Ken Harrelson
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Smith Harrelson (born September 4, 1941 in Woodruff, South Carolina
), nickname
d "The Hawk" due to his distinctive profile, is a former All-Star first baseman
and outfielder
in Major League Baseball
. He currently serves as a television broadcast
announcer for the Chicago White Sox
.
, when he was in fifth grade. As a child Harrelson was interested in basketball
and he hoped to pursue a basketball scholarship from Kentucky. His own parents divorced when he was eight.
He played golf, baseball, football and basketball at Benedictine Military School
in Savannah, Georgia.
(1966–67), Boston Red Sox
(1967–69), and Cleveland Indians
(1969–71). In his nine-season career, Harrelson was a .239 hitter with 131 home run
s and 421 RBI
in 900 games
.
His time with the Athletics ended abruptly in when Harrelson angrily denounced team owner Charlie Finley following the dismissal of manager Alvin Dark
. Saying that Finley was "a menace to baseball," Harrelson was released and ended up signing a lucrative deal with the Boston Red Sox
, who were in contention to win their first pennant since .
Brought in to replace the injured Tony Conigliaro
, Harrelson helped the team win the pennant, but watched the team drop a close World Series
to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. However, in , he had his finest season, making the American League All-Star
team and leading the American League
in runs batted in with 109. He also finished third in the American League Most Valuable Player balloting, with two Detroit Tigers
finishing ahead of him: pitcher Denny McLain
won the award, and catcher Bill Freehan
finished second.
On April 19, , Harrelson was traded to the Indians, a move that shocked him and led him to briefly retire. Following conversations with commissioner Bowie Kuhn
and a contract adjustment by Cleveland, Harrelson reported to the team, finishing the year with 30 home runs. He also used his local celebrity to briefly host a half-hour program entitled, "The Hawk's Nest" on local CBS
affiliate, WJW-TV.
During spring training the following year, Harrelson suffered a broken leg while sliding into second base during a March 19 exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics
. The injury kept him on the sidelines for much of the season. When Indian rookie Chris Chambliss
took control of the first base position in , Harrelson retired midseason to pursue a professional golf career.
, and were definitely used by Lefty O'Doul
and Johnny Frederick of the Brooklyn Dodgers in , and later by Bobby Thomson
in the 1950s. Morris does credit Harrelson with reintroducing and popularizing the batting glove in the 1960s.
, partnering with Dick Stockton
. He became highly popular, especially after being teamed with veteran play-by-play man Ned Martin
in , but after being publicly critical of player personnel decisions made by Boston co-owner Haywood Sullivan
, Harrelson was fired at the close of the season.
Harrelson served as a Chicago White Sox
announcer from 1982 to 1985 and briefly left broadcasting during the 1986 season
to become the White Sox's General Manager. Many people questioned his work ethic as a GM because he was often found on the golf course instead of in the office. In addition, others questioned his personnel decisions. During that one season, Harrelson fired field manager Tony LaRussa (who was soon hired by the Oakland Athletics
, whom he led to three consecutive AL pennants) and assistant general manager Dave Dombrowski
(who became baseball's youngest general manager with the Montreal Expos just two years later). Harrelson also traded rookie Bobby Bonilla
, later a six-time All-Star, to the Pittsburgh Pirates
for pitcher Jose DeLeon
.
During the 1987–1988 seasons he was the play-by-play man for New York Yankees
games on SportsChannel New York.
In 1984, Harrelson served as a backup color commentator on NBC's Game of the Week
broadcasts alongside play-by-play man Jay Randolph
. In 1994, Harrelson served as a broadcaster for the short-lived Baseball Network
and was the US broadcaster for the Japan Series
that aired through the Prime-SportsChannel regional networks.
Since , he has served as the main play-by-play announcer for the White Sox television broadcasts teaming up with Tom Paciorek
until 2000 and "DJ" Darrin Jackson from 2000 - 2008. In 2009, former Chicago Cubs color analyst Steve Stone, who broadcast with the late hall of fame broadcaster Harry Caray
and later Chip Caray, began accompanying Harrelson in the television booth. During this time he won five Emmy Awards and two Illinois Sportscaster of the Year awards. Harrelson has become known as one of the biggest "homer" (home-town enthusiast) broadcasters.
