Customer Reviews

Making Airwaves: 60 Years at Milo's Microphone

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I fully expected the knives to come out from Harry Caray's fan club for this book, and suspect more will follow on the heels of the silly first review posted here. I think it speaks volumes as to which side in the Milo-Harry feud has less class, because regardless of whether you think Milo has just cause to be bitter at Harry, or is just an angry bitter man, stop denying Milo of his due achievements in the realm of broadcasting. He has been doing the game for fifty years and has justly earned recognition from Cooperstown. Amazing how the hot-air brigade of the Holy Cow fan club always feels this need to tear down Milo's own legacy in the business just to preserve the shallow reputation of their hero.

Probably the most laughable thing I've been hearing from Harry's defenders is their assertion that Milo had no business writing his honest opinions of Harry because Harry is now dead. Well gee now, a few years ago Steve Stone wrote a fawning tribute to Harry that decided it was important to write a whole chapter to rip Milo, so why is Milo not entitled to give his side of the story? I think when one learns of how shabby Harry was in his attitude toward Milo in 1982 (such as ripping Milo while he was in the hospital receiving treatment for leukemia), that tells us that maybe Stone's account of the Harry-Milo feud in his tome doesn't exactly tell us all sides of the story. I say more power to Milo for finally giving us his version of events.

But there is ultimately more to this book than just Milo's anger at Harry Caray. Milo has a fascinating story of 50 years in baseball to tell and the rest of his book manages to give us some great insights into his years of broadcasting in the bygone age of the 50s and 60s in St. Louis and Chicago. He has some great stories about his idol, Bob Elson the long-time voice of the White Sox. And there are some fascinating firsthand tales of covering the Astros for the last 22 years, as well as his thoughts in general on the state of the game today. You don't have to agree with Milo's take on events to come away with an appreciation for what he's brought to the game.

Ignore the polemics from the Caray fans and give this book the chance it deserves, and then make up your own minds as to who has more credibility. Having been turned off by Harry Caray's showboating self-promotion during his Cubs days of "Cub Fan, Bud Man" ads, it was very easy for me to get a sense of which version comes closer to the truth.

1976 was the first year that I fully followed baseball and as a young Pirates fan, it coincided with Milo's first year broadcasting Pirates games. I don't remember much of Bob Prince, so it all began for me with Milo and Lanny Frattare. I always felt like Milo was a friend by his friendly broadcasts and great excitement. I was sorry to see him leave, but I was always happy to see that he is still announcing games and in the hall of fame. I was surprised to see that he wrote a book and I immediately purchased it. It's easy to read and gave me the background on his career and life that I never knew. He's a really talented and interesting guy. I found his stories very interesting and I appreciate his honesty in describing the difficult people that he has worked with over the years in addition to the fun people he has worked with. If you're a baseball fan or a fan of great sports broadcasters, then this book is for you. Milo Hamilton and Vin Scully are two of the last great baseball broadcasters and I plan on listening to them both all summer long. Thank goodness for the internet and XM radio!!! Thanks, Milo!

Overall, a very interesting read. While I wish he wrote a little more about the players (especially the chapter about his all-time team) and not place too much weight on the behind-the-scene stuff, I liked reading about his experiences with the HOF broadcasters, especially about Bob Elson and Jack Brickhouse. These are big names I wasn't too familiar with, so it was really nice to get an account of how they were like back then.

Having grown up listening to Milo Hamilton from his White Sox days to the present day with the Astros made this an interesting book. His interaction with other broadcasters, especially Harry Carey, is good along with his memories of past players and stadiums. If you are a fan of baseball and broadcasting I would recommend this book.

Now well into his seventh decade as a sportscaster, Milo takes readers on an engaging tour of his storied career. He clearly has thrived on relationships in a business loaded with its share of selfish, smug, and arrogant personalities. These relationships range from lifelong caring, giving athletes with whom he is lifelong friends to sportscaster colleagues he detests. In this book he gives readers a glimpse of life inside the booth, freely sharing its highs and lows. As one who has survived since 1950 in what can be cutthroat business, longevity alone lends high credibility. The section on his rocky relationship with legendary Harry Caray alone makes it well worth the money.

