Herb Carneal
Encyclopedia
Herb Carneal was an American
Major League Baseball
sportscaster
. From 1962
through 2006
, he was a play-by-play voice of Minnesota Twins
radio
broadcasts, becoming the lead announcer in 1967
after Ray Scott
left to work exclusively with CBS
. Prior to 1962, he was the voice of the Baltimore Orioles
, partnering with Ernie Harwell
from 1957 to 1959, and with Bob Murphy
in 1960-1961. His mellow baritone voice and laid-back demeanor were well-loved by Twins fans. His enduring nickname was The Voice of the Twins. Carneal's trademark greeting, "Hi everybody," was reminiscent of his down-home style.
A Richmond, Virginia
native, Carneal first broadcast major league games for the Philadelphia Athletics
and Philadelphia Phillies
in 1954
. From 1957
to 1961
he was employed by the Baltimore Orioles
. He also called games on CBS television for the Minnesota Vikings
of the National Football League
in the team's first four years of existence (1961
-64
), and AFL
games on NBC in 1965.
Carneal's announcing career received a significant boost when he took over the Twins broadcasts, as it united him with legendary broadcaster Halsey Hall
, after whom many major league broadcasters have modeled their work. Hall's influence on Carneal's career development is legendary.
Carneal received the Ford C. Frick Award
from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996
, and was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting
's Hall of Fame in 2004.
Beginning in 2002
, Carneal scaled back his workload to providing play-by-play for half of Minnesota's home games. By 2007, he was scheduled to work only 36 games. Until 2007
, Carneal worked in partnership with fellow radio commentators John Gordon
and Dan Gladden
.
Herb Carneal died on April 1, 2007 of congestive heart failure. The Twins dedicated their 2007 season
to Carneal, wearing patches on their sleeves in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
. From 1962
1962 in baseball
The 1962 season is perhaps most notable for the dismal 40–120 record of the New York Mets, the third-worst winning percentage and the record for most games lost since 1900.-Major League Baseball:...
through 2006
2006 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...
, he was a play-by-play voice of Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
broadcasts, becoming the lead announcer in 1967
1967 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 11 at Anaheim Stadium: National League, 2-1 ; Tony Pérez, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Arizona State...
after Ray Scott
Ray Scott (sportscaster)
Ray Scott , was an American sportscaster, best known for his broadcasts for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. His brother Hal Scott was also a sportscaster.-Early life and career:Scott began his broadcasting career on local radio in the late 1930s...
left to work exclusively with CBS
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
. Prior to 1962, he was the voice of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, partnering with Ernie Harwell
Ernie Harwell
William Earnest "Ernie" Harwell was an American sportscaster, known for his long career calling play-by-play of Major League Baseball games. For 55 years, 42 of them with the Detroit Tigers, Harwell called the action on radio and/or television...
from 1957 to 1959, and with Bob Murphy
Bob Murphy (announcer)
Robert Allan Murphy was an American sportscaster who spent 50 years doing play-by-play of Major League Baseball games on television and radio. The Oklahoman was best known for announcing the New York Mets, from their inception in 1962 until his retirement in 2003...
in 1960-1961. His mellow baritone voice and laid-back demeanor were well-loved by Twins fans. His enduring nickname was The Voice of the Twins. Carneal's trademark greeting, "Hi everybody," was reminiscent of his down-home style.
A Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
native, Carneal first broadcast major league games for the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1954
1954 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* World Series: New York Giants over Cleveland Indians * All-Star Game, July 13 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 11-9-Other champions:* Caribbean World Series: Caguas Creoles [Criollos de Caguas]...
. From 1957
1957 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Milwaukee Braves over New York Yankees ; Lew Burdette, MVP*All-Star Game, July 9 at Busch Stadium: American League, 6-5-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Marianao *College World Series: California...
to 1961
1961 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Cincinnati Reds ; Whitey Ford, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Candlestick Park: National League, 5-4 *All-Star Game , July 31 at Fenway Park: 1–1 tie...
he was employed by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. He also called games on CBS television for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in the team's first four years of existence (1961
1961 NFL season
The 1961 NFL season was the 42nd regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 14 teams with the addition of the Minnesota Vikings, after the team's owners declined to be charter members of the new American Football League. The schedule was also expanded from 12 games per...
-64
1964 NFL season
The 1964 NFL season was the 45th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season started, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle reinstated Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras, who had been suspended for the 1963 season due to...
), and AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
games on NBC in 1965.
Carneal's announcing career received a significant boost when he took over the Twins broadcasts, as it united him with legendary broadcaster Halsey Hall
Halsey Hall
Halsey Hall was a sports reporter and announcer in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area from the 1920s to 1970s....
, after whom many major league broadcasters have modeled their work. Hall's influence on Carneal's career development is legendary.
Carneal received the Ford C. Frick Award
Ford C. Frick Award
The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." It is named for Ford Christopher Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball...
from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996
1996 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves ; John Wetteland, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Bernie Williams**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Javy López...
, and was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting
Pavek Museum of Broadcasting
The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting is a museum in St. Louis Park, Minnesota which has one of the world's most significant collections of vintage radio and television equipment. It originated in the collection of Joe Pavek, who began squirreling away unique radios while he was an instructor at...
's Hall of Fame in 2004.
Beginning in 2002
2002 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - Anaheim Angels*Postseason - October 1 to October 27Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
, Carneal scaled back his workload to providing play-by-play for half of Minnesota's home games. By 2007, he was scheduled to work only 36 games. Until 2007
2007 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion – [Boston Red Sox]*Postseason – October 2 to October 28Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
, Carneal worked in partnership with fellow radio commentators John Gordon
John Gordon (baseball)
John "Gordo" Gordon is a Major League Baseball radio broadcaster who is best known as the play by play announcer for the Minnesota Twins on the Twins Radio Network and their Metro Affiliate KSTP 1500 AM...
and Dan Gladden
Dan Gladden
Clinton Daniel "Dan" Gladden III is an American former Major League Baseball player and current radio broadcaster.-Baseball career:Gladden is a graduate of Westmont High School in Campbell, California...
.
Herb Carneal died on April 1, 2007 of congestive heart failure. The Twins dedicated their 2007 season
2007 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins' 2007 season started off with the Twins trying to repeat as champions of the AL Central.-Offseason:* January 11, 2007: Agreed to terms with Ramon Ortiz on a one-year contract....
to Carneal, wearing patches on their sleeves in his honor.