The following is a list of national American television and radio networks and announcers that have broadcast World Series games over the years, as well as local flagship radio stations that have aired them since 1982.
Television coverage of the World Series began in 1947. Since that time, eight different men have called eight or more different World Series telecasts as either play-by-play announcers or color commentators. They are (through 2024) Joe Buck and Tim McCarver (both 24), Curt Gowdy (12), Mel Allen and Vin Scully (both 11), Joe Garagiola (10), John Smoltz (9), Tony Kubek, and Al Michaels (both 8).
Scully then remained silent for more than three minutes, letting the pictures and the crowd noise tell the story. Scully resumed with:So the winning run is at second base, with two outs, three and two to Mookie Wilson. [A] little roller up along first... behind the bag! It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight, and the Mets win it! [102]
If one picture is worth a thousand words, you have seen about a million words, but more than that, you have seen an absolutely bizarre finish to Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. The Mets are not only alive, they are well, and they will play the Red Sox in Game 7 tomorrow! [103]
Scully made repeated references to Gibson's legs, noting at one point that the batter was "shaking his left leg, making it quiver, like a horse trying to get rid of a troublesome fly." Gibson worked the count to 3–2 as Mike Davis stole second base; the camera turned at that point to Steve Sax getting ready for his turn at the plate, and Scully reminded the viewers that Sax waiting on deck but the game right now is at the plate. He then said:All year long, they looked to him to light the fire, and all year long, he answered the demands, until he was physically 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.
Scully said nothing for over a minute, allowing the pictures to tell the story. Finally, he said:High fly ball into right field, she i-i-i-is... GONE!!!
Returning to the subject of Gibson's banged-up legs during a replay, Scully joked,In a year that has been so improbable... the impossible has happened!
As NBC showed a replay of Gibson rounding second base in his home run trot, Scully then made a point to note Eckersley's pitching performance throughout the 1988 season, to put things in perspective.And, now, the only question was, could he make it around the base paths unassisted?! You know, I said it once before, a few days ago, that Kirk Gibson was not the Most Valuable Player; that the Most Valuable Player for the Dodgers was Tinkerbell. But, tonight, I think Tinkerbell backed off for Kirk Gibson. And, look at Eckersley – shocked to his toes! They are going wild at Dodger Stadium – no one wants to leave!
Dennis Eckersley allowed five home runs all year. And we'll be back.
Year | Network | Play-by-play |
---|---|---|
1959 | NBC | Jack Brickhouse [135] and Vin Scully [136] [137] |
1958 | NBC | Curt Gowdy and Mel Allen |
1957 | NBC | Mel Allen and Al Helfer [138] |
1956 | NBC | Vin Scully and Mel Allen |
1955 | NBC | Mel Allen and Vin Scully |
1954 | NBC | Russ Hodges and Jack Brickhouse |
1953 | NBC | Mel Allen and Vin Scully [139] |
1952 | NBC | Red Barber and Mel Allen [140] |
1951 | NBC | Jim Britt and Russ Hodges [141] |
1950 | NBC | Jim Britt and Jack Brickhouse [142] |
CBS | ||
ABC |
Year | Network | Play-by-play |
---|---|---|
1949 | NBC | Jim Britt [158] |
CBS | ||
DuMont | ||
