Former White Sox announcer, Ken “Hawk” Harrelson will be honored at next July’s Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony after being named the 2020 Ford C. Frick Award recipient.
After 43 years as a broadcaster, the 78-year old Harrelson stepped away from the booth following the 2018 season. Having also called games for the Yankees and Red Sox in his career, Harrelson is mostly known for his 33-years as the White Sox play-by-play voice. The White Sox announcer stepped away from the booth in 1986 to take on the role of their general manager, a position he filled for one season.
In addition to his iconic broadcasting career, Harrelson, a South Carolina native spent nine years as a player beginning in 1963. Playing most of his career as a first-baseman and right fielder, Harrelson was named an All-Star for the Red Sox during the 1968 season.
“Ken Harrelson created a bond between the White Sox and their fans with his unabashed love of South Side Chicago baseball,” said President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Tim Mead in a news release. “Each time he stepped into the booth, ‘Hawk’ called the game with the passion of a fan and the knowledge of an MLB All-Star. As the narrator for some of the greatest moments in White Sox history, including the franchise’s 2005 World Series championship, Ken’s voice will echo for all time throughout the Windy City.”
Other finalists for this year’s Ford C. Frick award were Joe Castiglione, Jacques Doucet, Tom Hamilton, Pat Hughes, Ned Martin, Mike Shannon and Dewayne Staats. Harrelson will receive the award during the 2020 Baseball Hall-of-Fame induction weekend, Saturday July 25th in Cooperstown, NY.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here