Rangers Eric Nadel pays tribute to Milo Hamilton, ‘total giant in the business’

Rangers Hall of Fame broadcaster Eric Nadel remembers listening to Milo Hamilton announce Chicago Cubs games back in the late 1950s. Hamilton, also a Hall of Famer, was the voice of the Houston Astros for over 25 years, passed away Thursday. He was 88. The Rangers will pay tribute to Hamilton with a moment of silence before Thursday’s game with the Astros.

“He’s one of the total giants in the business. He’s a guy I used to listen to to try and pick stuff up,” Nadel said. “I was always amazed by his passion and his energy to the end, even when he was just doing a couple innings a game it sounded like he was 25 years old. I was amazed by that. He was there early doing his work, loving every second of it. He lived and died with how the Astros were doing.”

Hamilton’s style as an announcer was one of a die-hard fan. But he was always honest, too, never shying away from describing the ugly truth when the Astros were struggling. He joined the Astros in 1985. His workload decreased to just home games in 2006 and he retired after the 2012 season.

“As long as you’re honest, for me, it’s OK to root to a certain extent, whatever is comfortable for you,” said Nadel, who grew up listening to New York announcers.

“They never said ‘we.’ So that’s pretty much how I do it. But I really never had a problem with announcers who did,” he said. “I had a chance to listen to him [doing Cubs games], it sounded natural. As long as he told you straight what was happening on the field that was alright with me.”

Eye style

Nadel, who had surgery to repair a detached retina in his left eye last week, is wearing an eye patch with the Rangers logo. A friend, Abby Goodman, made it for him.

Nadel returned a few days early from the surgery and is still recovering. His left eye is still swollen, so the patch helps him call the game with one eye.

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Rangers Eric Nadel pays tribute to Milo Hamilton, ‘total giant in the business’."