their broadcast televised history across two of Detroit's heritage "Big Three" network stations, WJBK (Channel 2, Fox; formerly with CBS from 1948 to 1994) and WDIV (Channel 4, NBC; originally WWJ-TV from 1947 to 1978), as well as two of the market's former legacy independent stations, WMYD (Channel 20, formerly WXON-TV and WDWB) and WKBD (Channel 50). Channel 4 was the original Tiger television outlet, carrying games from 1947 to 1952, and again for a twenty-season run from 1975 to 1994. Channel 4, at least during a time when NBC's ratings were sagging during the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, was one of a handful of the network's affiliates that was either a primary outlet or an affiliate of the local/regional baseball team.
WJBK took over the Tigers telecasts starting with the 1953 season, and carried games until the end of the 1974 season; since 2007, the station simulcasts the team's home opener each season from Fox Sports Detroit. WKBD, for many years known as Detroit's leading independent TV station, as well as the longtime over-the-air TV home of the Red Wings and Pistons, televised Tigers games starting in 1995 (when it was an UPN owned-and-operated station) until 2003. WMYD televised selected Tigers games only for the 2006 season, and as WXON-TV and the local affiliate of the ONTV subscription TV service, Channel 20 also showed the team's games from 1981 to 1983.
Pro-Am Sports System (PASS), originally started in 1982, became the regional cable outlet for the Tigers starting in 1984, after the network by purchased by then-Tigers team owner Tom Monaghan. Monaghan sold PASS to Post-Newsweek Stations (now Graham Media Group) in 1992, after he sold the Tigers to local pizza magnate and Red Wings owner Mike Illitch. PASS, thereafter, re-located its operations to the WDIV studio/office facility in Downtown Detroit. PASS shut down operations in 1997, after the Red Wings, Tigers, and Pistons all elected to sign-with and helped launch Fox Sports Detroit.
Former TV announcers
- Ty Tyson (1947–1952)
- Harry Heilmann (1947–1950)
- Van Patrick (1953–1959)
- Dizzy Trout (1953–1955)
- Mel Ott (1956–1958)
- George Kell (1959–1963, 1965–1996)
- Ernie Harwell (1960–1964, 1994–1998)
- Bob Scheffing (1964)
- Ray Lane (1965–1966, 1999–2003)
- Larry Osterman (1967–1977, 1984–1992)
- Don Kremer (1975–1976)
- Al Kaline (1977–2001)
- Joe Pellegrino (1977–1978)
- Mike Barry (1978–1979)
- Larry Adderley (1981–1983)
- Hank Aguirre (1981–1983)
- Norm Cash (1981–1983)
- Bill Freehan (1984–1985)
- Jim Northrup (1985–1994)
- Jim Price (1993–1997)
- Fred McLeod (1995–1997)
- Josh Lewin (1998–2001)
- Frank Beckmann (1999–2003)
- Tom Paciorek (2000)
- Lance Parrish (2002)
2000s
1990s
1980s
| Year | Network | Play-by-Play | Color Commentary |
| 1989 | PASS Sports WDIV-TV |
Larry Osterman George Kell |
Jim Northrup Al Kaline |
| 1988 | PASS Sports WDIV-TV |
Larry Osterman George Kell |
Jim Northrup Al Kaline |
| 1987 | PASS Sports WDIV-TV |
Larry Osterman George Kell |
Jim Northrup Al Kaline |
| 1986 | PASS Sports WDIV-TV |
Larry Osterman George Kell |
Jim Northrup Al Kaline |
| 1985 | PASS Sports WDIV-TV |
Larry Osterman George Kell |
Bill Freehan and Jim Northrup Al Kaline |
| 1984 | PASS Sports WDIV-TV |
Larry Osterman George Kell |
Bill Freehan Al Kaline |
| 1983 | ONTV WDIV-TV |
Larry Adderley George Kell |
Norm Cash and Hank Aguirre Al Kaline |
| 1982 | ONTV WDIV-TV |
Larry Adderley George Kell |
Norm Cash and Hank Aguirre Al Kaline |
| 1981 | ONTV WDIV-TV |
Larry Adderley George Kell |
Norm Cash and Hank Aguirre Al Kaline |
| 1980 | WDIV-TV | George Kell | Al Kaline |
1970s
| Year | Network | Play-by-Play | Color Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play' |
| 1979 | WDIV-TV | George Kell | Al Kaline and Mike Barry |
| 1978 | WWJ-TV | George Kell | Al Kaline, Joe Pellegrino and Mike Barry |
| 1977 | WWJ-TV | George Kell | Larry Osterman, Al Kaline and Joe Pellegrino |
| 1976 | WWJ-TV | George Kell | Larry Osterman, Don Kremer and Al Kaline |
| 1975 | WWJ-TV | George Kell | Larry Osterman and Don Kremer |
| 1974 | WJBK | George Kell | Larry Osterman |
| 1973 | WJBK | George Kell | Larry Osterman |
| 1972 | WJBK | George Kell | Larry Osterman |
| 1971 | WJBK | George Kell | Larry Osterman |
| 1970 | WJBK | George Kell | Larry Osterman |
1960s
| Year | Network | Play-by-Play | Color Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play |
| 1969 | WJBK | George Kell | Larry Osterman |
| 1968 | WJBK | George Kell | Larry Osterman |
| 1967 | WJBK | George Kell | Larry Osterman |
| 1966 | WJBK | George Kell | Ray Lane |
| 1965 | WJBK | George Kell | Ray Lane |
| 1964 | WJBK | Ernie Harwell | Bob Scheffing |
| 1963 | WJBK | George Kell | Ernie Harwell |
| 1962 | WJBK | George Kell | Ernie Harwell |
| 1961 | WJBK | George Kell | Ernie Harwell |
| 1960 | WJBK | George Kell | Ernie Harwell |
1950s
| Year | Network | Play-by-Play | Color Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play |
| 1959 | WJBK | Van Patrick | George Kell |
| 1958 | WJBK | Van Patrick | Mel Ott |
| 1957 | WJBK | Van Patrick | Mel Ott |
| 1956 | WJBK | Van Patrick | Mel Ott |
| 1955 | WJBK | Van Patrick | Dizzy Trout |
| 1954 | WJBK | Van Patrick | Dizzy Trout |
| 1953 | WWJ-TV | Van Patrick | Dizzy Trout |
| 1952 | WWJ-TV | Van Patrick | |
| 1951 | WWJ-TV | Harry Heilmann | Ty Tyson |
| 1950 | WWJ-TV | Harry Heilmann | Ty Tyson |
References
- ↑ Detroit Tigers Radio Affiliates
- ↑ Detroit Tigers Broadcasters' Biographies
- ↑ Kerzel, Pete (May 28, 2009). "Kaline filling in for Dickerson on radio". MLB.com.
- ↑ Kornacki, Steve (June 8, 2009). "John Keating taking radio announcer Dan Dickerson's place at Tigers' road games". MLive.com.
- ↑ Iott, Chris (May 7, 2012). "Detroit Tigers radio analyst Jim Price to miss nine-game road trip". MLive.com.
- ↑ FSN Detroit Nets Pro Sports 3 pointer Multichannel News March 19, 2008
- ↑ Schraeder, Steve (February 11, 2015). "Gibson, Morris join Tigers TV; reduced role for Rod Allen". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 6, 2015.