Atlanta Braves Afternoon Chop: Milo and Manny, Naturally

Apr 6, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros former broadcaster Milo Hamilton addresses the crowd at Minute Maid Park before a game against the Cleveland Indians. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

As we ran through our A50 tributes to the players of the first 50 years of baseball in Atlanta, we indeed did not consider some of the other personalities to have graced us with their times and talents over the years.  This list includes the managers, coaches, and even broadcasters – those sharing their insights with us as they watched the game.

This was particularly important when televised coverage was a scarce luxury – in the days before the MLB Network, and before Cable TV and before the SuperStation.  For many of us, radio was the first medium to connect us with Braves’ baseball.  And we remember broadcasters such as Milo Hamilton.

Hamilton was indeed one of the pioneers, as he arrived in Atlanta the same year that the Braves did:  1966.  He started on the microphone in 1953, and was an employee of the Braves from 1966 through 1975.  1975 was the end of the run as he was at odds with team ownership over his comments about attendance.

We know him best for his iconic call of Hank Aaron‘s 715th home run in 1974.

On Thursday, Milo Hamilton – a Hall of Fame veteran of seasons with the St. Louis Browns, the Cardinals, the Cubs, White Sox, Braves, Pirates, and Astros – passed away at the age of 88.

Holy Toledo!

[ sources for this report included the NY Times, Wikipedia, and personal recollections. ]

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