Tom Hamilton is appointment radio.
The Hall of Fame agreed when they bestowed the long-time Cleveland Guardians/Indians radio announcer with the Ford Frick Award, which is presented annually to a broadcaster for “major contributions to baseball” earlier this month.
I’ve listened to Tom — first through crackly static in the pre-Internet days and then on the MLB ap — for years.
There is no better announcer than this guy. His enthusiasm is contagious and his voice is distinctive.
How good is he?
When Cleveland wins in dramatic fashion — even against the White Sox — I will seek out his call.
If the Sox and Guardians aren’t playing at the same time, I will tune in to Tom.
He’s so good I thoroughly enjoyed his call of the Cleveland-Sox fight of 2023 which began with Hamilton exclaiming “DOWN GOES! DOWN GOES ANDERSON!”
I’ve met Hamilton a handful of times at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The first time I bumped into him was after Cleveland’s final game in Chicago as the Indians in 2021.
He was so kind and I was so excited to meet him I couldn’t stop talking which is why my face in the picture with this article looks like it does.
Hamilton was so engaging and interested in what I was saying that as we parted, he looked at me and sincerely belted out, “HEY! HAVE FUN IN THE PLAYOFFS!”
Speaking of the playoffs, someday I want the Guardians to win a World Series just so I can hear Tom explode in joy.