As we are into the MLB winter meetings and heading to the start of the 2011 season, we can look back on the year that

Ernie Harwell in Detroit

was in 2010. While the Giants were improbably winning the World Series and seemingly everyone was throwing no-hitters, there were some tragic events inside of baseball that included the passing of three iconic broadcasters who undoubtedly changed baseball broadcasting.

Early into the 2010 season during the month of May, Ernie Harwell passed away at the age of 82. Harwell was a long time Detroit Tigers broadcaster who became the team’s voice back in 1960. When Harwell wasn’t offered a contract following the 1991 season, the state of Michigan was in an uproar. When the team was sold the following year, the new owner, Mike Ilitch, made it a priority to bring Harwell back.

Harwell officially retired following the 2002 season, although he did some guest commentary for ESPN, Fox and the Tigers Radio Network following his retirement. Interestingly enough, Harwell was the only announcer in baseball history to be traded for a player when Branch Rickey acquired him for catcher Cliff Dapper in 1948.

In July, Yankees Public Address Announcer Bob Sheppard passed away at the age of 99. Sheppard, who worked with the Yankees for over 50 years, helped create the magic atmosphere in Yankee stadium for more than six decades. Sheppard, who has a plaque in Monument Park was known for his trademark greeting “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Yankee Stadium.”

The cliché saying “things happen in threes” unfortunately became true for baseball fans when MLB lost another beloved figure when Ron Santo passed away last week. Santo was an icon who left a mark in 14 seasons with the Cubs as a third baseman and moved to the broadcast booth in 1990 as he was still an avid Cubs fan. Santo was known for his extreme enthusiasm in the broadcast booth, and spent many years working with Pat Hughes on the radio.

While most baseball fans are constantly looking to the future, it’s important to remember the members of our large baseball family that passed over this past year. All three were iconic announcers who changed the way that their hometown fans followed the game. In the coming years, they will surely be missed.

Used with permission of the author.

Along with contributing to Sports Climax, Brett Kettyle is the Atlanta Braves Community Leader on Bleacher Report and maintains a Braves column for MTR Media. Follow Brett on Twitter.

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