Though unpopular with some as a broadcaster due to his repeated use of catchphrases and obvious hometown allegiances, his popularity with the fans is demonstrable. Harrelson was nominated for the 2007 Ford C. Frick award
(won by Royals announcer Denny Matthews
), and his presence in the field of nominees for that award was due to the support of fans, who placed him in nomination (along with Cincinnati announcer Joe Nuxhall
and San Francisco/Oakland announcer Bill King
) via an online vote.
Harrelson appears to have developed a dislike of umpire Joe West, who "in the past few years, has had some problems with the White Sox." West had started a game the night before, but called it due to rain after about a half inning of play. In a game earlier that year, West had ejected Ozzie Guillen and Mark Buehrle for two separate balks in the same game. Joe West is a controversial figure and issues regarding his style of referring a game is not limited to Harrelson or the White Sox.
Harrelson's emotive and particularly distinctive call of Mark Buehrle
's perfect game on July 23, 2009 was also notable. As Buehrle exited the field after the eighth inning, he exclaimed, "Call your sons! Call your daughters! Call your friends! Call your neighbors! Mark Buehrle has a perfect game going into the ninth!" Also, as the final ground ball of the game rolled towards the White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez
, Harrelson called out "Alexei?!" (Harrelson often refers to the White Sox players by their first names.) As Ramirez completed the throw to the first baseman Josh Fields, Harrelson shouted "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! History!"
Though some did not like Harrelson's lack of verbosity and obvious hometown boosterism at the concluding moment of the game, others felt the outburst of emotion captured exactly what they were feeling as the perfect game was sealed. A Chicago Tribune columnist, Phil Rosenthal, arguing that each perfect game call is "memorable in its own way", made an explicit comparison of Harrelson's call to Vin Scully
's call of Sandy Koufax's perfect game
.
Harrelson had a special on CSN Chicago
called "Put it on The Board" which aired on Monday, June 7, 2010 at 9:30pm CT that lasted 30 minutes celebrating his 25 years as a Chicago White Sox broadcaster with memorable footage, memorable quotes and an interview with CSN Chicago's Chuck Garfien. Ken said during the interview "I hope to be broadcasting for the White Sox until I die." He joked and said how he was going to die: in the White Sox broadcasting booth with his last words, "You can put it on the booooard... (dies without finishing)" Harrelson was honored with "Hawk Harrelson Night" by the Chicago White Sox for 25 years of broadcasting that was on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 vs. Detroit Tigers. The White Sox had a t-shirt giveaway for Harrelson for the first 10,000 fans that came to the game. The t-shirt has the White Sox logo on the front and in big letters on the back "Hawkism" with his famous catchphrases on the back also. Harrelson also threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen
.
Harrelson coined many nicknames for popular Sox players, including "Black Jack" McDowell
, Carlos "El Caballo" Lee
, Lance "One Dog" Johnson
, Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas
, Craig "Little Hurt" Grebeck
, "The Deacon" Warren Newson
, "Big Bad" Bobby Jenks
, "The Silent Assassin" Javier Vazquez
, Herbert "the Milkman" Perry
, Jake "The Jake-Meister" Peavy
, Dayan "The Tank" Viciedo
, Willie "Peapod" Harris
, and Magglio "Maggs" Ordóñez
, along with fan favorite "Big Dick" Richard Dotson
. During a broadcast, Harrelson attempted to nickname partner Darrin Jackson "The Squirrel" because of the quantity of peanuts his partner ate, to which Jackson replied, "No." He calls his current partner Steve Stone "Stone Pony." The Stone Pony is one of the world's most popular music venues, but the term's connection to Steve Stone, other than to his last name, is unclear.
Harrelson is known to laud young players as the next big-thing. Hawk once called Jerry Sands
the next Mickey Mantle
and compared Carlos Gomez
to Rickey Henderson
.
