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SPORTS Thursday 14 december 2017

Costas wins Hall’s Frick Award for baseball broadcasting

By BEN WALKER Costas also calls St. Louis
AP Baseball Writer home, dating to his days
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. at KMOX radio and his
(AP) — As a boy, Bob Cos- time doing play-by-play for
tas took a cross-country the Spirits of St. Louis in the
drive with his dad, delight- American Basketball Asso-
ing in spinning the radio ciation on KMOX-AM.
dial and listening “through He didn’t do baseball then
the crackle and static” to — the Cardinals had the
broadcasts from far-flung revered Jack Buck at the
ballparks. microphone — and Costas
He pulled in the big stations said he soaked up those
— WJR in Detroit, KDKA in broadcasts.
Pittsburgh, WBAL in Balti- Costas’ first chance to
more and beyond — mes- baseball came after he
merized by the games. moved to NBC.
And the great voices that And a lucky break let him
called them. get on the air for the first
On Wednesday, Costas time.
joined them. Familiar to He was assigned a Satur-
fans for four decades, he day game at Yankee Sta-
won the Ford C. Frick Award dium on the final weekend
presented by the baseball In this Nov. 10, 2016, file photo, sportscaster Bob Costas sits on a stage before an NFL football of the 1980 season, working
Hall of Fame for broadcast- game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, in Baltimore. with Bobby Valentine.
ing excellence. Associated Press But there was a catch to
“Even if you’re coming off “Because of my love of Costas has presented an been my favorite sport to that Tigers-New York tilt on
the bench, you’re on the baseball and because of incredibly thoughtful and broadcast.” NBC: It was the backup
same team as Jack Buck, the other names that (won informed voice on every Costas has long carried at game, meaning it would
Vin Scully, Ernie Harwell, the Frick Award), this is at game he calls for NBC, The 1958 Mickey Mantle card in only be seen if the main
Red Barber, Harry Caray the top of the list,” he said Baseball Network and MLB his wallet, a nod to his boy- game didn’t get on the air.
and Mel Allen,” he said, on a conference call. Network,” Hall President hood hero, the star whose In fact, he said the featured
naming a few famed an- “No disrespect of all the Jeff Idelson said. games he listened to on his game was delayed for
nouncers. other awards, because “But it’s Bob’s pure affec- transistor radio growing up four hours by rain, so Cos-
The honor was announced they all mean a lot to me, tion for baseball that has in New York. tas made his big league
at the winter meetings. A but this means the most.” made him a national trea- They eventually became broadcasting debut.
28-time Emmy Award win- Mixing history, anecdotes sure. From the first day he friends, and Costas deliv- “I’m sure there was some
ner who’s called the Olym- and analysis, Costas is pop- entered our living rooms, ered the eulogy at Mantle’s fan in Tacoma scratch-
pics and several other ular with viewers and listen- Bob became one of the funeral. ing his head and wonder-
sports, the 65-year-old Cos- ers, using his words to paint national pastime’s greatest Costas later did the eulogy ing who the hell is this kid
tas said he was humbled by pictures from the parks. friends,” he said. for Cardinals great Stan doing this?” Costas said,
the award. “For almost 40 years, Bob Said Costas: “It’s always Musial. laughing.q
Angels: Ohtani’s sprained elbow will be healed by spring

By RONALD BLUM ager Mike Scioscia said Ohtani obtaining a U.S.
AP Baseball Writer Wednesday at the winter work visa. Los Angeles also
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) meetings. Ohtani agreed will pay a $20 million post-
— The Los Angeles Angels Friday to a minor league ing fee to the Nippon Ham
knew Shohei Ohtani was contract for a signing bo- Fighters of Japan’s Pacific
recovering from a sprained nus of $2,315,000, accord- League.
elbow before they agreed ing to details obtained by Major League Baseball
to a minor league contract The Associated Press. teams were told during the
with the Japanese right- That was the entire amount posting process that Ohtani
hander and outfielder. remaining in the Angels’ had a first degree sprain —
“I think that’s past him, international bonus signing the mildest level — of his
and our understanding is pool of $6.96 million for the right ulnar collateral liga-
there is no restrictions at all signing period ending on ment and had a platelet
going into spring training, June 15. rich plasma injection on
and he’ll get down there His bonus is due within 30 Oct. 20 from Dr. Masamitsu Baseball player Shohei Ohtani, from Japan, smiles during a
news conference at Angel Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in
in plenty of time and be days of the agreement Tsuchiya in Tokyo, Yahoo Anaheim, Calif.
ready to go,” Angels man- and is contingent upon reported Tuesday.q Associated Press