ABC | ||
1948 | NBC | Red Barber [159] Tom Hussey (in Boston) Van Patrick (in Cleveland) [160] |
CBS | ||
DuMont | ||
ABC | ||
1947 | NBC [161] [162] (Games 1, 5) | Bob Stanton [163] [164] |
CBS (Games 3–4) | Bob Edge | |
DuMont (Games 2, 6–7) | Bill Slater |
All telecasts of World Series games starting with 1975 (Reds–Red Sox) are accounted for and exist. This is a full record of World Series telecasts prior to 1975 that are known to exist in whole or part:
Year | Network | Play-by-play | Color commentator(s) | Field reporter(s) | Pregame hosts | Pregame analysts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | ESPN | Jon Sciambi | Jessica Mendoza and Eduardo Pérez | Buster Olney | Kevin Winter | Doug Glanville and Buster Olney |
2023 | ESPN | Jon Sciambi | Jessica Mendoza and Eduardo Pérez | Buster Olney | Kevin Winter | Doug Glanville and Buster Olney |
2022 | ESPN | Dan Shulman | Jessica Mendoza and Eduardo Pérez | Buster Olney | Kevin Winter | Doug Glanville, Buster Olney, and Marly Rivera |
2021 | ESPN | Dan Shulman | Jessica Mendoza and Eduardo Pérez | Buster Olney | Kevin Winter | Chris Singleton, Buster Olney, and Marly Rivera |
2020 | ESPN | Dan Shulman | Chris Singleton and Jessica Mendoza | Buster Olney | Marc Kestecher |
Year | Network | Play-by-play | Color commentator(s) | Pregame hosts | Pregame analysts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | ESPN | Jon Miller | Joe Morgan | Jon Sciambi | Dave Campbell and Peter Pascarelli |
2008 | ESPN | Jon Miller | Joe Morgan | Jon Sciambi | Dave Campbell and Peter Pascarelli |
2007 | ESPN | Jon Miller | Joe Morgan | Jon Sciambi | Dave Campbell and Peter Pascarelli |
2006 | ESPN | Jon Miller | Joe Morgan | Dan Shulman | Dave Campbell and Peter Pascarelli |
2005 | ESPN | Jon Miller | Joe Morgan | Dan Shulman | Dave Campbell |
2004 | ESPN | Jon Miller | Joe Morgan | Dan Shulman | Dave Campbell |
2003 | ESPN | Jon Miller | Joe Morgan | Dan Shulman | Dave Campbell |
2002 | ESPN | Jon Miller | Joe Morgan | Dan Shulman | Dave Campbell |
2001 | ESPN | Jon Miller | Joe Morgan | Charley Steiner | Dave Campbell |
2000 | ESPN | Jon Miller Charley Steiner (Game 3) [202] | Dave Campbell [203] | Charley Steiner | Dave Campbell |
... then you would run for Gibson and have Sax batting. But, we have a big 3–2 pitch coming here from Eckersley. 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, five to four; I don't believe what I just saw! I don't believe what I just saw! Is this really happening, Bill? One of the most remarkable finishes to any World Series Game...a one-handed home run by Kirk Gibson! And the Dodgers have won it...five to four; and I'm stunned, Bill. I have seen a lot of dramatic finishes in a lot of sports, but this one might top almost every other one.
Year | Network | Play-by-play | Color commentator(s)/Secondary play-by-play |
---|---|---|---|
1969 | NBC | Ralph Kiner (in Baltimore) Bill O'Donnell (in New York) | Jim Simpson |
1968 | NBC | Ernie Harwell [231] (in St. Louis) Jack Buck (in Detroit) | Pee Wee Reese Jim Simpson (Game 7) |
1967 | NBC | Harry Caray (in Boston) Ken Coleman [232] (in St. Louis) | Pee Wee Reese Jim Simpson (Game 7) |
1966 | NBC | Chuck Thompson (in Los Angeles) Vin Scully (in Baltimore) | Bob Prince |
1965 | NBC | By Saam and Joe Garagiola | |
1964 | NBC | Phil Rizzuto [233] and Joe Garagiola [234] (in St. Louis) Harry Caray and Curt Gowdy (in New York) | |
1963 | NBC | Ernie Harwell [235] and Joe Garagiola | |
1962 | NBC | George Kell and Joe Garagiola | |
