Making Airwaves: 60 Years at Milo's Microphone

by Dan Schlossberg, Milo Hamilton, Ana Huang

Book Overview

Millions of sports fans know the dulcet tones of Milo Hamilton's melodious voice. They remember his call of baseball's most magic moment: the home run that made Hank Aaron the new home run king in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1596700270
• ISBN13: 9781596700277
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC
• Length: 226 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Very frank

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.

Interesting Read

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.

Holy Toledo!

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!

A Fascinating Memoir That Tells A Story That Deserves To Be Heard

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.