With baseball games available on television, the internet and cell phones, many would think listening to games on the radio a thing of the past.
After talking with Independence Township resident and play-by-play voice of the Detroit Tigers Dan Dickerson, nothing could be further from the truth.
Dickerson made his Tiger broadcasting debut in 2000 and is currently working his sixth season in the booth, third as lead play-by-play voice with Jim Price on 1270 XYT, the official radio home of the Tigers.
‘I’ve always been hooked on radio and liked the immediacy of radio and the fact that when I was in news, you could get the story on the air right then.’There’s always been something about radio and sports to me that’s always been such a good fit,? said Dickerson.
‘To me the best fit (on the radio) is baseball because it’s summer time in Michigan. TV obviously has become so important in our lives, but I’ve always maintained that as long as there are cars, family reunions, people doing things outside in the summer? there will always be baseball on radio.?
As a child, Dickerson listened to the major Detroit teams on the radio.
‘I love that sound of baseball coming through the radio as a kid. Ernie (Harwell) obviously had a lot to do with it? For me, the enjoyment comes trying to paint that picture so that the person listening can visualize it. Because most people have been to the ballpark so they have that in mind and hopefully they can visualize what’s going on in that moment. To me it’s always a challenge to do it well. But I like that.?
The ultimate compliment for Dickerson over the years comes from the many blind listeners who have said they feel they can watch the game on radio.
Before joining the 1270 Tigers radio team, Dickerson spent five years with former Tigers flagship WJR-AM in a variety of roles including co-host of ‘WJR Sportswrap,? a nightly call-in show, and as a sideline reporter and substitute play-by-play announcer for Michigan football, as well as serving two seasons as play-by-play basketball announcer. This job followed experience gained on the radio at Ohio Weslayan University, covering general news at WMAX in Grand Rapids from 1982-88, and a stint at Detroit’s WWJ-AM as host of a Detroit Lions? post-game call-in show and sideline reporter for the University of Michigan football team.
Prior to getting the job with WJR, Dickerson practiced making audio tapes, crafting his technique at venues like Tiger Stadium and the Silverdome.
After completing samples, he contacted Ernie Harwell on the phone in 1991 asking the sports radio legend if he would listen to the tapes. Harwell gave Dickerson directions to his house over the phone and met with the aspiring sports broadcaster.
‘I still have the notes from that meeting because he didn’t just listen and say, ‘That’s nice, good luck,?? said Dickerson.
Harwell listened with a critical ear, giving Dickerson advice on phrasing and advised him to work off his scorecard.
‘He’s such an iconic figure and he puts you at such ease. You don’t ever feel anything other than you’re meeting someone you’ve known for a long time,? said Dickerson.
‘He encouraged me and gave 45 minutes of his time at his house, and I just keep working on my tape.? said Dickerson, who had not worked any major sports broadcasting at the time.
After Dickerson announced his first Michigan game on the air, Harwell sent him a one-line note in the mail that read, ‘I heard your Michigan broadcast, it was fantastic,? signed Ernie Harwell.?
The two sports fan and voices still keep in touch throughout the year.
To prepare for games, Dickerson compiles research, often completed on road trips, for each team the Tigers play. He tweaks them throughout the season.
‘My philosophy is gather as much information as you can? and see what sticks on the broadcast,? said Dickerson.
His days are filled with baseball from around noon until he leaves for the ballpark around 2 p.m. Dickerson’s schedule does vary when his children are off school as he tries to free up time to spend with them.
‘If I wasn’t doing this job, a lot of my spare time would be reading about baseball and following baseball and doing a lot of this stuff anyway,? said Dickerson, who used to keep pitching rotation logs just for fun.
Even though the Tigers have not been too successful over his six seasons of broadcasting, two radio calls stand out for Dickerson as the most special in his career.
One was a walk-off two-run homerun by Brandon Inge against dominant closer Troy Percival and the Anaheim Angels during the 2003 season where the Tigers had the worst record in baseball and faced an 11-game losing streak. Inge had a batting average near .200 and provided a surprise victory for the loss-prone Tigers.
‘Given everything that had gone on that year, it was one of those great moments and you were reminded that a great moment is a great moment,? said Dickerson. ‘You could hear it in my voice because it was so unexpected.?
The second occurred this year against the Cincinnati Reds at Comerica Park on May 20 when Curtis Granderson tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with a solo homer, leading to an eventual Tigers victory.
Dickerson and his wife Lori Anne lived in Royal Oak for 10 years after marrying in 1988. They moved to Clarkston after Lori took a teaching job at Michigan State University and they needed to find a centrally-located home.
‘We moved in here in 1998 and loved it. We’ll never move, I’ll tell you that,? said Dickerson. ‘I think the schools are a real reflection of the type of people you have up here. I think that’s so important.? I love seeing all the parents come out.?
The Dickersons have two children, Rachel, 11, and Justin, 8.