In 1970, Harrelson was part-owner of a $2 million dollar waterfront nightclub in East Boston called the 1800 Club. A three-quarter sized replica of Donald McKay’s clipper ship Flying Cloud was docked next to the club and was used as a floating cocktail lounge. The location offered superb views of Boston Harbor and the downtown skyline. The complex was severely damaged by fire on January 20, 1971, and never re-opened.
After retiring from baseball, Harrelson competed in the 1972 British Open. He missed the cut by 1 stroke, shooting +11.
In 1973, Harrelson married Aris; they have two children, daughter Krista and son Casey, and two grandchildren, Nico and Alexander. His son Casey, who played in the White Sox minor league system in 1999, is currently a professional golfer. The family resides in Orlando, Fla.
Harrelson resides in Granger, Indiana
during the MLB Season.
Woodruff, South Carolina
Woodruff is a city in Woodruff is a city in Woodruff is a city in [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina, located in the "Upstate" area...
), nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "The Hawk" due to his distinctive profile, is a former All-Star first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He currently serves as a television broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
announcer for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
Early life
Ken Harrelson and his family moved from Woodruff to Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, when he was in fifth grade. As a child Harrelson was interested in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and he hoped to pursue a basketball scholarship from Kentucky. His own parents divorced when he was eight.
He played golf, baseball, football and basketball at Benedictine Military School
Benedictine Military School
Benedictine Military School is a Benedictine, military, all-male high school located in Savannah, Georgia, United States...
in Savannah, Georgia.
Playing career
Throwing and batting right-handed, Harrelson played for four teams: the Kansas City Athletics (1963–66, 1967), Washington SenatorsTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
(1966–67), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1967–69), and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1969–71). In his nine-season career, Harrelson was a .239 hitter with 131 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 421 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 900 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
His time with the Athletics ended abruptly in when Harrelson angrily denounced team owner Charlie Finley following the dismissal of manager Alvin Dark
Alvin Dark
Alvin Ralph Dark , nicknamed "Blackie" and "The Swamp Fox", is a former shortstop and manager in Major League Baseball who played for five National League teams from 1946 to 1960. Named the major leagues' Rookie of the Year with the Boston Braves when he batted .322...
. Saying that Finley was "a menace to baseball," Harrelson was released and ended up signing a lucrative deal with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, who were in contention to win their first pennant since .
Brought in to replace the injured Tony Conigliaro
Tony Conigliaro
Anthony Richard Conigliaro , nicknamed "Tony C" and "Conig", was a Major League Baseball outfielder and right-handed batter who played for the Boston Red Sox and California Angels . He was born in Revere, Massachusetts, and was a 1962 graduate of St. Mary's High School...
, Harrelson helped the team win the pennant, but watched the team drop a close World Series
1967 World Series
The 1967 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox in a rematch of the 1946 World Series, with the Cardinals winning in seven games for their second championship in four years and their eighth overall...
to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. However, in , he had his finest season, making the American League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team and leading the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in runs batted in with 109. He also finished third in the American League Most Valuable Player balloting, with two Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
finishing ahead of him: pitcher Denny McLain
Denny McLain
Dennis Dale "Denny" McLain is a former American professional baseball player, and the last major league pitcher to win 30 or more games during a season —a feat accomplished by only thirteen players in the 20th century....
won the award, and catcher Bill Freehan
Bill Freehan
William Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
finished second.
On April 19, , Harrelson was traded to the Indians, a move that shocked him and led him to briefly retire. Following conversations with commissioner Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kent Kuhn was an American lawyer and sports administrator who served as the fifth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from February 4, , to September 30,...
and a contract adjustment by Cleveland, Harrelson reported to the team, finishing the year with 30 home runs. He also used his local celebrity to briefly host a half-hour program entitled, "The Hawk's Nest" on local CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate, WJW-TV.
During spring training the following year, Harrelson suffered a broken leg while sliding into second base during a March 19 exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. The injury kept him on the sidelines for much of the season. When Indian rookie Chris Chambliss
Chris Chambliss
Carroll Christopher Chambliss is a former Major League Baseball player who played from to for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves...
took control of the first base position in , Harrelson retired midseason to pursue a professional golf career.
