Tom Hamilton, a radio broadcasting icon with 35 seasons under his belt calling Cleveland Guardians games, has achieved a remarkable milestone. In 2025, he was selected as the recipient of the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award. This annual honor is presented by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for excellence in broadcasting.

An Unparalleled Love for Cleveland

Born on August 19, 1954, in Waterloo, Wis., Hamilton made his way to Cleveland in 1990. After three years as the voice of the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, he joined the Guardians' broadcast crew. Teaming up with the beloved former pitcher Herb Score in the booth, Hamilton witnessed the resurgence of the team. They called the Guardians as they advanced to the World Series in both 1995 and 1997, providing fans with front-row seats to history.Following Score's retirement in 1997, Hamilton took on the role of the franchise's voice. Over the ensuing decades, he partnered with Mike Hegan, Dave Nelson, Jim Rosenhaus, and Matt Underwood on WWWE-AM and WTAM-AM. His knowledge and passion for the game shone through in his play-by-play calls, making him a favorite among Guardians fans.A seven-time winner of the Ohio Sportscaster of the Year Award, Hamilton has called over 100 postseason games. He is the only broadcaster in franchise history to call three different Cleveland World Series teams, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.

The Frick Award Committee's Choice

The 16-member Frick Award voting electorate, consisting of the 13 living recipients and three broadcast historians/columnists, played a crucial role in Hamilton's selection. This esteemed group includes Marty Brennaman, Joe Castiglione, Bob Costas, Ken Harrelson, Pat Hughes, Jaime Jarrín, Tony Kubek, Denny Matthews, Al Michaels, Jon Miller, Eric Nadel, Bob Uecker, and Dave Van Horne, along with historians/columnists David J. Halberstam, Barry Horn, and Curt Smith.A subcommittee of the electorate, including Brennaman, Castiglione, Nadel, Halberstam, and Smith, constructed the list of 10 Frick Award finalists. These finalists were broadcasters whose main contributions came as local and national voices and whose careers began after, or extended into, the Wild Card Era. The final ballot featured names like Skip Caray, Rene Cardenas, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Ernie Johnson Sr., Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Dave Sims, John Sterling, and Hamilton.Hamilton earned the highest point total in the vote, solidifying his place as the 49th winner of the Frick Award. His commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers made him stand out among the competition.

Criteria and History of the Award

Established by the Board of Directors, the criteria for selecting the Frick Award winner is clear. It emphasizes commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers. To be considered, an active or retired broadcaster must have a minimum of 10 years of continuous major league broadcast service with a ball club, network, or a combination of the two.The Frick Award election cycle rotates between a composite ballot featuring local and national voices whose careers began after, or extended into, the Wild Card Era in four consecutive years, followed by a fifth year featuring a ballot of candidates whose broadcasting careers concluded prior to the advent of the Wild Card Era in 1994. This cycle began with the 2023 Frick Award, and composite ballots will continue through 2026 before the pre-Wild Card Era ballot is considered for the 2027 Award. The cycle then repeats, ensuring a diverse range of candidates are evaluated over time.For a complete list of Frick Award winners, click here. Hamilton's win is a testament to his years of hard work and dedication to the game of baseball. His voice will continue to resonate with fans for years to come.