Joe Buck, renowned for his role as the voice of ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” has deep roots in baseball broadcasting. Recently, he received an unexpected call announcing that he has been awarded the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting by baseball’s Hall of Fame. This recognition not only marks Buck as the 50th recipient of the award but also makes him part of a historic father-son duo, joining his father, the late Jack Buck, who was honored in 1987.
Expressing his surprise, Joe Buck reflected on the significance of this moment, recalling his father’s emotional experience when he received the award in Cooperstown, New York. “I didn’t think this was coming right now,” he admitted. “To see the joy and the pride that he had for what he had done means a lot to me.”
The award presentation is set for July 25, 2026, in Cooperstown, just before the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. At 56, Joe Buck is the second-youngest recipient of the Frick Award, following Vin Scully, who was 54 when he received the honor in 1982.
Buck’s journey in sports broadcasting began in his hometown of St. Louis, where he called games for the Triple-A Louisville Redbirds after graduating from Indiana University. He joined his father on the Cardinals’ broadcasts in 1991, a role he maintained until 2007. Jack Buck, who passed away in June 2002, was not just his father but also his best friend. Joe acknowledged the benefits of his legacy, saying, “I’m the first to admit I had a leg up at the start of my career, and I’m happy about what I’ve learned from him.”
Buck’s impressive career includes being part of Fox Sports since its inception and leading baseball broadcasts alongside analyst Tim McCarver, a fellow Frick Award winner. He called his first World Series in 1996 and continued to do so annually until 2021, culminating in a total of 135 games, making him one of just six U.S. play-by-play announcers to surpass the century mark across the Fall Classic and other major sports finals.
This recognition not only celebrates Joe Buck’s accomplished career but also honors the family legacy of baseball broadcasting, reinforcing the bond between father and son and their shared love for the game.
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