After he was supposed to be honored last year in Cooperstown, Ken “Hawk” Harrelson will finally have his special moment.
The long-time White Sox broadcaster is set to be honored later today as the 2020 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, an annual presentation for one broadcaster who makes “major contributions to baseball.” Harrelson was originally named the winner of the prestigious honor back in December 2019, but last year’s Hall of Fame festivities were forced to be postponed due to COVID-19. Nonetheless, it’s time that the 79-year-old gets his place in baseball immortality.
“Ken Harrelson created a bond between the White Sox and their fans with his unabashed love of South Side Chicago baseball,” said Tim Mead, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “Each time he stepped into the booth, ‘Hawk’ called the game with the passion of a fan and the knowledge of an MLB All-Star. As the narrator for some of the greatest moments in White Sox history, including the franchise’s 2005 World Series championship, Ken’s voice will echo for all time throughout the Windy City.”
Unlike normal years, however, “Hawk” won’t be giving his speech at the historic Doubleday Field in front of a packed crowd. Instead, the Awards Presentation will be held as an indoor, television-only event in front of invited family members. Along with Harrelson, fellow Frick Award winner inductee Al Michaels, Baseball Writers’ Association of America Career Excellence Award winners Dick Kaegel and the late Nick Cafardo, and Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award winner David Montgomery will all be honored.
The 44th winner of the Frick Award, Harrelson earned the highest point total in a vote conducted by the Hall of Fame’s 15-member Frick Award Committee to beat out the following seven finalists: Joe Castiglione, Jacques Doucet, Tom Hamilton, Pat Hughes, Ned Martin, Mike Shannon, and Dewayne Staats. With the honor, “Hawk” joins former Sox broadcasters Jack Brickhouse (1983), Harry Caray (1989), Bob Elson (1979) and Milo Hamilton (1992) to be get his place in Cooperston.
To watch the Awards Presentation, tune into MLB Network on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. Central Time or in the evening at 7 p.m. The event will also be streamed to MLB.com and facebook.com/baseballhall.
Before you watch the ceremony, we recommend that you take a moment to read the below tribute to “Hawk”. Originally written by our Jordan Lazwoski in September 2018, the article highlights the broadcaster’s illustrious career and impact he’s had on White Sox fans, young and old.
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Featured Photo: White Sox/Twitter