1961 | NBC | Bob Wolff and Waite Hoyt [236] | |
1960 | NBC | Chuck Thompson [237] and Jack Quinlan [238] |
Year | Network | Play-by-play | Pregame hosts |
---|---|---|---|
1959 | NBC | Mel Allen [136] and By Saam | |
1958 | NBC | Bob Wolff and Earl Gillespie [239] | Buddy Blattner |
1957 | NBC | Bob Wolff and Earl Gillespie | Bill Corum |
1956 | Mutual | Bob Wolff and Bob Neal | Bill Corum |
1955 | Mutual | Al Helfer [240] and Bob Neal | Frankie Frisch |
1954 | Mutual | Al Helfer and Jimmy Dudley | Frankie Frisch |
1953 | Mutual | Al Helfer and Gene Kelly | Bill Corum |
1952 | Mutual | Al Helfer and Jack Brickhouse [241] | Bill Corum |
1951 | Mutual | Mel Allen and Al Helfer | |
1950 | Mutual | Mel Allen [242] and Gene Kelly [243] | Al Helfer |
Year | Network | Play-by-play | Pregame hosts |
---|---|---|---|
1949 [245] | Mutual | Mel Allen and Red Barber | |
1948 [246] | Mutual | Mel Allen and Jim Britt [247] | |
1947 | Mutual | Mel Allen and Red Barber [248] | |
1946 | Mutual | Jim Britt and Arch McDonald | Bill Corum |
1945 | Mutual | Bill Slater and Al Helfer | Bill Corum |
1944 | Mutual | Don Dunphy and Bill Slater | Bill Corum |
1943 | Mutual | Red Barber and Bob Elson | Bill Corum |
1942 | Mutual | Red Barber and Mel Allen | Bill Corum |
1941 | Mutual | Red Barber and Bob Elson | Bill Corum |
1940 | Mutual | Red Barber and Bob Elson | Mel Allen |
Year | Network | Play-by-play | Color commentator(s) |
---|---|---|---|
1929 | NBC [271] | Graham McNamee | |
CBS | Ted Husing | ||
1928 | NBC [272] | Graham McNamee | Phillips Carlin |
CBS | J. Andrew White | Ted Husing | |
1927 | NBC | Graham McNamee [273] | Phillips Carlin |
CBS | J. Andrew White | ||
1926 | Westinghouse | Graham McNamee | Phillips Carlin |
1925 | Westinghouse | Graham McNamee | Quin Ryan |
1924 | Westinghouse | Graham McNamee | |
1923 | Westinghouse | W. O. McGeehan (Games 1–3) Graham McNamee [274] [275] (Games 3–6) | |
1922 | Westinghouse | Grantland Rice | W. O. McGeehan |
1921 | KDKA | Grantland Rice and Tommy Cowan | |
WBZ | |||
WJZ |
Since 1982, the participating teams' flagship radio stations are permitted to air their own World Series broadcasts with their regular announcing crews, and their audio is made available as usual through MLB's digital presences and Sirius XM. However, the teams' other radio network affiliates are contractually obligated to carry the national radio feeds. The flagship stations also much mention the coverage as being presented by the same sponsor as the ESPN Radio broadcasts.
Year | Teams | Flagship stations | Play-by-play #1 | Play-by-play #2 | Play-by-play #3 | Color commentators |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | L.A. Dodgers–N.Y. Yankees | KLAC (L.A. Dodgers) WFAN (N.Y. Yankees) | Stephen Nelson John Sterling | Rick Monday Suzyn Waldman | ||
2023 | Texas–Arizona | KRLD (Dallas-Fort Worth) KMVP (Arizona) | Eric Nadel Greg Schulte | Matt Hicks (innings 3–4, 7) Chris Garagiola (innings 4–6) | Tom Candiotti | |
2022 | Houston–Philadelphia | KBME (Houston) WIP (Philadelphia) | Robert Ford Scott Franzke | Tom McCarthy (innings 5–6) | Steve Sparks Larry Andersen | |
2021 | Atlanta–Houston | WCNN (Atlanta) KBME (Houston) | Ben Ingram Robert Ford | Joe Simpson Steve Sparks | ||
2020 | L.A. Dodgers–Tampa Bay | KLAC (L.A. Dodgers) WDAE (Tampa Bay) | Charley Steiner Andy Freed and Dave Wills | Dave Wills and Andy Freed (innings 3–4, 7–8; Freed and Wills alternated between primary and secondary play-by-play each game) | Rick Monday |
