Milo Hamilton
From SoSH
Leland Milo Hamilton (b. September 2, 1927) has been a baseball broadcaster since 1953. He is currently the radio voice of the Houston Astros.
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Broadcasting Biography
Hamilton began as a broadcaster over Armed Forces Radio while serving in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he graduated from the University of Iowa and served as a broadcaster for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now Atlanta Hawks) of the NBA. His first job in Major League Baseball was with the St. Louis Browns in 1953. Hamilton did not follow the team to Baltimore and instead went to St. Louis to broadcast Cardinals games. He was fired after one year when the Cardinals wanted to make room for Joe Garagiola, so he went to the Cubs, and was fired after three years when the Cubs wanted to make room for Lou Boudreau.
Hamilton went to the White Sox in 1961 and served as Bob Elson's assistant until the Milwaukee Braves relocated to Atlanta and called upon him to be the team's primary broadcaster. Despite being wildly popular with the fans, Hamilton fell out of favor with the Atlanta front office for criticizing the team's low attendance, and was fired following the 1975 season. Hamilton went to Pittsburgh after that to replace the popular longtime broadcaster Bob Prince. The fans embraced him quickly, but the writers did not. Always overly sensitive to criticism, Hamilton jumped at the chance to return to Chicago in 1980. Hamilton did not get along with Harry Caray, however, and the Cubs fired Hamilton after the 1984 season.
Hamilton has since found an established gig as the radio voice of the Houston Astros. He was initially the #2 announcer behind Gene Elston, but found himself doing the pushing instead of being pushed out when he replaced Elston as the lead announcer in 1987. Since 2006, Hamilton has only worked the Astros' home games, no longer traveling with the team.
Hamilton received the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2000.
Famous Calls
Hank Aaron's 715th Home Run
"Henry Aaron, in the second inning walked and scored. He's sittin' on 714. Here's the pitch by Downing...swinging...there's a drive into left-center field...that ball is gonna beeee...OUTTA HERE! It's gone! It's 715! There's a new home run champion of all time, and it's Henry Aaron!"
Trivia
- Has been loudly criticized by fellow crusty broadcaster Skip Caray for the remarks Hamilton has made over the years about the relationship that he and Harry Caray had during Hamilton's second stint in Chicago. If two old guys could have a catfight, this would qualify.
