COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — The beloved "Voice of the Guardians" is being considered for the highest honor a baseball broadcaster can receive.
Longtime Cleveland radio play-by-play man Tom Hamilton has been named one of 10 finalists for the National Baseball Hall of Fame's 2023 Ford C. Frick Award. The annual accolade recognizes "commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers."
Now in his 33rd season calling games on the Indians/Guardians Radio Network, Hamilton originally served as No. 2 broadcaster with the legendary Herb Score before taking over as the team's "voice" in 1998 upon the latter's retirement. During his illustrious career, he has been on the mic for countless memorable moments and three American League pennant winners, and has captured the hearts of fans with his unmatched enthusiasm.
This is Hamilton's second time as a Frick Award finalist. He was previously up for the honor in 2020, but lost out to former Chicago White Sox television commentator (and Cleveland outfielder) Ken "Hawk" Harrelson. Two former Indians broadcasters have previously received the award posthumously: Jimmy Dudley in 1997 and Jack Graney just last year.
Of the nine remaining finalists, three others have deep Cleveland ties: Joe Castiglione briefly called Indians games on TV in the 1970s and '80s while also working for 3News, but is best known for his work with the Boston Red Sox for the past 39 years; Duane Kuiper was the Tribe's second baseman from 1974-81 and later team captain prior to an award-winning run as a broadcaster for the San Francisco Giants; and Steve Stone was born in South Euclid and attended both Brush High School and Kent State University before winning the 1980 AL Cy Young with the Baltimore Orioles, and has since spent a combined seasons as a color commentator for the Chicago Cubs and currently the White Sox while also grabbing some national assignments.
A panel of 12 former Frick Award winners and three historians will go over the list of nominees, with the winner being announced during Major League Baseball's winter meetings in December. While the recipient will not technically be considered a "member" of the Hall of Fame, he will still get to make a speech during induction weekend in Cooperstown, New York, and have his name and picture place in a permanent exhibit inside the stadium.
The award is named after the late Ford Frick, the former National League president and MLB commissioner who played a major role in the establishment of the Hall of Fame. The six remaining nominees and the teams they have worked for are as follows:
- Dave Campbell — ESPN, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants
- Gary Cohen — New York Mets
- Jacques Doucet — Montreal Expos, Toronto Blue Jays (French broadcasts)
- Jay Howarth — Toronto Blue Jays
- Pat Hughes — Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins
- Ernie Johnson Sr. — Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves
