Hagerty: Meet the minor-league broadcaster who’s called games since 1949

From SABR member Tim Hagerty at The Sporting News on April 27, 2015:

Times have changed since Bob Robertson was the voice of the Wenatchee Chiefs in 1949. Back then, he pitched batting practice during the day and announced the game at night.

“Anybody who had the ability to throw batting practice was greeted very warmly,” Robertson said.

Robertson is 86 years old now and he doesn’t throw batting practice anymore. But he does still announce games. He lives in Tacoma, Wash. and calls three innings of play-by-play for early season Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers Sunday home games. When the Short-Season Spokane Indians start in June, he broadcasts select road trips for that club.

He’s 86 years old and has two part-time baseball gigs.

“He does his pregame prep work just like anybody else in this league. He spends time at home getting ready,” said Mike Curto, the Rainiers’ lead broadcaster who partners with Robertson. “He’s totally prepared when he goes on the air.”

Read the full article here: http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2015-04-27/minor-league-broadcaster-1949-tacoma-wenatchee-fresno-bob-robertson



Originally published: April 27, 2015. Last Updated: April 27, 2015.