Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Cheek on Final Ballot for the Ford C. Frick Award

Cheek on Final Ballot for the Ford C. Frick Award - Again

It's official, Tom Cheek was #3 on the fan vote this year.

Lots of Canadian content on the top 10 for the Frick award. #2 was Jacques Doucet (French voice of the Expos) and named to the list were Tony Kubek (TV Jays in the 80's), and Dave Van Horne (English voice of the Expos). Tops on the voting was Joe Nuxhall, voice of the Reds and a player for them over a 53 year career. Also Dizzy Dean, Ken Coleman, Lanny Frattare, Billy Berroa, and Graham McNamee (details of each are available at the link above). Van Horne is the only active broadcaster on the ballot. Frattare, Doucet and Kubek are the only other living candidates. As much as I'd like Cheek to get it, part of me is pulling for Doucet as you'd like to see the winner get a chance to enjoy the honour. A shame Cheek didn't get it while he was still with us. If they stick with living ballot choices then there is a 3 in 4 chance of a Canadian connection. It would be good for the Expos to get some more exposure :)

Posted by John Northey on Monday, October 06 2008 @ 11:20 PM EDT.

Cheek on Final Ballot for the Ford C. Frick Award - Again | 7 comments | Create New Account

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TamRa - Tuesday, October 07 2008 @ 02:50 AM EDT (#193157) #

Dizzy Dean isn't already in??!!?!?!?

John Northey - Tuesday, October 07 2008 @ 06:42 AM EDT (#193159) #

Dizzy Dean is in the HOF as a player, but not in the broadcasters wing. I doubt he'll get in twice, but I'm guessing he was very respected as a broadcaster as he keeps getting put on this list year in-year out.

mathesond - Tuesday, October 07 2008 @ 12:37 PM EDT (#193172) #

Dizzy Dean the announcer gave us such gems as "They woulda had him at second but he slud". Also, when an irate teacher, displeased at the influence he had over her charges' command of language, exclaimed "I bet you don't know the King's English", Mr. Dean replied, "Sure, and I also know the Queen is English, too!"

92-93 - Tuesday, October 07 2008 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#193181) #

Under 9000 votes for Tom Cheek is embarrassing. Do none of us care? While I didn't vote every day, I made an effort to vote every single day that I was involved online in baseball-related activities, and I sincerely hope that the readers here did the same. If you didn't, shame on you - let's stop complaining about a lack of recognition of the Jays or Canada and give them a reason to realize people up here actually care and are passionate about baseball.

Rob - Tuesday, October 07 2008 @ 05:06 PM EDT (#193192) #

Under 9000 votes for Tom Cheek is embarrassing. Do none of us care?

Talk about missing the point. If Nuxhall and Doucet are the only ones with more votes, doesn't that show that Canadians do care? Two Canadian-based broadcasters in the top three is pretty damn good motivation for Americans to realize we care about baseball.

We love Tom. We care about Tom, or maybe you missed the 2004 season around here.

But come on. It's been four years that Tom's been ignored in favour of guys like Niehaus and Matthews, and once Nuxhall wins, it will be five years. Jordan put it better than I can (all the way back in 2006, hint-hint):

Not to be a wet blanket, but if Tom didn't get it the year he died, he's not going to get it at all. His name will keep showing up year after year on the list, but there'll always be a retiring veteran member of a US-based team's TV or radio team who gets the award. This ship has sailed.

John Northey - Tuesday, October 07 2008 @ 08:50 PM EDT (#193201) #

What is funny is that by not making it we get reminded and think of Tom a lot more than we would otherwise. Thus not being honoured actually produces more honours for him.

I'd have loved for him to have received it when he was still alive but now we can keep hoping each year for him and enjoy hearing his big calls every year on the local radio stations as they push for people to vote for him.

katman - Wednesday, October 08 2008 @ 04:32 PM EDT (#193234) #

Tried to vote for Tom a couple of times, using my MacOS machine. It did not work with either Safari of Firefox, and they sure asked for a lot of personal information before the form failed.

Cheek on Final Ballot for the Ford C. Frick Award - Again | 7 comments | Create New Account

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