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Bill is a co-author of "When the News Went Live" along with Bob  Huffaker, George Phenix and Wes Wise. It's available at book stores

(click here or the book cover below to read a review of the book)

  

Read excerpts from Bill's Book "Play by Play"
Excerpt 1   Excerpt 2   Excerpt 3

Legendary voice one of our own

Bill Mercer has done about everything you can do in sports radio broadcasting over seven decades.

It depends on which generation you come from as to what you remember him for.

The Muskogee native's career has spanned the middle of the country, from Chicago White Sox baseball to Dallas Cowboys football and a few scattered other places. But more often than not, someone will recognize Mercer as the voice of professional wrestling.

I still have people that say, 'Oh, you were that wrestling announcer', and I haven't been in it for, what, 20 years," said the 79-year-old Mercer, who is now a teacher, author and occasional minor league color commentator ... (click here - read more)

Bill's Commentary

e-mail Bill bill@billmercersports.com

 

I am positive all of you checking this site have been holding your breath for a comment from me. Sorry, hope you aren't red in the face but I am writing a chapter in a book I am working on, the evolution of sports broadcasting and the sports I have covered. It may be called "Bats-Balls-and Body Slams!" No more excuses ....except...I have also been broadcasting weekend games in Round Rock with my longtime friend Mike Capps.. We have worked on a lot of those Texas League games for the past five years. Now it is the Pacific Coast League.

Meanwhile, back here, I have a few games to work with Scott Garner, the broadcaster of the Frisco Roughriders.

A few observations:


Scott and I commenced into an argument the other night about the designated hitter. I have never liked it. I am an old traditionalist and Scott said he would never pay to see pitcher's bat. Same night Greg Maddux hit a homerun.

It is a lot more fun to watch and broadcast a National League rules game. I think. So does Jackie Moore, former coach of the Texas Rangers, major league manager and now the manager of Round Rock since its inception.

My eight year old granddaughter, Rachel suddenly decided to play baseball, YMCA variety with a pitching machine. Rachel has played soccer, currently plays volleyball, is taking tennis lessons now and again, but has not been keen on softball or baseball. So we started working with her on batting and throwing. She can catch better than most. Her batting came on fast. But it is taking time to smooth out her throwing delivery. Her older sister Emma had all the natural throwing -catching attributes from the beginning.

Watching those eight year old players I would urge that fathers and mothers take more time to play catch with their daughter, as well as the boys. Some of the girls can't throw much .. can't catch. So spend time with your kids, boys and girls, few minutes each day just throwing and catching. You'll be surprised how quickly they improve.

Isn't it a thrill to see the Washington Nationals in first place in their first year back in D.C? They are doing what so many new teams wish to do; have a fast start. When Round Rock opened its new stadium in 2000 that team was championship quality and set the tone for all the support the Texas League team maintained and still has today in Triple AAA. Back in 1965 when the Dallas Fort Worth Spurs played in the new Turnpike Stadium in Arlington the second half ended in a tie between the Spurs and Tulsa for the division championship. The Spurs were an exciting come-from-behind team managed by Whitey Lockman. Oh, Tulsa won in a one-game playoff.

In 1963 Tony Oliva hit .304 for the Dallas Fort Worth Rangers of the Pacific Coast League. He also added 23 home runs. In 1964-65 Tony became the first player to win batting titles his first two seasons in the majors.

In the book, "1001 Reasons to Love Baseball" the must see list of major league baseball parks is headed by SBC Park in San Francisco, then The Ballpark in Arlington (Oh, it was printed before the name change!) Coors Field was next and then Fenway in Boston. I have broadcast in Fenway...it's like falling in love with an older woman. I guess.

The best, well actually one of the two best, baseball movies is "Bull Durham" which was actually based on the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs, Texas League club. Ron Shelton who wrote it and, I believe, directed it too, was a second baseman for the Spurs in 1970. One of the Spurs, Gene Etter was married at home plate. Greg Arnold was a pitcher who in fit of anger knocked down an umpire with a punch during a game.  Shorty Raudman was a highly strung outfielder. Lee Meyer was the consummate left-handed pitcher. A great bunch for Ron to draw his story on. Oh the part Susan Sarandon played? Well you'll have to wait until everybody is gone before I can reveal that.

The other baseball movie. "Field of Dreams" which of course is a bit fantasy! But sweet.

Did you know that Jack McKeon managed the Dallas Fort Worth Rangers in 1963? The same McKeon who is still going strong in Florida.

Strangely,  Dallas does not have a downtown major league outdoor sport stadium. The Cotton Bowl is at Fair Park. The basketball arena and former hockey franchise location is covered. So there is the ideal location of a baseball team, the Texas Rangers in Arlington, for fans of both cities...probably a driving-traffic hassle equally-And the so-called Dallas Cowboys, whose only appearance in Dallas was in the early years at the Cotton Bowl. Then to Irving and now in Arlington, the sports center of Texas. Just think of the double economic boost with the Mavericks and the Cowboys in or near downtown Big D. Note that Steinbrenner is building a new 800 million dollar Yankee Stadium in New York.

Have just received a new book on pro wrestling:" The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame-The Tag Teams" by Greg Oliver and Steven Johnson. The von Erichs are one of many famous tag teams featured in the book which is beautifully printed with abundant pictures. First picture in the book is of white-haired Billy "Red "Lyons, one of my favorite wrestlers of the 60's. This book I am working on will have a chapter on pro wrestling.

Okay ... 'til the next time out!


Bill Mercer
e-mail Bill bill@billmercersports.com

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