Gene Elston
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Gene Elston (1922 - ) was a long-time baseball announcer, primarily with the Houston Astros. His first job in announcing was high school basketball in 1941. From there he progressed to Minor League Baseball starting in 1946. His first job in the Major Leagues was 8 years later in 1954, when he became the number two radio announcer for the Chicago Cubs. in 1958 he moved to a national radio audience by announcing the Game of the Day on the Mutual Broadcasting System, with Bob Feller. In 1962 The expansion Houston Colt .45's chose Elston to be the lead radio announcer in their inaugural season. The team changed its name to the Astros three years later, and Elston continued as their lead radio announcer through 1986. Starting in 1987, Elston went back to calling national radio broadcasts instead of games for a specific team. He called the CBS Radio Game of the Week until 1995, and also called postseason games on CBS Radio in 1995, 1996, and 1997. He then retired from broadcasing. In 2006, Elston was awarded the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame. The award is given anually to a baseball announcer who has given major contributions to the game. Elston was healthy enough, at the age of 84, to accept the award in person at Cooperstown.
[edit] External Links
- Hall of Fame press release announcing Elston as the winner of the Ford Frick award
- Hall of Fame press release describing Elston's acceptance speech
- Fan Website that promoted Elston for the Ford Frick award
- Audio clips of Gene Elston announcing
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