Year | Teams | Flagship stations | Play-by-play #1 | Play-by-play #2 | Play-by-play #3 | Color commentators |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | N.Y. Yankees–Philadelphia | WCBS (N.Y. Yankees) WPHT (Philadelphia) | John Sterling Scott Franzke | Chris Wheeler (innings 4–6) | Suzyn Waldman Larry Andersen | |
2008 | Philadelphia–Tampa Bay | WPHT (Philadelphia) WHNZ (Tampa Bay) | Harry Kalas Andy Freed and Dave Wills | Scott Franzke (innings 4–6) Dave Wills and Andy Freed (innings 3–4, 7–8; Freed and Wills switch between primary and secondary play-by-play) | Dewayne Staats (innings 5–6) | Chris Wheeler and Larry Andersen Joe Magrane (innings 5–6 with Staats) |
2007 | Boston–Colorado | WRKO (Boston) KOA (Colorado) | Joe Castiglione Jeff Kingery | Glenn Geffner (innings 3–4, 7–8) Jack Corrigan (innings 2–3, 6–7) | ||
2006 | St. Louis–Detroit | KMOX (St. Louis) WXYT (Detroit) | Mike Shannon Dan Dickerson | John Rooney (innings 3–4, 7–8) Ernie Harwell (inning 2 of Game 1) | Jim Price | |
2005 | Chicago–Houston | WMVP (Chicago) KTRH (Houston) | John Rooney Milo Hamilton | Ed Farmer (innings 4–5, 7, and odd extra innings [Game 3 went 14 innings]) Alan Ashby (innings 4, 7, 12) | ||
2004 | Boston–St. Louis | WEEI (Boston) KMOX (St. Louis) | Joe Castiglione Mike Shannon | Jerry Trupiano (innings 3–4, 7–8) Wayne Hagin (innings 3–4, 7–8) | ||
2003 | Florida–N.Y. Yankees | WQAM (Florida) WCBS (N.Y. Yankees) | Dave Van Horne John Sterling | Jon Sciambi (innings 3–4, 7–8, and even extra innings [Game 4 went 12 innings]) Charley Steiner (innings 5–7, and even extra innings [Game 4 went 12 innings]) | ||
2002 | Anaheim–San Francisco | KLAC (Anaheim) KNBR (San Francisco) | Rory Markas Duane Kuiper | Terry Smith (innings 4–6) Joe Angel (innings 3–4, 7) | Mike Krukow | |
2001 | Arizona–N.Y. Yankees | KTAR (Arizona) WABC (N.Y. Yankees) | Greg Schulte John Sterling | Thom Brennaman (innings 5–8) Michael Kay (innings 5–7, 10–11 [Game 4 went 10 innings and Game 5 went 12 innings]) | Jim Traber (with Schulte) and Rod Allen (with Brennaman) | |
2000 | N.Y. Yankees-N.Y. Mets | WCBS (N.Y. Yankees) WFAN (N.Y. Mets) | John Sterling Bob Murphy | Michael Kay (innings 5–7, 10–11 [Game 1 went 12 innings]) Gary Cohen (innings 3–4, 7–8, and even extra innings [Game 1 went 12 innings]) |
Year | Teams | Flagship stations | Play-by-play #1 | Play-by-play #2 | Color commentators |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | Oakland–San Francisco | KSFO (Oakland) KNBR (San Francisco) | Bill King Hank Greenwald | Lon Simmons Ron Fairly | Ray Fosse |
1988 | Los Angeles–Oakland | KABC (Los Angeles) KSFO (Oakland) | Ross Porter Bill King | Don Drysdale Lon Simmons | Ray Fosse |
1987 | Minnesota–St. Louis | WCCO (Minnesota) KMOX (St. Louis) | Herb Carneal see notes | John Gordon | — |
1986 | N.Y. Mets–Boston | WHN (N.Y. Mets) WPLM (Boston) | Bob Murphy Ken Coleman | Gary Thorne Joe Castiglione | — |
1985 | Kansas City–St. Louis | WIBW (Kansas City) KMOX (St. Louis) | Denny Matthews see notes | Fred White | — |
1984 | Detroit–San Diego | WJR (Detroit) KFMB (San Diego) | Ernie Harwell Jerry Coleman | Paul Carey Dave Campbell | — |
1983 | Baltimore–Philadelphia | WFBR (Baltimore) WCAU (Philadelphia) | Jon Miller Harry Kalas | Tom Marr Andy Musser | Richie Ashburn and Chris Wheeler |
1982 | St. Louis–Milwaukee | KMOX (St. Louis) WISN (Milwaukee) | Jack Buck Bob Uecker | Mike Shannon Dwayne Mosley | — |
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