Former Montreal Expos broadcaster Jacques Doucet is one of eight finalists for next year's Ford C. Frick award. Photos: National Baseball Hall of Fame, unless otherwise noted.

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Eight of the National Pastime’s beloved voices have been named as the finalists for the 2017 Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

The eight finalists for the 2017 Frick Award are: Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Ken Harrelson, Pat Hughes, Bill King, Mike Krukow, Ned Martin and Dewayne Staats. The winner of the 2017 Frick Award will be announced on Dec. 7 at the Baseball Winter Meetings in National Harbor, Md., and will be honored during the July 29 Awards Presentation as part of the July 28-31 Hall of Fame Weekend 2017 in Cooperstown. All candidates except King and Martin are living.

The 2017 Frick Award ballot reflects the changes made in July by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors to the annual Frick Award process. A new election cycle for the Frick Award has been established, rotating annually between Current Major League Markets (team-specific announcers) for the 2017 Frick Award; National Voices (broadcasters whose contributions were realized on a national level) for the 2018 Frick Award; and Broadcasting Beginnings (early team voices and pioneers of baseball broadcasting) for the 2019 Frick Award. This cycle will repeat every three years.

As established by the Board of Directors, new criteria for selection is as follows: “Commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers.”

To be considered, an active or retired broadcaster must have a minimum of 10 years of continuous major league broadcast service with a ball club, network, or a combination of the two. More than 200 broadcasters were eligible for consideration for the 2017 Frick Award based on these qualifications.

Gary Cohen, New York Mets. Photo: New York Mets.

GARY COHEN
28 years (1989-Current), all with the Mets in the broadcast booth…Has done play-by-play for CBS Radio and ESPN Radio … From 1993-2003 broadcast play-by-play of the NCAA Basketball Tournament for CBS Radio and Westwood One … The radio voice of St. John’s University basketball from 1995-2002 … Broadcast men’s and women’s hockey play-by-play at the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics for CBS Radio … Broadcast minor league baseball for Pawtucket in 1987-88, Durham (1986) and the Spartanburg Spinners (1983-1984).

JACQUES DOUCET
38 years (Expos, 1972-2004; Blue Jays, 2012-Current) … Spent 33 years as the play-by-play radio voice of the Expos on the French network before taking over as French play-by-play TV voice of the Blue Jays…Also filed daily reports from Florida during spring training and took part in the network’s special baseball radio shows … Prior to radio covered the club as a beat writer for the daily newspaper La Presse … For many years, he did the play-by-play for the Championship and World Series games … Inducted to the Quebec Baseball Hall of Fame in May 2002 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in June of 2003.

Hawk Harrelson, Chicago White Sox. Photo Chicago White Sox. ...

KEN HARRELSON
39 years overall (Red Sox, 1975-81; White Sox, 1982-85, 91-Current; Yankees, 1987-88), the last 26 with the White Sox…The 2000 Illinois Sportscaster of the Year … The Hawk’s exuberant “YES” call and colorful nicknames have become familiar to Sox fans … Worked in the broadcast booth for the Sox from 1982-85, leaving to become executive vice president for baseball operations … After serving as the club’s general manager for one season, he resigned to resume his broadcasting career … In New York, teamed with Spencer Ross in 1987 and Bobby Murcer in 1988 … Also served as a broadcaster on The Baseball Network in 1994-95 … Played major league baseball for nine seasons, helping lead the Red Sox to the American League pennant in 1967…Appeared in 900 major-league games, batting .239 with 131 home runs and 421 RBI … Credited with bringing the batting glove to baseball, he played golf professionally for a time before entering broadcasting.

PAT HUGHES
34 years (Twins, 1983; Brewers, 1984-95; Cubs, 1996-Current), the last 21 with the Cubs as WGN Radio play-by-play voice … Was the play-by-play voice for Marquette University’s basketball team from 1988-2004 … Began his baseball play-by-play career in the minor leagues, calling action for the San Jose Missions (1978-1981) and for the Columbus Clippers (1982) … Worked in Minnesota in 1983 as the TV voice of the Twins … Named the Illinois Sportscaster of the Year in 1996,1999, 2006-07, 2009 and 2014-15 … Earned Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year Award honors three times (1990-1992).

Bill King, former Oakland A's broadcaster ...

BILL KING
25 years (A’s. 1981-2005), all with the A’s as the lead radio play-by-play man, and retired … Has spent five decades thrilling fans with his vivid descriptions of some of the most historical moments in the annals of three of the Bay Area’s major sports franchises – the San Francisco/Golden State Warriors, the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and the A’s … Was stationed on the island of Guam at the end of World War II when he began his broadcasting career with the Armed Forces Radio Network … Launched his sportscasting career in the late 1940’s in Pekin, Ill., broadcasting minor league baseball, along with high school football and basketball games … Passed away Oct. 18, 2005.

MIKE KRUKOW
26 years (Giants, 1991-Current), all with the Giants, in the television booth, and the last 21 on the radio side as well… A seven-time Emmy award winner … A fan-favorite, spent 14 seasons in the majors with the Cubs, Phillies and Giants … Provides play-by-play and color commentary for the popular EA Sports video game “MVP Baseball 2003,” along with broadcast partner, Duane Kuiper … A 20-game winner for the Giants in 1986, retired after the 1989 season with a 124-117 career record.

Ned Martin, former Boston Red Sox broadcaster ...

NED MARTIN
32 years (1961-92), and retired, all with the Red Sox … Began career as Curt Gowdy’s radio partner and stayed with radio for 18 years with 11 different partners … From 1979 through 1992, he called the play-by-play on Red Sox television … Also worked on ALCS coverage on CBS radio four times, and broadcast the 1975 World Series for NBC-TV … Known throughout New England for his wryly descriptive style and his familiar exclamation, “Mercy!” … Broke into broadcasting as an announcer in the American Association … Passed away July 23, 2002.

DEWAYNE STAATS
36 years (Astros, 1977-84; Cubs, 1985-89; Yankees, 1990-94; ESPN, 1995-97; Rays, 1998-Current), the last 19 in Tampa Bay … Called his 5,000th big league game in 2010 … Before joining the Rays spent three years calling play-by-play for ESPN in a variety of sports, including Major League Baseball and NCAA baseball, basketball and football … Began his major league play-by-play career as the radio and TV voice of the Astros from 1977-84, then called radio and TV action for the Cubs from 1985-89 … Was the lead play-by-play announcer for the Yankees and also spent the 1994-95 seasons calling action for The Baseball Network (ABC/NBC) … Began his career as a sports reporter for WSIE Radio while a student at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and began his baseball career as the radio voice of the Oklahoma City 89ers (1973-74).

Jacques Doucet a Ford C. Frick finalist