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Read excerpts from Bill's Book "Play by
Play"
Excerpt 1
Excerpt 2
Excerpt 3 |
Legendary voice
one of our own
By Mike Kays
Muskogee Phoenix
Sports Editor
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) |
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| 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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