Gene Elston
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gene Elston (born 1922) is a former long-time Major League Baseball broadcaster, 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 annually 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
 |
This biographical article relating to a baseball player, manager, or other figure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
| Preceded by Jerry Coleman |
Ford C. Frick Award 2006 |
Succeeded by Denny Matthews |
