List of American League Championship Series broadcasters

The following is a list of the national television and radio networks and announcers that have broadcast American League Championship Series games over the years. It does include any announcers who may have appeared on local broadcasts produced by the participating teams.

National television

2020s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Field reporter(s) Pregame hosts Pregame analysts Trophy presentation
2023 Fox (Game 1–2, 7) Joe Davis John Smoltz Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci Matt Vasgersian (Game 1, 6)
Kevin Burkhardt (Games 2–5, 7)
Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Derek Jeter Kevin Burkhardt
FS1 (Games 2–7)
2022 TBS Brian Anderson Ron Darling and Jeff Francoeur Lauren Shehadi Bob Costas Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Martínez, and Curtis Granderson Lauren Shehadi
2021 Fox (Game 1–2) Joe Buck John Smoltz Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci Kevin Burkhardt Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Frank Thomas Kevin Burkhardt
FS1 (Games 2–6)
2020 TBS Brian Anderson Ron Darling and Jeff Francoeur Lauren Shehadi Ernie Johnson Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Martínez, and Curtis Granderson Lauren Shehadi

Notes

2010s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Field reporter(s) Pregame hosts Pregame analysts Trophy presentation
2019 Fox (Game 1) Joe Buck (Games 1–3, 5–6)
Joe Davis (Game 4)
John Smoltz Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci Kevin Burkhardt Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Frank Thomas Kevin Burkhardt
FS1 (Games 2–6)
2018 TBS Brian Anderson Ron Darling Lauren Shehadi Casey Stern Gary Sheffield, Pedro Martínez, and Jimmy Rollins Brian Anderson
2017 FS1 (Games 1, 3–7) Joe Buck John Smoltz Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci Kevin Burkhardt Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Keith Hernandez, and Frank Thomas Tom Verducci
Fox (Game 2)
2016 TBS Ernie Johnson Ron Darling and Cal Ripken Sam Ryan Casey Stern Gary Sheffield, Pedro Martínez, and Jimmy Rollins Ernie Johnson
2015 Fox (Game 1) Joe Buck Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci Ken Rosenthal and Erin Andrews Kevin Burkhardt Raúl Ibañez (Games 1–5), Pete Rose, Frank Thomas, Max Scherzer, Alex Rodriguez (Games 3–6), and C. J. Nitkowski (Game 6) Erin Andrews
FS1 (Games 2–6)
2014 TBS Ernie Johnson Ron Darling and Cal Ripken Matt Winer, Mike Bordick, and Steve Physioc Casey Stern Gary Sheffield and Pedro Martínez Ernie Johnson
2013 Fox Joe Buck Tim McCarver Ken Rosenthal and Erin Andrews Matt Vasgersian Harold Reynolds and Michael Cuddyer Erin Andrews
2012 TBS Ernie Johnson Ron Darling and John Smoltz Craig Sager Matt Winer David Wells, Cal Ripken, and Dennis Eckersley Matt Winer
2011 Fox Joe Buck Terry Francona (Games 1–2)
Tim McCarver (Games 3–6)
Ken Rosenthal Chris Rose Eric Karros and A. J. Pierzynski Chris Rose
2010 TBS Ernie Johnson Ron Darling and John Smoltz Craig Sager Matt Winer David Wells, Cal Ripken, and Dennis Eckersley Matt Winer

Notes

2000s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Field reporter(s) Pregame hosts Pregame analysts Trophy presentation
2009 Fox Joe Buck Tim McCarver Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers (Games 1–5) Chris Rose Eric Karros and Mark Grace Kenny Albert
2008 TBS Chip Caray Ron Darling and Buck Martinez Craig Sager Ernie Johnson Harold Reynolds, Cal Ripken, and Dennis Eckersley Ernie Johnson
2007 Fox Joe Buck Tim McCarver Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers Jeanne Zelasko Kevin Kennedy, Joe Girardi, Mark Grace, and Eric Karros Chris Myers
2006 Fox Thom Brennaman Lou Piniella
Steve Lyons (Games 1–3)
José Mota (Game 4)
Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers Jeanne Zelasko Kevin Kennedy and A. J. Pierzynski Chris Myers
2005 Fox Joe Buck Tim McCarver and Lou Piniella Chris Myers Jeanne Zelasko Kevin Kennedy Chris Myers
2004 Fox Joe Buck Tim McCarver and Al Leiter Chris Myers, Kenny Albert, and Curt Menefee Jeanne Zelasko Kevin Kennedy Kenny Albert
2003 Fox Joe Buck Tim McCarver and Bret Boone Chris Myers Jeanne Zelasko Kevin Kennedy Kenny Albert
2002 Fox Thom Brennaman Steve Lyons Chris Myers Jeanne Zelasko Kevin Kennedy Jeanne Zelasko
2001 Fox Thom Brennaman (in Seattle)
Joe Buck (in New York)
Steve Lyons (in Seattle)
Tim McCarver (in New York)
Jeanne Zelasko Kevin Kennedy Jeanne Zelasko
2000 NBC Bob Costas Joe Morgan Jim Gray and Jimmy Roberts Jim Gray

Notes

  • Game 6 of the 2000 ALCS is the last baseball game that NBC televised until a game between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox on May 8, 2022. In Houston, due to the coverage of the 2000 U.S. presidential debates, KPRC-TV elected to carry NBC News' coverage of the debate while KNWS-TV carried NBC's final baseball game.
  • In 2001, Game 5 of the NLCS and Game 4 of the ALCS were split between Fox and Fox Sports Net. This came off the heels of Fox airing an NFL doubleheader that particular day (October 21).
  • In 2002, Game 1 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the ALCS were split between Fox and Fox Sports Net. The regional split was done in order for Fox to avoid televising a weekday afternoon game.
  • In 2003, Game 1 of the ALCS and Game 2 of the NLCS were split between Fox and FX.
  • In 2004, Game 1 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the ALCS were split between Fox and Fox Sports Net. Also in 2004, Game 5 of the ALCS ran way into the time slot of Game 5 of the NLCS. As a result, the first seven innings of the NLCS game were shown on FX.
  • In 2005, Game 1 of the NLCS and Game 1 of the ALCS were split between Fox and FX.
  • Game 2 of the 2006 ALCS was originally intended to air on FX, but the NLCS game that night (originally intended to air on Fox) was rained out. FX showed the movie Any Given Sunday instead.
    • In 2006, Fox fired Steve Lyons from their baseball coverage altogether following what they saw insensitive comments made about Hispanics during the Game 3 broadcast. During Game 3, Lyons' broadcast colleague Lou Piniella, who is of Spanish descent, made an analogy involving the luck of finding a wallet, and then briefly used a couple of Spanish phrases. Lyons responded by saying that Piniella was "hablaing Espanol" -- Spanglish for "speaking Spanish"—and added, "I still can't find my wallet. I don't understand him, and I don't want to sit close to him now."
  • On October 18, 2008, TBS missed most of the first inning of Game 6 of that year's American League Championship Series, with viewers getting a rerun of The Steve Harvey Show instead. TBS picked up the game just prior to the last out in the bottom of the first, with announcer Chip Caray apologizing to viewers for "technical difficulties".
  • Although not an active field reporter during Fox's coverage of the 2009 ALCS, Kenny Albert still presided over the championship presentation and postgame interviews in the pennant winning New York Yankees' clubhouse.

1990s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Field reporter(s)
1999 Fox Joe Buck Tim McCarver and Bob Brenly
1998 NBC Bob Costas Joe Morgan Jim Gray
1997 Fox Joe Buck Tim McCarver and Bob Brenly
1996 NBC Bob Costas Joe Morgan and Bob Uecker Jim Gray
1995 ABC (Games 1–2) Brent Musburger Jim Kaat Jack Arute
NBC (Games 3–6) Bob Costas Bob Uecker Jim Gray
1993 CBS Greg Gumbel Jim Kaat Lesley Visser
1992 CBS Dick Stockton Jim Kaat
Johnny Bench (Game 2)
Lesley Visser
1991 CBS Dick Stockton Jim Kaat Jim Gray
1990 CBS Dick Stockton Jim Kaat Jim Gray

Notes

  • The 1990 postseason started on a Thursday, while World Series started on a Tuesday due to the brief lockout.
  • In 1991, CBS didn't come on the air for baseball for weeknight LCS telecasts until 8:30 p.m. ET. Instead, they opted to show programming such as Rescue 911 at 8 p.m. rather than a baseball pregame show.
  • Throughout Game 2 of the 1992 ALCS, Jim Kaat was stricken with a bad case of laryngitis. As a result, Johnny Bench had to come over from the CBS Radio booth and finish the game with Dick Stockton as a "relief analyst." There was talk that if Kaat's laryngitis did not get better, Don Drysdale was going to replace Kaat on television for the rest of ALCS, while Bench would continue to work on CBS Radio.
    • CBS' coverage of the 1992 LCS led to conflicts with the presidential debates that year. CBS didn't cover one of the debates because Game 4 of the ALCS, went into extra innings. By the time it ended, the debate was almost over.
  • The 1994 American League Championship Series was planned to air on NBC. However, those plans were scrapped when a strike caused the entire postseason to be canceled.
  • The rather messy 1995 arrangement was courtesy of "The Baseball Network", which was Major League Baseball's in-house production facility. ABC and NBC (who essentially, distributed the telecasts rather than produce them by themselves like in the past) shared the same on-air graphics and even the microphone "flags" had the "Baseball Network" logo on it with the respective network logo. In addition, the first four games of both of the 1995 League Championship Series were regionally televised.