Batting glove legend
Harrelson is often credited with inventing the batting glove by wearing a golf glove while at bat with the A's; however, Peter Morris' book A Game of Inches says the batting glove may have been used as early as by Hughie JenningsHughie Jennings
Hugh Ambrose Jennings was a Major League Baseball player and manager from 1891 to 1925. Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896. During the three championship seasons, Jennings had...
, and were definitely used by Lefty O'Doul
Lefty O'Doul
Francis Joseph "Lefty" O'Doul was an American Major League Baseball player who went on to become an extraordinarily successful manager in the minor leagues, and also a vital figure in the establishment of professional baseball in Japan.-Player:Born in San Francisco, California, O'Doul began his...
and Johnny Frederick of the Brooklyn Dodgers in , and later by Bobby Thomson
Bobby Thomson
Robert Brown "Bobby" Thomson was a Scottish-born American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "The Staten Island Scot", he was an outfielder and right-handed batter for the New York Giants , Milwaukee Braves , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles .His season-ending three-run...
in the 1950s. Morris does credit Harrelson with reintroducing and popularizing the batting glove in the 1960s.
General manager and broadcaster
After his time on the links brought minimal compensation over the next few years, Harrelson turned to a broadcasting career, beginning in with the Red Sox on WSBK-TVWSBK-TV
WSBK-TV is a MyNetworkTV television station for eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire that is licensed to Boston. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter along the Needham and Wellesley town line southwest of the MA 9 and I-95 / MA 128...
, partnering with Dick Stockton
Dick Stockton
Dick Stockton is an American sportscaster. He is currently employed by Fox Sports and Turner Sports as a football, baseball, and basketball play-by-play announcer.-Early life and career:...
. He became highly popular, especially after being teamed with veteran play-by-play man Ned Martin
Ned Martin
Edwin Martin was an American sportscaster, known primarily as a play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox from to...
in , but after being publicly critical of player personnel decisions made by Boston co-owner Haywood Sullivan
Haywood Sullivan
Haywood Cooper Sullivan was an American college and professional baseball player who was a catcher, manager, general manager and club owner in Major League Baseball...
, Harrelson was fired at the close of the season.
Harrelson served as a Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
announcer from 1982 to 1985 and briefly left broadcasting during the 1986 season
1986 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Mets over Boston Red Sox ; Ray Knight, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Marty Barrett*National League Championship Series MVP: Mike Scott...
to become the White Sox's General Manager. Many people questioned his work ethic as a GM because he was often found on the golf course instead of in the office. In addition, others questioned his personnel decisions. During that one season, Harrelson fired field manager Tony LaRussa (who was soon hired by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, whom he led to three consecutive AL pennants) and assistant general manager Dave Dombrowski
Dave Dombrowski
David Dombrowski is the current president, CEO, and general manager of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball.-Chicago White Sox:...
(who became baseball's youngest general manager with the Montreal Expos just two years later). Harrelson also traded rookie Bobby Bonilla
Bobby Bonilla
Roberto Martin Antonio "Bobby" Bonilla is a former player in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 to 2001. Known in his playing days as "Bobby Bo," Bonilla is of Puerto Rican descent.-Playing career:...
, later a six-time All-Star, to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for pitcher Jose DeLeon
Jose DeLeon
José DeLeón Chestaro is a former professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of thirteen seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Montreal Expos. He was the National League strikeout champion in 1989 with...
.
During the 1987–1988 seasons he was the play-by-play man for New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
games on SportsChannel New York.
In 1984, Harrelson served as a backup color commentator on NBC's Game of the Week
Major League Baseball Game of the Week
The Major League Baseball Game of the Week is the de facto title for over-the-air, nationally televised coverage of regular season Major League Baseball games...
broadcasts alongside play-by-play man Jay Randolph
Jay Randolph
Jennings "Jay" Randolph, Jr. is an American sportscaster whose career has spanned more than fifty years.-Early life and career:...
