Joe Garagiola was always a personal favorite. One of the first autographed baseball cards I ever had was from Mr. Garagiola.

Note to Jim Allen;

Your correction to my mistake is noted. Thanks for reading and noticing. And yes, I agree with you. Harry and Jack are in a class by themselves. As for Joe G., I only heard him on Monday night baseball in the 70’s and during the World Series of that time. I wrote what I wrote because at the time I was a bit in a goofy mood. It did not come off the way I wanted it. Oh, well, at least I’m not paid to write this slop. I’ve been a Cards fan since ‘64′. I’ve been no fan of any other. I had no chance but to be a Cards fan because they were always on the radio in the home I grew up in. But hey “Jim Allen” it’s always nice to hear from a Cards fan. We are the best you know…God bless.

Garagiola has always been one of my favorites. I, too, have his autograph, inside his second book (the one written in the 1980’s). And I was pleasantly surprised when he started doing some PBP for the Diamondbacks some years ago (his son was the GM, of course); Joe did, for instance, the call of the game on Fox Sports Arizona the night Jose Jimenez pitched his no-hitter in June 1999.

As for this group of 10… my guess is that Nuxhall and Coleman, not necessarily in that order, have the best shot.

Shannon’s problem is that he’s been primarily a “sidekick” for much of his tenure, and I suspect the committee is giving preference to those who did more PBP than color.

Which is a shame, because a good color analyst is hard to find - done properly, it’s a harder job than straight PBP - and Shannon ranks right up there with the best of his peers.

We, as Cardinal fans, need to mobilize our forces next year and get Mike into the Hall of Fame. His wit, community support, and butchering of the english language make him a huge local celebrity. It’s a shame the rest of the country doesn’t know him the way we do.

I guess I’m an Old-timer as I can remember Dizzy doing TV games in the 50’s. Talk about someone butchering the english language–he certainly did. I can still remember when a player would steal a base, old Dizzy would say “He slud into second”

It’s certainly a compliment to St.Louis that we’ve had such great announcers–Harry, Jack, Mike, Joe Garagiola, Dizzy, Joe Buck, Bob Costas. I would put that lineup against any city in the country.

What great comments!

I gave my son a cut out autograph of Harry Carray from 1963 on an old Cardinal scorecard from Sportsman Park. I think I should have saved the whole thing… Harry came to my school to talk to us one day and I waited to get his signature.

Jack Buck was a near God. But Mike Shannon played an important role in contrasting Jack’s style for our broadcasts over many years. I would often turn on the TV and turn down the sound while turing on the Radio to get the better PBP and commentary of that broadcaster team. I’ll never forget teh McGwire moments. Jack was awesome. On television his call of Ozzie’s homer will live forever as a huge part of Cardinal lore.
I had to openly laugh at charlie’s comments and quote him here:

“We, as Cardinal fans, need to mobilize our forces next year and get Mike into the Hall of Fame. His wit, community support, and butchering of the english language make him a huge local celebrity. It’s a shame the rest of the country doesn’t know him the way we do.”

I whole-heartedly agree!!! Let’s do it.