The Voice Of Summer
By Mitch Berg
Some of my most enduring memories of summer as a child – between probably ages six and ten, at least – in North Dakota in the early seventies: the smell of dinner at my Grandma’s place as we all sat with her and watched Lawrence Welk and then Wonderful World of Disney; the taste of Randy’s Hamburgers (a small midwestern chain that made White Castle look like haute cuisine, and was the only fast-food place in Jamestown back then); and, above all, the voice of Herb Carneal broadcasting the Twins games that Dad listened to all summer on a green, Emerson portable radio in the back yard as he did one project or another.
I’ve mentioned this to hundreds of people over the year, and I know I’m not the only one for whom Herb Carneal was the sound of summer on the Great Plains.
Carneal died this morning at age 83, and the Twins know where he fits into their legacy:
“This is a sad day for the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of baseball fans across the Upper Midwest,” Twins President Dave St. Peter said in a statement. “Herb Carneal’s voice was the signature element of Twins baseball for multiple generations of fans. Clearly he was one of the most beloved figures in Minnesota sports history.”
He was one of the lucky figures in sports broadcasting – in life, really; the ones who not only carve out a niche, but who make it their own in a way that resonates with generations of people:
Carneal joined the Twins broadcast team in 1962, the team’s second season in Minnesota. He had spent the previous five seasons doing play-by-play for the Baltimore Orioles and before that had worked Philadelphia Phillies and A’s games.
This would have been his 52nd season of describing major league games.
And that’ll retire the side.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Right at the start of the season. The Twins will have a worthy to pay tribute to.
RIP, Herb.
April 1st, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Oh man…it’s just like you say…Herb Carneal WAS the voice of my grandma and grandpa’s here in Minnesota in the summer. I can see my German grandpa sitting there after milking and supper in his white t-shirt…the sort that is like a tank top nowadays…rolling a cigarette with the radio up on top of the fridge tuned to a Twin’s game. Yes, RIP Herb Carneal. Those days are gone for good.
Another voice that reminds me of Grandpa is Paul Harvey’s…only that would be on around lunchtime when Grandpa would come in from the fields or the barn to fry his daily potatoes (could be why he died of a heart attack chasing cows at 65!). We only visited once or twice a year from Colorado…those two grandparents and their farm were heaven on earth to my brother and me.
April 1st, 2007 at 8:58 pm
I remember as a tyke building a crystal radio and listening to Carneal’s Twins broadcasts describing games with Killebrew and Oliva. *sigh* Good memories.
April 2nd, 2007 at 10:42 am
Yes, I’ll miss him.
But…let’s be careful about this “sad day” stuff. Frankly, Herb did what he loved, lived a long life, had a loving family. We’ll miss him, but let’s also consider celebrating his life too.
April 2nd, 2007 at 11:11 am
Dave,
You are right, of course. He had (as I noted) a great life and situation.
No, like so much involved in mourning, it’s sadness for what we – I – have lost.
April 2nd, 2007 at 1:14 pm
I felt the same way when Jack Brickhouse died. He was my voice of summer and he and Herb Carneal are the reason I still love baseball!
LL