Posted on 04/06/2015 3:15:10 AM PDT by csvset
Lon Simmons, beloved Bay Area sportscaster, dead at 91
Legendary broadcaster Lon Simmons, who introduced generations of Californians to major-league baseball and broadcast the 1989 earthquake-interrupted World Series and the 49ers’ road to Super Bowl XXIII, died at his Daly City home Sunday. He was 91.
Mr. Simmons, who was honored by baseball’s Hall of Fame as the 2004 Ford C. Frick Award winner, had credited the success of Bay Area sports teams with helping him cope with his three-year battle with cancer, especially the Giants’ championship teams and more recently the Warriors.
Featuring a baritone voice and a witty, casual approach, Mr. Simmons was the liaison between the Giants and the fans who listened in their living rooms, backyards or work locales, usually on a transistor radio, to the exploits of players from Willie Mays to Barry Bonds.
“Lon was like my big brother,” Mays said. “Anybody who knew him knew he was very genuine. He’d always tell you the truth. When I went into a slump, he was one of the guys I’d listen to. Just a nice man. He was always there for me in all kinds of situations. I’m really going to miss him.”
Both sides of the bay
Known for his self-deprecation and classic “you can tell it goodbye” home run call, Mr. Simmons teamed with Russ Hodges on Giants broadcasts when the team moved to San Francisco in 1958 and worked through 1973, then returned to the booth in 1976 for three more years and again from 1996 to 2002.
Mr. Simmons partnered with Bill King on A’s games from 1981 to 1995, including Oakland’s World Series victory over the Giants in 1989. The same year, he called the 49ers’ Super Bowl victory over the Bengals.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Lon Simmons is perhaps among the last of the generation where the radio broadcast voice was very important, especially for baseball. That’s why I’m glad we still have treasures like Vin Scully around....
There goes another icon from my childhood. Lon was still flying out form the Big Island to catch games at AT&T up until last year.
Broadcasting’s true giants are slipping into history. Harwell, Caray, Lon Simmons, my childhood favorite Herb Carneal, they’re leaving us one by one.
They’re being replaced by cliche-ridden screamers who think they’re bigger than the game.
I echo some other posters in my open admiration for Vin Scully, who still spins a marvelous yarn at age 87.
I grew up listening to the broadcast team of Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons. RIP Lon, you were a big part of my childhood.
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