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The bat cracks and the ball flies toward the bleachers. It’s arguably a baseball announcer’s biggest moment. And what’s said next is what those watching (or listening) at home might remember the most. From "Hey-hey!" to "Holy cow!" to "Goodbye baseball!" a classic home run call can define a career:
The top 5 historic calls1"There’s a long drive! That’s gonna be it, I believe! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the left-field stands! The Giants win the pennant, and they’re going crazy! They’re going crazy! Hey, ho!! I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it! I do not believe it!" — Russ Hodges on Bobby Thomson’s "Shot Heard ’Round the World" in 1951.2"Gibson swings and a fly ball to deep right field! This is gonna be a home run! Unbelievable! A home run for Gibson! And the Dodgers have won the game, 5 to 4! I don’t believe what I just saw! I don’t believe what I just saw!" — Jack Buck’s radio call on Kirk Gibson’s home run off Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.3"There it goes! It’s a long drive if it stays fair ... home run" — Dick Stockton on Carlton Fisk’s homer in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series.4"Smith corks one into right down the line! It may go ...! Go crazy, folks!! Go crazy!! It’s a home run!! And the Cardinals have won the game ... by the score of 3 to 2 ... on a home run by ... the Wizard! Go crazy!" — Jack Buck on Ozzie Smith’s homer in Game 5 of the NLCS5"Deep to left! Yastrzemski will not get it ... it’s a home run! A three-run home run for Bucky Dent and the Yankees now lead by a score of 3-2! Bucky Dent has just hit his fifth home run of the year and look at that Yankees bench out to greet him." — Bill White on Bucky Dent’s home run in New York’s one-game playoff victory over Boston in 1978 Touching all the basesBest buildup: "And look who’s coming up. All year long they looked to him to light the fire. And all year long he answered the demands until he was unable to start tonight with two bad legs, the bad left hamstring and the swollen right knee. And with two out, you talk about a roll of the dice. This is it." — Vin Scully’s TV call of Kirk Gibson’s home run. Scully wonderfully set the stage, then let the drama unfold.Most bizarre: "Here’s the pitch to McGwire ... looky there! Looky there! Looky there! Number 61. McGwire’s flight 61 headed for Planet Maris!" — Jack Buck on Mark McGwire’s record-tying 61st home run in 1998. Did Buck stay up late the night before watching a marathon of bad science fiction movies? Interesting side note: Astronomers recently located Planet McGwire in the Androstene Galaxy.Worst luck: "The payoff pitch and a drive to deep cen ..." — Dave Flemming of San Francisco Giants Radio having his microphone cut off during Bonds’ 715th home run that moved him past Babe Ruth for second all-time. Oh, well, at least there was still Hank Aaron on the horizon for Flemming. Best signature call: "Going, going, gone!" — Harry Hartman and Mel Allen. Short and simple is always the way to go. You don’t want anything too grating. For instance ...Worst signature call: "Back, back, back, back, back ... Gone!" — Chris Berman. It’s enough to make you root for the pitchers at the Home Run Derby.Most versatile signature call: "It might be ... it could be ... it is. A home run! Holy cow!" — Harry Caray. Depending on whether the Cubs were winning and how many adult beverages he had consumed, Caray could morph those "holy cows" in a range from complete euphoria to utter disgust.Best fictionalized call: "Haywood swings and crushes this one toward South America. Tomlinson is gonna need a Visa to catch this one, it is out of here, and there is nothing left but a vapor trail." — Harry Doyle (Bob Uecker in Major League). It perfectly captures the over-the-top announcer who tries a little too hard and just comes across as corny.
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