Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Major-league baseball play-by-play announcers are members of a small, elite fraternity. There are only about six dozen such jobs, and the men who hold them don't often give them up and almost never do so voluntarily. But to the shock of friends and fans alike, that's what Lanny Frattare, who finished his 33rd year of calling Pirates games last month, did yesterday.Mr. Frattare, 60, walked into the office of Pirates president Frank Coonelly and told him he was retiring, although he had a year remaining on his contract.
The announcement marks the end of the longest broadcasting career in Pirates history. Mr. Frattare called more than 5,000 games since joining the Pirates in 1976. His tenure surpassed that of the legendary Bob Prince, who Mr. Frattare, along with Milo Hamilton, succeeded.
"It was a difficult and emotional decision," said Mr. Frattare in a prepared statement by the Pirates, "but in the end I decided it was time."
Mr. Frattare was not available for comment.
"I'm shaken," said Greg Brown, who shared play-by-play duties on radio and television with Mr. Frattare since 1994. "I owe my Pirates career to the guy. I didn't see this coming."
Mr. Coonelly, who had had several discussions with Mr. Frattare, was not as surprised.
"We were not shocked," he said. "Lanny and I spoke last year about his future. While he was certainly energetic and passionate for Pirates baseball, based on our conversation I could see he was starting to think how long he could do it.
"A 162-game schedule over 183 days is grueling. You have to be on your game every night. In my first conversation with him last year, he was saying all the things that made him sound like he had several years left in him, but I also sensed he was thinking about leaving. During out last homestand, he said it was starting to wear on him. He was considering his options -- a reduced schedule or step aside."
Mr. Frattare had privately discussed with some people the possibility of only working home games, but, in the end, decided to go into retirement.
He'll be remembered for his trademark calls, with the best-known one being, "There was no doubt about it," which he declared after every Pirates win, no matter how close the outcome. His signature home run call -- "Go ball, get out of here" -- was equally well known.
Beyond his broadcasting career, Mr. Frattare was tireless in promoting the Pirates, both on the air and in person at events, and in raising money for charity.
"Lanny's positive impact on the Pirates and the Pittsburgh community reaches far beyond the broadcast booth," Mr. Coonelly said. "Whether it was the countless number of appearances he made in the community on behalf of the Pirates or his two decade-long personal push to raise funds for mentally challenged individuals in our area, Lanny is part of the fabric of this community."
Mr. Brown, who is likely to assume the role of the team's No. 1 announcer, came to his calling by listening to Mr. Frattare and Mr. Hamilton while growing up in central Pennsylvania.
"I started listening when Lanny and Milo came aboard," he said. "I became a big fan of Lanny. I can remember the day and where I was standing after a game when I got his autograph and how great he was to me and what a thrill it was."
When Mr. Brown later had an internship with the Pirates, Mr. Frattare advised him to get a job in the minor leagues.
"I went ahead and did that, then, in 1994, I got the job here. I am certain Lanny played an absolute key role in my being hired, although he never said a word about it."
Two years ago, at Mr. Frattare's suggestion, the Pirates promoted Mr. Brown to co-No. 1 announcer.
Mr. Frattare was an announcer with the Pirates' top minor-league affiliate, the Charleston Charlies, when the hugely popular Prince and Nellie King were fired after the 1976 season. The firing raised a storm of protest, and it was clear the men who succeeded them would have a difficult time.
The fact that Mr. Frattare was in a decidedly junior role to Mr. Hamilton spared him some of the abuse that Mr. Hamilton received. Mr. Hamilton, later elected to the broadcasting wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame, was a stern mentor. He allowed Mr. Frattare to do only two innings of play-by-play, the third and seventh.
That prompted Prince, who worked for the Houston Astros in 1976, to good-naturedly refer to Mr. Frattare as Mr. Three-Seven whenever they met during the season.
It was Prince, true to his generous spirit, who gave Mr. Frattare his first taste of major-league broadcasting. After the Charleston season in 1976, he came to Pittsburgh to watch some Pirates games. He was sitting in the back row of the broadcasting booth when Prince put him to work -- a thrill Mr. Frattare greatly appreciated.
When Mr. Hamilton left the Pirates after the 1979 season for a job with the Chicago Cubs, Mr. Frattare was elevated to the No. 1 role.
Although he lacked the flamboyance of Prince and never developed such a devoted following, Mr. Frattare went out of his way to meet the fans. Last season, he would often sit outside the press entrance to PNC Park around 6 p.m., under the guise of smoking a pre-game cigar and doing preparation, but it was easy to see the enjoyment he received from mingling with the fans who said hello.
"It has been a privilege and an honor to bring Pirates baseball to the fans for more than 33 years," Mr. Frattare said. "I owe it all to the strong support of my family, my broadcast partners, all of my colleagues throughout the years and, perhaps, most importantly, the fans.
"I look forward to remaining an active part of the Pirates' family and the Pittsburgh community."
Mr. Coonelly said the search for a successor will be "exhaustive" and will begin immediately.
Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com.
First published on October 2, 2008 at 12:00 am
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