Ford C. Frick Award
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The Ford C. Frick Award is an award bestowed annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." It is named for Ford Christopher Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Before his career as an executive, Frick was a baseball writer; he gained fame as the ghostwriter for Babe Ruth in the 1920s.
In tribute to Frick, the award for career excellence in baseball broadcasting was created in 1978. Winners give a speech at the Hall of Fame during induction weekend, and their names are added to a plaque in the library of the Hall of Fame; they are not, however, considered to be members of the Hall of Fame. Winners of the Frick Award, if still living, also become life members of the Veterans Committee, which considers candidates for Hall of Fame induction who are no longer eligible for the regular voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
In 2004, fans were allowed to nominate candidates for the award for the first time.
Recipients of the Ford C. Frick Award
- 1978 - Mel Allen and Red Barber
- 1979 - Bob Elson
- 1980 - Russ Hodges
- 1981 - Ernie Harwell
- 1982 - Vin Scully
- 1983 - Jack Brickhouse
- 1984 - Curt Gowdy
- 1985 - Buck Canel
- 1986 - Bob Prince
- 1987 - Jack Buck
- 1988 - Lindsey Nelson
- 1989 - Harry Caray
- 1990 - By Saam
- 1991 - Joe Garagiola
- 1992 - Milo Hamilton
- 1993 - Chuck Thompson
- 1994 - Bob Murphy
- 1995 - Bob Wolff
- 1996 - Herb Carneal
- 1997 - Jimmy Dudley
- 1998 - Jaime Jarrin
- 1999 - Arch McDonald
- 2000 - Marty Brennaman
- 2001 - Felo Ramirez
- 2002 - Harry Kalas
- 2003 - Bob Uecker
- 2004 - Lon Simmons
- 2005 - Jerry Coleman