Tom Hamilton, the 70-year-old Wisconsin native, has been the voice behind countless hall of fame-worthy calls in Cleveland baseball over the last 35 years. His presence has become an integral part of Guardians games, and today, baseball's Hall of Fame has recognized his exceptional work.

Honoring Excellence in Broadcasting

The Guardians radio play-by-play man, Tom Hamilton, has been named the winner of the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award. This annual award is presented for excellence in baseball broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. It honors broadcasters who demonstrate "commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers."

From Finalist to Winner

Hamilton was a finalist for the fourth time this year, having previously appeared on the ballot in 2023, 2022, and 2019. Red Sox legend Joe Castiglione won last year. When Hamilton received the call from the Hall of Fame on Wednesday morning, it evoked memories of the call he got from Cleveland 35 years ago. "You sure don't get into this thinking about the Hall of Fame or awards," he said. "When you get the call that you got the job, you've won the lottery. Getting that call to be hired by the Cleveland Indians was the greatest phone call I've ever had in my professional career. Oh boy, this ranks right up there with it."

Competing with the Best

Hamilton was selected from a group of nine other finalists, including Skip Caray, Rene Cardenas, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Ernie Johnson Sr., Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Dave Sims, and John Sterling. A panel of 13 past Frick Award winners and baseball historians decided the winner. Past winners of the award associated with their work in Cleveland include Jimmy Dudley (1997) and Jack Graney (2021).

Narrating Cleveland's Success

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum president Josh Rawitch said Hamilton's unmatched love for Cleveland is evident in the way he has narrated some of the franchise's most successful eras since joining the team's broadcast crew in 1990. "Guardians fans adopted Tom as one of their own as soon as he arrived in Cleveland thanks to his knowledgeable play-by-play and passionate calls of some of the franchise's most historic moments," Rawitch said. "For a generation of listeners, Tom Hamilton is the very definition of Cleveland baseball."

A Broadcast Legacy

A 2009 inductee of the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the 2015 Lifetime Achievement honoree at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards, Hamilton was the play-by-play man for the Columbus Clippers for three seasons prior to joining Cleveland's major league club in 1990. Since then, he's worked alongside Score and Mike Hegan as well as Dave Nelson, Matt Underwood, and current partner Jim Rosenhaus. He thanked his broadcast partners past and present, and acknowledged the Guardians, his employers for the better part of four decades. "They've been incredible," Hamilton said. "They've allowed me to do my job. I've been very lucky to work for the Dolans and the Jacobs and everybody within the Cleveland organization. For us to raise four children here, we've been eternally blessed."The award is named in memory of Hall of Famer Ford C. Frick, a renowned sportswriter, radio broadcaster, National League president, and MLB Commissioner. To be considered for the Frick Award, 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.Tom Hamilton will be honored during the July 26 awards presentation as part of Hall of Fame Weekend in Cooperstown. The Guardians are scheduled to play in Kansas City that day. His contribution to Cleveland baseball and broadcasting will be remembered for years to come.