. In 1994, Harrelson served as a broadcaster for the short-lived Baseball Network
The Baseball Network
The Baseball Network was a short-lived television broadcasting joint venture between ABC, NBC, and Major League Baseball. Under the arrangement, beginning in the 1994 season, the league produced its own in-house telecasts of games, which were then brokered to air on ABC and NBC...
and was the US broadcaster for the Japan Series
1994 Japan Series
The 1994 Japan Series was the Nippon Professional Baseball championship series for the 1994 season. It was the 45th Japan Series and featured the Pacific League champion Seibu Lions against the Central League champion Yomiuri Giants...
that aired through the Prime-SportsChannel regional networks.
Since , he has served as the main play-by-play announcer for the White Sox television broadcasts teaming up with Tom Paciorek
Tom Paciorek
Thomas Marian Paciorek is a former Major League outfielder and first baseman for 18 seasons between 1970 and 1987...
until 2000 and "DJ" Darrin Jackson from 2000 - 2008. In 2009, former Chicago Cubs color analyst Steve Stone, who broadcast with the late hall of fame broadcaster Harry Caray
Harry Caray
Harry Caray, born Harry Christopher Carabina, was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
and later Chip Caray, began accompanying Harrelson in the television booth. During this time he won five Emmy Awards and two Illinois Sportscaster of the Year awards. Harrelson has become known as one of the biggest "homer" (home-town enthusiast) broadcasters.
Catchphrases, criticism and nicknames
Harrelson is known for his catchphrases, also known as "Hawkisms". Popular "Hawkisms" include: "You can put it on the board! Yes! Yes!" after a Sox home run, "He gone!" and/or "Grab some bench!" after a strikeout of an opposing player, "Stretch!" when a White Sox player hits a ball that is moving towards the outfield fence. Hawk often states "Sacks packed with Sox," when the bases are loaded. Harrelson refers to the White Sox as "the good guys" (based on the team's mid-1990s slogan Good Guys Wear Black). When a White Sox player hits a ball which appears to be heading foul, Harrelson often states "Stay fair!". Hawk will state "Dagummet" when a ball that looks to be a home-run is caught short of the wall or in general when a play does not go the White Sox way. When a hitter hits a long foul ball that would have been a home run if it were fair, Hawk will say "right size, wrong shape." For a time Hawk often stated "Hell Yes" after an advantageous event for the White Sox occurs. While he insists that exclaiming "hell yes!" is not contrived and is a product of his devotion to the White Sox, it has generated some controversy. He is also known for shouting out "Mercy!" after a great defensive play is executed by a player or players and sometimes, when it is an exceptionally great play, will also exclaim "You gotta be...bleeping me!" When a batter swings and misses he will proclaim, "big hack, no contact." Harrelson refers to a routine flyball as a "can of corn". He refers to a two hop infield ground ball as a "chopper-two-hopper." He calls a hard hit ground ball takes a favorable bounce up for the fielder a "Bollingbrook Bounce." When a White Sox rally starts, Hawk Harrelson will often enthusiastically say "Don't Stop Now Boys." In July 2010, GQ named Harrelson the worst announcer in baseball.Though unpopular with some as a broadcaster due to his repeated use of catchphrases and obvious hometown allegiances, his popularity with the fans is demonstrable. Harrelson was nominated for the 2007 Ford C. Frick award
Ford C. Frick Award
The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." It is named for Ford Christopher Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball...
(won by Royals announcer Denny Matthews
Denny Matthews
Dennis G. "Denny" Matthews is an American sportscaster, best known as a play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals since the team's inception in .-Early history:...
), and his presence in the field of nominees for that award was due to the support of fans, who placed him in nomination (along with Cincinnati announcer Joe Nuxhall
Joe Nuxhall
Joseph Henry Nuxhall was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, mostly for the Cincinnati Reds. Immediately after retiring as a player, he became a radio broadcaster for the Reds from 1967 through 2004, and continued part-time up until his death in 2007...
and San Francisco/Oakland announcer Bill King
Bill King
* For the British author and games designer see, William King * For the British naval officer, yachtsman and author, see Commander Bill King*For the Australian rugby league footballer, see Bill King ...
) via an online vote.