1980s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s)
1989 NBC Bob Costas Tony Kubek
1988 ABC Gary Bender Joe Morgan and Reggie Jackson
1987 NBC Bob Costas Tony Kubek
1986 ABC Al Michaels Jim Palmer
1985 NBC Bob Costas Tony Kubek
1984 ABC Al Michaels Howard Cosell and Jim Palmer
1983 NBC Bob Costas Tony Kubek
1982 ABC Keith Jackson Jim Palmer and Earl Weaver
1981 NBC Joe Garagiola Tony Kubek
1980 ABC Al Michaels Billy Martin and Jim Palmer

Notes

1970s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s)
1979 NBC Dick Enberg Wes Parker and Sparky Anderson
1978 ABC Keith Jackson Howard Cosell and Jim Palmer
1977 NBC Jim Simpson (Game 1)
Dick Enberg (Game 2)
Joe Garagiola (in Kansas City)
Maury Wills (Game 1)
Don Drysdale (Game 2)
Tony Kubek (in Kansas City)
1976 ABC Bob Uecker (Game 1)
Keith Jackson (Games 2–5)
Howard Cosell and Reggie Jackson
1975 NBC Curt Gowdy (in Boston)
Joe Garagiola (in Oakland)
Tony Kubek (in Boston)
Maury Wills (in Oakland)
1974 NBC Curt Gowdy (in Oakland)
Jim Simpson (in Baltimore)
Tony Kubek and Frank Robinson (in Oakland)
Maury Wills (in Baltimore)
1973 NBC Jim Simpson (Game 1)
Curt Gowdy (in Oakland)
Maury Wills (Game 1)
Tony Kubek (In Oakland)
1972 NBC Curt Gowdy (in Oakland)
Jim Simpson (in Detroit)
Tony Kubek (in Oakland)
Sandy Koufax (in Detroit)
1971 NBC Jim Simpson (Game 2)
Curt Gowdy (Game 3)
Sandy Koufax (Game 2)
Tony Kubek (Game 3)
1970 NBC Jim Simpson (in Minnesota)
Curt Gowdy (in Baltimore)
Sandy Koufax (in Minnesota)
Tony Kubek (in Baltimore)

Notes

  • In 1970, NBC televised the second games of both League Championship Series on a regional basis. Some markets got the NLCS at 1 p.m. ET along with a 4 p.m. NFL game while other markets got the ALCS at 4 p.m. along with a 1 p.m. NFL game.
  • In 1971, Game 1 of the ALCS was rained out on Saturday, October 2. Due to its NFL coverage, NBC did not televise the rescheduled Game 1 the following day (they had only planned an NLCS telecast that day), but added a telecast of Game 2 on Monday, October 4 (which had been a scheduled travel day).
  • NBC did not air Game 2 of the 1973 ALCS.
  • Except for Game 1 in both series, all games in 1975 were regionally televised. Game 3 of both League Championship Series was aired in prime time, the first time such an occurrence happened.
  • 1976 marked the first time that all LCS games were televised nationally. Keith Jackson missed Game 1 of the ALCS because he had just finished calling the Oklahoma vs. Texas college football game for ABC. Thus, Bob Uecker filled in for Jackson for Game 1. Uecker also took part in the postgame interviews for Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS, while Warner Wolf did an interview of George Brett in the Kansas City locker room.
  • In 1978, Keith Jackson called an Oklahoma vs. Texas college football game for ABC on October 7, and then flew to New York, arriving just in time to call Game 4 of the ALCS that same night.

1969

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator
1969 NBC Curt Gowdy (Game 1)
Jim Simpson (Game 3)
Tony Kubek (Game 1)
Sandy Koufax (Game 3)

Notes

  • In the early years of the League Championship Series, NBC typically televised a doubleheader on the opening Saturday, followed by a single game on Sunday (because of NFL coverage). They then covered the weekday games with a 1.5 hour overlap, joining the second game in progress when the first one ended. NBC usually swapped announcer crews after Game 2.
  • NBC did not air Game 2 of the 1969 ALCS.
  • From 1969 to 1983, the Major League Baseball television contract allowed a local TV station in the market of each competing team to also carry the LCS games. So in 1969, for example, Orioles fans in Baltimore could choose to watch either the NBC telecast or Chuck Thompson, Bill O'Donnell and Jim Karvellas on WJZ-TV.

