Free Voices of Summer: Ranking Baseball's 101 All-Time Best Announcers by Curt Smith

doubleheader. The Kid went 6-for-8: One double
broke the loud-speaker horn. "Baseball history! No backing in!" cried Saam
of .406. John Wayne was never more compelling on film.
    In 1950, Philadelphia's N.W. Ayer & Son ad agency ended the road recreation: for the first time, each team did its entire schedule live. Kicker: no station could handle inventory. The A's stayed at then-flagship WIBG, the Phils
choosing WPEN. "[By] had to weigh a close relationship with the kindest man
who ever lived," picking A's manager, owner and patriarch Connie Mack.
    Lost Cause: Saam placed last. By contrast, the 1950 Nationals won their
first flag in 35 years. "It must have bothered him," said Ashburn. "You do the
Phillies so long, then leave the year they win." In late 1954, the A's moved to
Kansas City. A year later Saam rejoined the Phils.
    "I hated Mr. Mack leaving," he said, "but I'd missed the Phillies."
Together they approached their Gallipoli-1964.
    Nineteen sixty-four. The phrase stands alone, needs no explanation, so
affixed to Philadelphia that even non-Quakers grasp the spoken tone
reserved for a drunken spouse or wayward child.
    For 73 straight days the team gripped first place. Rookie Richie Allen hit
29 dingers. Chris Short went 18-11. Jim Bunning (19-8) no-hit the Mets on
Father's Day. "He gets it! He gets it! A perfect game!" Saam said onWFIL. On
September 20, Philly led by 6 112 games, then aped a horse who, lacking
food and water, nears the finish line in shock and fear.
    The Phillies started Short and Bunning eight of their last 12 games. Ten
straight losses wrotefinis. The Reds and Cardinals led by a game on closing
day. "We beat Cincy, the Cards lose to the Mets, and it's a three-way playoff,"
said Saam. "They win, and get the pennant." Phils romp, 10-0. Didn't matter.
St. Louis: 11-5.

    "It's a good thing I got to do a network Series on my own," By joked.
"After a while I knew I'd never get there with the Phils."
    "Through it all, the great thing about Saam was that even as opposing hitters
were playing ping gong off the outfield fence," said the Philadelphia Inquirer's
Frank Dolson, "he would still leave with you with a smile on your face."
    Egg followed 1964. In 1969, By visited expansion Montreal. "You know,
85 percent of the people up here speak French. But they're nice people,
anyway." One night he broadcast from San Francisco. "And now for all you
guys scoring in bed." Ashburn laughed a quarter-century later. "Imagine that
stir! How could you not love the guy?"
    In 1971, Saam moved to Veterans Stadium. A flaw was faux grass. "It's
hard for anyone to pick up the baseball on artificial turf," said partner Harry
Kalas. "That was especially true when By got eye trouble." One hatter went
deep. "There's a ground ball to short," Saam began, "and it's gone!"
    By 1975, he faced that vision thing. "I should have had cataract surgery,
but I was leaving, so let it slide." By retired that October. Next year's irony
renewed 1950's: Phils win! Richie had his pal call the N.L. East clincher.
"Thirty-eight years and no winner. Damn right he deserved a title."
    In 1990, Saam rolled into another: a Hall of Fame reception evoked his quirky, falling-off-the-turnip-truck charm. Each napkin read, "Right you are,
Mel!" At that moment the Lost Cause seemed triumphant, after all.

    sYRUM SAAM

BERT WILSON
    From Sheffield Avenue, the top deck opens, putting geography in relief'.
Charters import pilgrims from the far outposts of Wrigleyville. Ivy cloaks
the brick outfield wall. Bleachers rise to form a deep V. The scoreboard
boasts line scores, lineups, and yardarm flags of N.L. cities and standings,
falling or rising daily.
    Afterward a banner flies a white "W" (on blue backdrop) or blue "L"
(against white). "I Don't Care Who Wins As Long As It's the Cubs!" caroled
Bert Bertram Puckett. He already knew the score.
    From 1944 to 1955, Wilson held a pencil ("I keep it in my hand all game.
Not to write with,