Harrelson appears to have developed a dislike of umpire Joe West, who "in the past few years, has had some problems with the White Sox." West had started a game the night before, but called it due to rain after about a half inning of play. In a game earlier that year, West had ejected Ozzie Guillen and Mark Buehrle for two separate balks in the same game. Joe West is a controversial figure and issues regarding his style of referring a game is not limited to Harrelson or the White Sox.
Harrelson's emotive and particularly distinctive call of Mark Buehrle
Mark Buehrle
Mark Alan Buehrle is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He has pitched his entire baseball career for the Chicago White Sox, starting the opening game every season from 2002 to 2006 and again from 2008 to 2011....
's perfect game on July 23, 2009 was also notable. As Buehrle exited the field after the eighth inning, he exclaimed, "Call your sons! Call your daughters! Call your friends! Call your neighbors! Mark Buehrle has a perfect game going into the ninth!" Also, as the final ground ball of the game rolled towards the White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez
Alexei Ramírez
Alexei Fernando Ramírez is a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Chicago White Sox...
, Harrelson called out "Alexei?!" (Harrelson often refers to the White Sox players by their first names.) As Ramirez completed the throw to the first baseman Josh Fields, Harrelson shouted "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! History!"
Though some did not like Harrelson's lack of verbosity and obvious hometown boosterism at the concluding moment of the game, others felt the outburst of emotion captured exactly what they were feeling as the perfect game was sealed. A Chicago Tribune columnist, Phil Rosenthal, arguing that each perfect game call is "memorable in its own way", made an explicit comparison of Harrelson's call to Vin Scully
Vin Scully
Vincent Edward Scully is an American sportscaster, known primarily as the play-by-play voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team on Prime Ticket, KCAL-TV and KABC radio...
's call of Sandy Koufax's perfect game
Sandy Koufax's perfect game
Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched a perfect game in Major League Baseball against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium on September 9, 1965. Koufax, by retiring 27 consecutive batters without allowing any to reach base, became the sixth pitcher of the modern era, eighth overall, to...
.
Harrelson had a special on CSN Chicago
CSN Chicago
Comcast SportsNet Chicago is a member of the Comcast SportsNet network of regional sports networks that covers local sports teams in the Chicago area.-Background:CSN Chicago is jointly owned by NBCUniversal , the family of J...
called "Put it on The Board" which aired on Monday, June 7, 2010 at 9:30pm CT that lasted 30 minutes celebrating his 25 years as a Chicago White Sox broadcaster with memorable footage, memorable quotes and an interview with CSN Chicago's Chuck Garfien. Ken said during the interview "I hope to be broadcasting for the White Sox until I die." He joked and said how he was going to die: in the White Sox broadcasting booth with his last words, "You can put it on the booooard... (dies without finishing)" Harrelson was honored with "Hawk Harrelson Night" by the Chicago White Sox for 25 years of broadcasting that was on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 vs. Detroit Tigers. The White Sox had a t-shirt giveaway for Harrelson for the first 10,000 fans that came to the game. The t-shirt has the White Sox logo on the front and in big letters on the back "Hawkism" with his famous catchphrases on the back also. Harrelson also threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen
Ozzie Guillén
Oswaldo José "Ozzie" Guillén Barrios is a Venezuelan-American former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Miami Marlins. He managed the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011 before asking for his release at the end of the 2011 season....
.
Harrelson coined many nicknames for popular Sox players, including "Black Jack" McDowell
Jack McDowell
Jack Burns McDowell is a former Major League Baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, McDowell won the American League Cy Young Award in 1993. He was nicknamed "Black Jack."...
, Carlos "El Caballo" Lee
Carlos Lee
Carlos Noriel Lee is a first basemen in Major League Baseball who plays for the Houston Astros. He bats and throws right-handed....
, Lance "One Dog" Johnson
Lance Johnson
Kenneth Lance Johnson is a retired Major League Baseball player. At the age of 24, Johnson broke into the big leagues on July 10, 1987, with the St. Louis Cardinals after being drafted by them in the 6th round of the 1984 amateur draft. In 1987 Johnson, playing for the Louisville Redbirds, was...
, Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas
Frank Thomas (AL baseball player)
Frank Edward Thomas, Jr. , nicknamed "The Big Hurt", is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter and first baseman....
