November 7, 200322 yr 11/07/2003 1:26 PM ET Van Horne a Frick nominee Marlins radio broadcaster eligible for award By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com MIAMI -- In 35 years of broadcasting Major League Baseball games, play-by-play radio announcer Dave Van Horne has called nine no-hitters and two perfect games. As memorable as those games were, Van Horne says nothing in his announcing career was as riveting and exciting as broadcasting a winning World Series team. Van Horne was there for every game in the Marlins' remarkable championship run. With his engaging, friendly and informative style, Van Horne chronicled an unforgettable season in which the Marlins overcame long odds to reach the pinnacle in their sport. Van Horne now finds himself in position to receive the highest honor bestowed to a member in his profession. The veteran announcer has been nominated for the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually since 1978 for excellence in baseball broadcasting. Marlins Spanish-language broadcaster Rafael "Felo" Ramirez received the Frick Award in 2001 and was inducted into the broadcast wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. "It's nice just to be nominated," said Van Horne, who just completed his third season announcing the Marlins. Van Horne spent 32 years with the Expos before joining the Marlins, teaming up with Jon "Boog" Sciambi. Of all his thrills announcing, nothing ranks higher than the drama that ended when Josh Beckett closed out Game 6 of the World Series, tossing a five-hit shutout against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. "Winning a World Series championship is the ultimate," Van Horne said. "In this or in any professional sport, obviously the ultimate is being around a winning team." From his broadcast booth, Van Horne called the Expos' inaugural game on April 8, 1969. His 32 years with Montreal marked the sixth-longest tenure by a National League announcer with the same team. Only Vin Scully (Dodgers), Bob Murphy (Mets), Ralph Kiner (Mets), Jack Buck (Cardinals) and Joe Nuxhall (Reds) spent more time with their respective teams. Van Horne called perfect games by Dennis Martinez of the Expos against the Dodgers and David Cone of the Yankees against Montreal. Other big broadcasting moments include Willie Mays' 3,000th hit, Nolan Ryan passing Walter Johnson in strikeouts, Steve Carlton's 4,000th strikeout, and Pete Rose's 3,000th and 4,000th hits. "Up until this year, my most thrilling postseason was 1981," he said. That year the Expos lost to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. "This Marlins team took it all," Van Horne said. "It was absolutely a thrill of a lifetime to be a small part of it." The voting process has been revised, and the electorate size has been increased to include all living award winners and six historians appointed by the Hall of Fame. Also, a candidate screening committee has been formed to involve fans as part of the process. Through an online vote, fans will annually select three of the 10 finalists. Voting will take place the entire month of November at the Hall of Fame's Web site, www.baseballhalloffame.org. A Hall of Fame staff research team will select the other seven candidates. Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
November 7, 200322 yr I'm sorry to hear this as I think that Dave Van Horne is the worst play by play baseball announcer I have ever heard. COUNTLESS times I have sat, waiting for him to call the ball or strike as I hear the ball hit the catcher's mitt and the crowd getting restless, and he is too consumed with whatever topic he is on that he so often forgets the most important thing he is doing - letting the fans KNOW what each pitch is. This has happened numerous times and he frustrates me, in addition to the fact that he is so darn boring. He is the biggest flaw in Florida Marlins baseball, in my humble opinion.
November 7, 200322 yr Author Y'all know that I like a good baseball broadcasters, and DVH is one of them. You guys need to treat your A.D.D. and try listening to any of the Braves' announcers on the radio or the Reds' drunk bunch on WLW.
November 8, 200322 yr I'm sorry to hear this as I think that Dave Van Horne is the worst play by play baseball announcer I have ever heard. COUNTLESS times I have sat, waiting for him to call the ball or strike as I hear the ball hit the catcher's mitt and the crowd getting restless, and he is too consumed with whatever topic he is on that he so often forgets the most important thing he is doing - letting the fans KNOW what each pitch is. This has happened numerous times and he frustrates me, in addition to the fact that he is so darn boring. He is the biggest flaw in Florida Marlins baseball, in my humble opinion. agreed
November 8, 200322 yr Y'all know that I like a good baseball broadcasters, and DVH is one of them. You guys need to treat your A.D.D. and try listening to any of the Braves' announcers on the radio or the Reds' drunk bunch on WLW. they suck too, but DVH is garbage
November 8, 200322 yr So many times when I listen to DVH, you can hear the crowd's reaction before he makes the call. But he ain't that bad!
November 8, 200322 yr Jon "Boog" Sciambi now that a play by play broadcaster... I can't stand "UP UP and way" signature hr call use by DVH.
November 8, 200322 yr Author Len Kasper is a great play-by-play broadcaster, and one of the best IMO. I agree, but since I can't get the 55 PAX games and the games not shown on TV, I must listen to 67 games on the radio network/internet with Van Horne and Boog and I prefer Van Horne.
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