Surviving telecasts

For all of the League Championship Series telecasts spanning from 1969 to 1975, only Game 2 of the 1972 American League Championship Series (Oakland vs. Detroit) is known to exist. However, the copy on the trade circuit of Game 2 of the 1972 ALCS is missing the Bert CampanerisLerrin LaGrow brawl. There are some instances where the only brief glimpse of telecast footage of an early LCS game can be seen in a surviving newscast from that night. For instance, the last out of the 1973 National League Championship Series as described by Jim Simpson was played on that night's NBC Nightly News, but other than that, the entire game is gone. On the day the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles wrapped up their respective League Championship Series in 1969, a feature story on the CBS Evening News showed telecast clips of the ALCS game (there's no original sound, just voiceover narration). This is all that likely remains of anything from that third game of the OriolesTwins series. Simpson's call of the injury of Reggie Jackson during Game 5 of the 1972 ALCS is heard on the 1972 World Series film, as well as Curt Gowdy's call of the home run by Johnny Bench in Game 5 of the 1972 NLCS as well as Bob Moose throwing a wild pitch to pinch-hitter Hal McRae scoring George Foster with the winning run.

Local television

As previously mentioned, from 1969 until 1983, the Major League Baseball television contract allowed a local TV station in the market of each competing team to also carry the LCS games.

1970s

Year Teams Local TV Play-by-play#1 Play-by-play#2 Play-by-play#3
1978 New York YankeesKansas City WPIX-TV Phil Rizzuto Frank Messer Bill White
KBMA-TV Steve Shannon
1977 New York YankeesKansas City WPIX-TV Phil Rizzuto Frank Messer Bill White
KBMA-TV Steve Shannon

National radio

From 1969 to 1975, there was no official national radio network coverage of the League Championship Series. NBC only had the national radio rights to the All-Star Game and World Series during this period. Instead, national coverage was provided by local team radio broadcasts being syndicated nationally over ad hoc networks.

2020s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator
2023 ESPN Karl Ravech Eduardo Pérez and Tim Kurkjian
2022 ESPN Dan Shulman Eduardo Pérez
2021 ESPN Dan Shulman Eduardo Pérez
2020 ESPN Dan Shulman Chris Singleton

2010s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator
2019 ESPN Dan Shulman Chris Singleton
2018 ESPN Jon Sciambi Jessica Mendoza
2017 ESPN Jon Sciambi Chris Singleton
2016 ESPN Jon Sciambi Chris Singleton
2015 ESPN Dan Shulman Aaron Boone
2014 ESPN Jon Sciambi Chris Singleton
2013 ESPN Jon Sciambi Chris Singleton
2012 ESPN Dan Shulman Orel Hershiser
2011 ESPN Dan Shulman Orel Hershiser
2010 ESPN Jon Miller Joe Morgan

2000s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator
2009 ESPN Jon Miller Joe Morgan
2008 ESPN Jon Miller Joe Morgan
2007 ESPN Jon Miller Joe Morgan
2006 ESPN Jon Miller Joe Morgan
2005 ESPN Jon Miller Joe Morgan
2004 ESPN Jon Miller Joe Morgan
2003 ESPN Jon Miller Joe Morgan
2002 ESPN Jon Miller Joe Morgan
2001 ESPN Jon Miller Joe Morgan
2000 ESPN Dan Shulman Buck Martinez

1990s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator
1999 ESPN Ernie Harwell Rick Sutcliffe
1998 ESPN Dan Shulman Buck Martinez
1997 CBS John Rooney Jeff Torborg
1996 CBS John Rooney Jeff Torborg
1995 CBS John Rooney Jeff Torborg
1993 CBS Jim Hunter Ernie Harwell
1992 CBS Jim Hunter Johnny Bench
1991 CBS Jim Hunter Johnny Bench
1990 CBS Jim Hunter Johnny Bench

See also

1980s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator
1989 CBS Brent Musburger Johnny Bench
1988 CBS John Rooney Johnny Bench
1987 CBS Brent Musburger Bill White
1986 CBS Ernie Harwell Curt Gowdy
1985 CBS Ernie Harwell Curt Gowdy
1984 CBS Bill White Curt Gowdy
1983 CBS Ernie Harwell Curt Gowdy
1982 CBS Ernie Harwell Denny Matthews
1981 CBS Ernie Harwell Curt Gowdy
1980 CBS Ernie Harwell Curt Gowdy

