Niehaus in Frick Award contention

11/08/2005
The highlight of any Major League Baseball announcer's career would be to be honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
And once again, longtime Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus is among the top contenders for the Ford C. Frick Award, given to an active or retired broadcaster with a minimum of 10 years of continuous MLB broadcast service with one ballclub, network, or combination of both.
"It would be a great honor, the highest honor anyone in my business can get," Niehaus said. "It was an honor last year getting the most votes from the fans."
Niehaus is one of 182 eligible broadcasters on the ballot this year, a list that includes booth partners Rick Rizzs and Ron Fairly.
Between now and Nov. 30, fans can put their two cents worth into selecting the next Frick winner by voting on-line at www.baseballhalloffame.org. The top three vote-getters will be announced Dec. 5, the first day of the annual Winter Meetings, held in Dallas.
Fans can vote daily for as many as three broadcasters.
The final ballot will be comprised of the three fan selections, along with seven other candidates, determined by a Hall of Fame staff research team. The Frick electorate includes all living Award-winners, including 2005 inductee Jerry Coleman, and six historians appointed by the Hall of Fame.
Niehaus has been the Voice of the Mariners since the organization's inception in 1977 and some of his most colorful expressions -- such as "My Oh My" and "It will fly away!" -- have become household words in the Northwest.
He was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame on May 7, 2000, honored by the Washington State House of Representatives in 1997 for his "contributions to the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest" and selected Sportscaster of the Year in Washington in 1995 and '96.
The Frick Award has been awarded annually since 1978 and previous winners include: Mel Allen, Jack Buck, Vin Scully, Curt Gowdy, Jaime Jarrin and Bob Uecker.
More than 165,000 were cast in the first two years of online balloting, with 2004 Frick Award winner Lon Simmons receiving the most votes in 2003, and Niehaus receiving the largest number of fan votes in 2004.
Voters are asked to base their selections on the following criteria: longevity; continuity with a club; honors, including national assignments such as the World Series and All-Star Games; and popularity with fans. Paper ballots will be cast by voting members each January and the final results will be announced at the Hall of Fame's Web site in February.
Each voter will cast ballots for three candidates and the broadcaster with the most support will be named as that year's award-winner, and be honored the following summer at the annual induction ceremony in Cooperstown.
The annual award is named in memory of Hall of Famer Ford C. Frick, renowned sportswriter, radio broadcaster, National League president and Baseball commissioner.

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/