Broadcasting on Opening Day is always one of the highlights of a baseball broadcaster’s season. The promise of a new season, packed stadiums and ballparks draped in bunting make the season opener special for fans and those that describe the game.
But, once the first game of the season is in the books, the remainder of April can be a challenge for announcers. There are several reasons why I couldn’t wait to put April in the rearview mirror every season.
1. Lets ‘s start with the weather. I spent the majority of my broadcasting career in the Midwest. April in towns like Detroit, Davenport and Peoria can be downright freezing. I recall many times when the game-time temperature was in the upper 20’s and snow flurries filled the air. It’s absolutely miserable shivering in a booth while trying to keep your concentration for three hours, all the while wishing for an 80-degree summer night.
Early in my career, for some strange reason, I refused to use a heater in the booth . I think I just wanted to prove to myself that I could make it through a game without appearing like I needed one. That changed as I got older. I didn’t care what people thought, I wasn’t going to compromise the broadcast because I wanted to be a tough guy.
2. The crowds thin out. It happens in most baseball towns. The Opening Day crowd is usually large and festive. Yet, once the holiday feel of the opener is gone, the crowds shrink considerably the rest of the month. Let’s face it, it is much more comfortable sitting in a ballpark on a warm summer night wearing shorts and a t-shirt instead of a winter jacket and blanket draped over your knees. There is simply a lot more energy in the ballpark as the weather warms up, and I found that the cold weather made doing games the during first month of the season a challenge
3. Trends begin to form. When May rolls around, a full month of games are in the books and you begin to get a feel for what the season may bring. More than that, trends and storylines begin to form, giving announcers a fresh batch of new information to use in the broadcasts. No longer are you relying on last year’s stats and storylines to fill airtime.
4. Your face becomes more familiar. I always found that it took a few weeks for the new players on the team to learn their way around. This include becoming more familiar with you as a broadcaster. It takes time to develop relationships with players, and as the season progresses, they become more comfortable with you when they see your face in the clubhouse everyday. The month of April was usually spent creating those relationships and once May rolled around, the groundwork had been laid and players became more open with information.
