Legendary broadcaster Joe Buck featured on the next edition of MLB Network's The Sounds of Baseball
Feb. 9, 2024 – Joe Buck – the play-by-play voice for a record 24 World Series – will be profiled on the next edition of MLB Network’s The Sounds Of Baseball, on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET. Co-hosted by Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Costas and Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Tom Verducci, the one-hour program brings to life Buck’s place in baseball broadcasting lore. With baseball in his blood as the son of the late Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck, the program highlights Buck’s perfection at minimalism: Nailing every big play with an indelible call, followed by letting the pictures and crowd do the rest. A clip from The Sounds of Baseball program on Buck can be viewed here.
“Joe Buck's career as a baseball broadcaster encompasses most of the game's greatest postseason moments spanning a quarter century from 1996 through 2021,” Costas says. “Those moments were enhanced by Joe's distinctive calls. This episode of The Sounds of Baseball touches upon so much of baseball's history and reminds us that Joe belongs on any list of the game's very best broadcasters.”
Signature World Series-ending calls from Buck will be remembered, including the 1996 World Series (Yankees), 2004 World Series (Red Sox) and 2016 World Series (Cubs). Buck’s sense of the moment is explored, including his memorable “We will see you tomorrow night,” call for David Freese’s walkoff home run that ended Game 6 of the 2011 World Series for the Cardinals, a fitting tribute to his father, who famously used the same words to describe Kirby Puckett’s home run to win Game 6 of the 1991 World Series for the Twins.
“The Joe Buck edition of The Sounds of Baseball is unlike any other episode. That’s because Joe called 24 World Series, twice as many as anybody else,” Verducci says. “The trove of great and historic calls is especially deep, from home run records to breaking curses. You’ll learn why Joe’s unique style and voice were perfect for this era as baseball broadcasting evolved from its radio roots to the visual age.”
Buck’s relationship with his longtime FOX partner Tim McCarver is discussed as Verducci says on the program, “They were like great dance partners.” Calling his first World Series at 27-years old, Buck’s craft will forever have a place in baseball history, from calling Mark McGwire’s record-setting 62nd home run in 1998 to being behind the microphone for when the Angels, Astros, Diamondbacks and Nationals clinched their first-ever World Series titles.
Costas, the 2018 Ford C. Frick Award winner, was profiled on The Sounds of Baseball series last night. Launched in June 2020, the series has profiled several iconic voices of the game, starting with Vin Scully and including Mel Allen, Red Barber, Jack Buck, Harry Caray, Joe Garagiola, Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek, Al Michaels, Jon Miller, Vin Scully and Bob Uecker.