, Craig "Little Hurt" Grebeck
Craig Grebeck
Craig Allen Grebeck is a former middle infielder in Major League Baseball who was nicknamed 'The Little Hurt to our offense' by Chicago White Sox announcer Ken Harrelson....
, "The Deacon" Warren Newson
Warren Newson
Warren Dale Newson is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball from 1991-98. Newson played for the Chicago White Sox , Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers...
, "Big Bad" Bobby Jenks
Bobby Jenks
Robert Scott "Bobby" Jenks is an American professional baseball relief pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
, "The Silent Assassin" Javier Vazquez
Javier Vázquez
Javier Carlos Vázquez is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Previously, he pitched for the Florida Marlins , Atlanta Braves , Chicago White Sox , Arizona Diamondbacks , New York Yankees and Montreal Expos . Vázquez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico...
, Herbert "the Milkman" Perry
Herbert Perry
Herbert Edward Perry, Jr. is a former American college and professional baseball player who was an infielder in Major League Baseball for all or part of nine season during the 1990s and 2000s...
, Jake "The Jake-Meister" Peavy
Jake Peavy
Jacob Edward Peavy is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed...
, Dayan "The Tank" Viciedo
Dayán Viciedo
Dayán Viciedo Pérez is a Cuban baseball player in the Chicago White Sox organization...
, Willie "Peapod" Harris
Willie Harris
William Charles Harris is a Major League Baseball outfielder and infielder. Harris is known for his quick feet and base-stealing abilities, with currently 94 career stolen bases. Harris was formerly a member of the Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox , Atlanta Braves , and...
, and Magglio "Maggs" Ordóñez
Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio José Ordóñez Delgado is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right fielder. He has played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers . Ordóñez is six feet, one inch tall and weighs .-Professional career:...
, along with fan favorite "Big Dick" Richard Dotson
Richard Dotson
Richard Elliott Dotson is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball in the 1980s. He is best noted for his 22-7 performance of , helping the Chicago White Sox win the American League West Division championship that season. Dotson finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award...
. During a broadcast, Harrelson attempted to nickname partner Darrin Jackson "The Squirrel" because of the quantity of peanuts his partner ate, to which Jackson replied, "No." He calls his current partner Steve Stone "Stone Pony." The Stone Pony is one of the world's most popular music venues, but the term's connection to Steve Stone, other than to his last name, is unclear.
Harrelson is known to laud young players as the next big-thing. Hawk once called Jerry Sands
Jerry Sands
Gerald R. Sands is an American professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 25th round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of Catawba College...
the next Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
and compared Carlos Gomez
Carlos Gómez
Carlos Argelis Gómez Pena, nicknamed "Go-Go", is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Minor leagues:...
to Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
.
Personal life
While he was still in high school, Harrelson met his first wife, Betty Ann Pacifici, whom he would marry that year. The marriage produced four children (Patricia, Michael, Richard, and John), and three grandchildren (Nikole, Ryan and Kiefer).In 1970, Harrelson was part-owner of a $2 million dollar waterfront nightclub in East Boston called the 1800 Club. A three-quarter sized replica of Donald McKay’s clipper ship Flying Cloud was docked next to the club and was used as a floating cocktail lounge. The location offered superb views of Boston Harbor and the downtown skyline. The complex was severely damaged by fire on January 20, 1971, and never re-opened.
After retiring from baseball, Harrelson competed in the 1972 British Open. He missed the cut by 1 stroke, shooting +11.
In 1973, Harrelson married Aris; they have two children, daughter Krista and son Casey, and two grandchildren, Nico and Alexander. His son Casey, who played in the White Sox minor league system in 1999, is currently a professional golfer. The family resides in Orlando, Fla.
Harrelson resides in Granger, Indiana
Granger, Indiana
Granger is a census-designated place in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, located in Clay and Harris Townships. The population was 30,465 at the 2010 census. Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation and the South Bend Community School Corporation maintain the public schools in the area...
during the MLB Season.
External links
- Baseball Library - profile and chronology
- Full list of Catch Phrases