The White Sox could soon be sending another member into baseball immortality.
Earlier this morning, the National Baseball Hall of Fame revealed the ten finalists for the 2023 Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting. Of them is long-time NBC Sports Chicago broadcaster Steve Stone, who joins the following nominees up for the honor:
- Dave Campbell
- Joe Castiglione
- Gary Cohen
- Jacques Doucet
- Tom Hamilton
- Jerry Howarth
- Pat Hughes
- Ernie Johnson Sr.
- Duane Kuiper
Here’s what the Baseball Hall of Fame had to say about Stone in their write-up:
“Steve Stone has worked 35 seasons on TV in Chicago, 20 with the Cubs and the last 15 with the White Sox while also calling national broadcasts for ESPN and TBS. He pitched in the majors for 11 seasons and won the 1980 AL Cy Young Award with the Orioles.”
– National Baseball Hall of Fame
Stone got his start in broadcasting with Monday Night Baseball on ABC Sports in 1982. After just one season, he moved on to become the color commentator for the Chicago Cubs and WGN, a position he would hold from 1983-2004. Stone was paired with both Harry Caray and his grandson, Chip, during his time with the Cubs, which came to an end amid a controversy surrounding Stone’s criticisms of the players – ironically, something that has been refreshing and invited among Sox fans during his time here.
In 2005, Stone was hired by radio station WSCR to host a weekly talk show and would make his debut in the booth with the White Sox in 2008 as a color commentator on the radio. Starting in 2009, Stone would become the color commentator in the television booth beside Hawk Harrelson, the spot he remains today – now working alongside Jason Benetti.
The White Sox television broadcast of Bennetti and Stone has been considered among the best broadcasts in the majors. From their great banter back-and-forth to the times when Stone appears to predict plays before they happen, White Sox fans have been blessed with two incredibly accomplished individuals in the booth. As for Stone, after 35 years of broadcasting, he’s finally been nominated for an award that is incredibly deserved.
Congratulations, Steve! Here’s to many more years in the booth, and hopefully, a Ford C. Frick Award for all you’ve done for Chicago baseball fans.
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Steve Stone has had a great career as a pitcher for three different teams, and as a broadcaster he wasn’t scared to comment on the White Sox obvious lack of fire this season! Thomas Hall