1970s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s)
1979 CBS Ernie Harwell Bill White
1978 CBS Ernie Harwell Ned Martin
1977 CBS Ernie Harwell Ned Martin
1976 CBS Ernie Harwell Ned Martin
1975 WHDH Ned Martin Jim Woods
KEEN Monte Moore Bob Waller
1974 Mutual Herb Carneal Dick Young (Game 3)
Jerome Holtzman (Game 4)
1973 WBAL Chuck Thompson Bill O'Donnell
KEEN Monte Moore Jim Woods and Bill Rigney
1972 WJR Ernie Harwell Gene Osborn
KEEN Monte Moore Jim Woods
1971 Ad hoc Ernie Harwell
1970 Ad hoc Ernie Harwell

Notes

1969

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentators
1969 Robert Wold Radio Buddy Blattner Ernie Harwell

Local radio

From 1969 to present, with the exception of the period between 1969 and 1975, the non-national radio broadcasts of the American League Championship Series were broadcast on the flagship station and the radio network of the teams participating in the American League Championship Series.

2010s

2000s

Year Teams Flagship station Play-by-play#1 Play-by-play#2 Color commentator(s)
2009 New York Yankees-Los Angeles Angels WCBS-AM (New York Yankees) John Sterling Suzyn Waldman
KLAA-AM (Los Angeles Angels) Terry Smith Rory Markas
2002 Minnesota-Anaheim KLAC (Anaheim) Rory Markas Terry Smith
WCCO–AM (Minnesota) Herb Carneal (in Minnesota)
John Gordon (in Anaheim)
John Gordon (in Minnesota)
Dan Gladden (in Anaheim)
2000 New York YankeesSeattle WABC-AM (New York Yankees) John Sterling Michael Kay
KIRO-AM (Seattle) Dave Niehaus Rick Rizzs Ron Fairly

1990s

Year Teams Flagship station Play-by-play#1 Play-by-play#2 Color commentator(s)
1999 New York Yankees–Boston WABC-AM (New York Yankees) John Sterling Michael Kay
WEEI-AM (Boston) Joe Castiglione Jerry Trupiano
1998 New York Yankees-Cleveland WABC-AM (New York Yankees) John Sterling Michael Kay
WTAM-AM (Cleveland) Herb Score Tom Hamilton
1997 ClevelandBaltimore WKNR-AM (Cleveland) Herb Score Tom Hamilton
WBAL-AM (Baltimore) Jim Hunter Fred Manfra
1996 New York Yankees-Baltimore WABC-AM (New York Yankees) John Sterling Michael Kay
WBAL-AM (Baltimore) Jon Miller Fred Manfra
1995 Cleveland-Seattle WKNR-AM (Cleveland) Herb Score Tom Hamilton
KIRO-AM (Seattle) Dave Niehaus Rick Rizzs Ron Fairly
1993 Chicago White Sox-Toronto WMAQ-AM (Chicago White Sox) John Rooney Ed Farmer
CJCL-AM (Toronto) Tom Cheek Jerry Howarth
1992 Toronto-Oakland CJCL-AM (Toronto) Tom Cheek Jerry Howarth
KSFO-AM (Oakland) Bill King Lon Simmons Ray Fosse
1991 Minnesota-Toronto WCCO-AM (Minnesota) Herb Carneal John Gordon
CJCL-AM (Toronto) Tom Cheek Jerry Howarth
1990 Boston-Oakland WRKO-AM (Boston) Bob Starr Joe Castiglione
KSFO-AM (Oakland) Bill King Lon Simmons Ray Fosse

1980s

Year Teams Flagship station Play-by-play#1 Play-by-play#2 Color commentators
1989 OaklandToronto
1985 Kansas CityToronto

1970s

Year Teams Flagship station Play-by-play#1 Play-by-play#2 Play-by-play#3 Color commentator(s)
1978 New York YankeesKansas City WINS-AM Phil Rizzuto Frank Messer Bill White Fran Healy
WIBW-AM Denny Matthews Fred White
1977 New York YankeesKansas City WMCA-AM Phil Rizzuto Frank Messer Bill White Fran Healy
WIBW-AM Denny Matthews Fred White

This page was last updated at 2023-12-29 23:19 UTC. Update now. View original page.

All our content comes from Wikipedia and under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.


Top

If mathematical, chemical, physical and other formulas are not displayed correctly on this page, please useFirefox or Safari