Sports

Top 50 Sportscasters of All Time Named by ASA

by Jon Azpiri | January 14, 2009 at 09:55 am

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The American Sportscasters Association recently released its list of the Top 50 Sports Broadcasters of All Time. The list, like most, is bound to spark debate, since sports fans often feel as strongly about certain sportscasters as they do about the athletes they cover.

Leading the list is legendary Los Angeles Dodgers play-by-play man Vin Scully followed by Mel Allen and Red Barber. Here's the complete list of Top 50:

1. Vin Scully
2. Mel Allen
3. Red Barber
4. Curt Gowdy
5. Howard Cosell
6. Bob Costas
7. Jim McKay
8. Keith Jackson
9. Al Michaels
10. Dick Enberg
11. Jack Buck
12. Ted Husing
13. Jack Brickhouse
14. Don Dunphy
15. Graham McNamee
16. Ernie Harwell
17. Marv Albert
18. Harry Caray
19. Jon Miller
20. Bill Stern
21. Chick Hearn
22. Marty Glickman
23. Jack Whitaker
24. Jim Nantz
25. Chris Schenkel
26. Lindsey Nelson
27. Russ Hodges
28. Ray Scott
29. John Madden
30. Bob Prince
31. Joe Buck
32. Milo Hamilton
33. Bob Wolff
34. Chuck Thompson
35. Chris Berman
36. Phil Rizzuto
37. Marty Brennaman
38. Clem McCarthy
39. Bill Walton
40. Foster Hewitt
41. Harry Kalas
42. Johnny Most
43. Bob Elson
44. Brent Musberger
45. Pat Summerall
46. Merle Harmon
47. Dick Vitale
48. Dick Stockton
49. Tony Kubek
50. Bud Collins

Take a quick glance at the list and you'll find most of the names you would expect to see on such a list. Of course, such lists are created for people to quibble over. Hockey fans will no doubt complain about the fact that Foster Hewitt, arguably the most influential broadcaster in Canadian history, rank #40. Basketball fans will wonder how Marv Albert, who for many is the voice of basketball, barely cracked the Top 20. Similarly, Boston Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most, who made one of the most famous calls in sports history, also barely cracked the list. Chicago Cubs fans will wonder why Harry Caray only ranked #18. Then there are fans who wonder how many modern broadcasters like Joe Buck and Chris Berman ever made it onto a list full of legends.

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marc roth (not verified)

at 06:05 on January 15th, 2009

Johnny Most behind Bill Walton and Chris Berman at not a top 15 announcer? Shame on ASA. Most was one of the two most important basketball announcers for 40 years with the Celtics along with Chick Hearn. One larege boo to the dishonesy of this poll.

Steve Weiss (not verified)

at 07:50 on January 17th, 2009

Why isn't Al DeRogatis on this list. He was, in my opinion, one of the best color and analysis announcers who worked for years with Marty Glickman and then I believe with Curt Gowdy on TV.

rickharter (not verified)

at 12:26 on January 17th, 2009

How can Joe Tait and Jimmy Dudley not be on this list. There are many great sportscasters from smaller markets that deserve to be on the list. NOT just LA and NY!