Joe Buck wishes for one more game with father
Joe Buck wishes for one more game with father

By Mel Bracht

Published: July 11, 2008

As he prepares to call a historic All-Star Game on Tuesday night, Fox play-by-play announcer Joe Buck wouldn't mind having some extra help in the broadcast booth.

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"If there was one game where I wish my father was still alive and I could bring him to a game that I was doing and have him sit in a booth with me, this would be the one,” Buck said.

His father, Jack Buck, a longtime St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster and network announcer, would be right at home discussing the merits of an expected 47 Hall of Famers — including Cardinals stars Bob Gibson and Ozzie Smith — who will be honored during a Manhattan parade Tuesday afternoon and pregame ceremonies Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. Fox will show taped coverage of the parade during its pregame show at 6 p.m.

Fox also will look back at the rich history of Yankee Stadium as it likely hosts its last big event before giving way to a new stadium next year. Fox has been conducting an Internet poll of the stadium's greatest moments and will announce the No. 1 choice.

Yankee Stadium has special significance for Joe Buck because it was the site of his first World Series broadcast for Fox in 1996, as the Yankees rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Atlanta Braves in six games.

Former Yankees catcher Yogi Berra, better known for his colorful sayings than his playing ability, will make an appearance in the booth, much to the delight of Fox analyst Tim McCarver.

"In my view, Yogi Berra will be the most important person and most lovable character in the ballpark on Tuesday night,” McCarver said. "Henry Aaron hit 755 home runs, Willie Mays was the greatest player I've ever seen, but the person that America relates to more than anybody because of baseball is Yogi Berra.”

Of course, the Fox announcers also will be concentrating on the game. They are intrigued by a potential matchup — Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, the leading AL MVP candidate, against Cincinnati Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez, a former RedHawk and current NL Cy Young candidate. The players were traded for each other in the offseason.

Buck said he has studied Hamilton's remarkable recovery from drug abuse.

"Here's a guy who was out of baseball for three years, comes back, does what he did with Cincinnati and now he's leading the world in RBIs,” he said. "This is one of the best stories to happen in baseball in a long, long time.”

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