I bought this book for about $1. It arrived quickly. I then sent it to the Astros for Milo to autograph. I told him I'd listened to him when I lived in Birmingham in the 60s and 70s as the Braves announcer. Years later I moved to Texas and had the opportunity to listen to him as the Astros announcer.

Milo returned the book signed and I began to read the book. Milo tells his life story as an announcer and tells the truth from his perspective about the other announcers he has worked with. He isn't vulgar but he is truthful.

If you love baseball, Milo or the teams he has announced for, this book is for you. He provides insight to the clubs and management. An easy read and worth much more than the $1 I paid for it. To me, it's priceless.

Milo's book was a delightful walk down memory lane for me. When I was a boy our family would listen to Milo and Ernie Johnson call the Braves games on the radio and occasionally see them on TV. Back then, I used to have a dream that one day every Braves game would be on TV. Sure enough ... a few years later Ted Turner made that dream a reality.

There was just something special about those days when radio was the main medium, though. As far as I'm concerned, Milo has the most natural, unaffected voice of any sportscaster I have ever heard. It is perfect for radio. He has a genuine way of making a game exciting if it is going good, and you feel his pain if it isn't. His call of Hank's 715, in my mind, is the greatest call of any single moment in baseball history. It was a sad day for me when Milo left the Braves.

I'll never forget those boyhood days and how I looked forward every evening to turning on that little white box AM radio on our kitchen table. Through that radio, I could take a trip in my imagination to Atlanta, or wherever the Braves were playing that night, and listen to someone who seemed like a close friend of the family tell us all about it. Milo made it easy to imagine you were there.

Milo, you are the best! Thanks for the book and all the wonderful memories.

What a waste. Milo does himself no favors with anyone in this bitter and angry book. I'd rather read about Dave Raymond and Brett Dolan (two other Astros announcers) than sludge through this nasty autobiography again.

I loved to listen to Milo when he did the White Sox games on WCFL in the early 60s. I enjoyed Milo when he was interviewed by Roy Firestone on the old Mazda Sports Look on ESPN back in the late 80s/early 90s.

I agree with a previous reviewer that it seems like a book written by a grumpy old man. I might add that it's a pretty self-indulging book. I read the reviews before I got the book from the library, and only made a special request because I loved Milo hoping that I would enjoy the book. Although writing the book for Milo might have been therapy for him, Milo should have then thrown it out. Milo's thoughts would have been better left unsaid. I might add that I'm not a fan of Harry Carey & other announcers that he trashed in the book. Actually there aren't many people that Milo didn't trash.

I especially enjoy reading baseball books, and have a number of biographies of baseball announcers such as Red Barber, Mel Allen, Bob Prince, Harry Caray, Russ Hodges, Jack Buck, Bob Wolfe, George Kell, Chuck Thompson, Ernie Harwell, and a few others. I am glad to add Milo Hamilton's to my list. True, there is a lot of bitterness towards Harry Caray in the book, and I feel it is entirely believable from what I have read in other books regarding Harry. Harry's treatment of Josh Lewin when Josh joined the Cubs was inexcusable. Harry felt Josh took the job away from his grandson Chip at the time, which wasn't true. Having said that I have always enjoyed Harry. He made me a Cardinals' fan in the National League where he did his best announcing during the 1950's and 1960's working with Jack Buck. Milo Hamilton has spent a lifetime announcing baseball for various teams and worked with legendary announcers such as Bob Elson in Chicago. Milo gives ample praise to most of those he worked with while, I felt, he also gave ample praise to himself. These types of books also have chapters on the subject's all-time team and their opinions on various baseball issues. I feel these chapters serve as fillers to the book. The book is a quick read, and Milo lets it all hang out in his opinion on Harry Caray. Harry could be difficult to work with, but I think it is time for Milo Hamilton to let it go already.