Greg Hansen's top 10 sports voices in Tucson history
- Updated
Brian Jeffries, Voice of the Wildcats, tops the list.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Editor’s note: This summer, Star columnist Greg Hansen is counting down the top 10 of just about everything related to Tucson sports.
Today’s list: The top 10 sports voices in Tucson history.
Arizona hired its first true “Voice of the Wildcats” in 1972 and if anyone suggested it was a job of many colors, that doesn’t begin to describe Ray McNally.
Before assuming radio duties at the UA, McNally, a Missouri grad, had done radio play-by-play for Wichita State, New Mexico and Texas Tech. He had served as sports editor of the Tucson Citizen and as an editor at Golf World magazine.
More? He then worked for the state high school athletic association, helping to keep statistics and records, became an assistant general manager/statistician for the Tucson Toros, served as assistant sports information director at the UA, and took charge of programming at the university’s radio station, KUAT.
McNally essentially replaced former Cleveland Indians play-by-play voice Jimmy Dudley and jack-of-all-trades TV sportscaster Bernie Perlin as the most-heard voice of Tucson sports.
When McNally died in 1981 (he was only 61), the UA worked through many voices, including Notre Dame’s 1964 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte, future MLB announcer Kent Derdivanis, Harry West, Gene Adelstein, Pete Solomon, Ray Odom and others.
It then hit the mother lode of broadcasting, hiring NFL Hall of Famer Ray Scott, a mainstay at CBS, to call UA games from 1984-87.
When Scott retired after the ’86-87 basketball season, Arizona promoted Brian Jeffries from the so-called second team; Jeffries, who grew up near Seattle, had been working pre- and post-game shows and calling Arizona baseball games.
Jeffries has endured and become the recognized voice of the Wildcats to generations of UA fans. Only Cal’s Joe Starkey is believed to have stayed on the job longer at a Pac-12 school.
Our top 10 list doesn’t include those former UA athletes like baseball’s Joe Magrane and golf’s Jerry Foltz, who have gone on to accomplished broadcast careers, or those whose stay was so brief, such as Scott and Fox Sports Arizona’s talented Todd Walsh. We’ve chosen to stay as local as possible.
Here’s the list:
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
He began his career as an old-style disc jockey in Washington and Idaho.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The Sabino High School and UA grad has gone on to be NBC’s lead play-by-play man for the PGA Tour, Olympic swimming and has also been a regular NFL voice. He began as a weekend sports anchor at Channel 4.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Although Sitton tragically died when only 58, he left quite a legacy. A baseball and rugby lover, Sitton worked UA football and basketball telecasts for 20 years after serving as Arizona’s baseball radio voice for most of the 1980s.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The Salpointe Catholic High School and UA grad from Sonoita worked her way up the ladder to become one of the NFL’s leading sideline and studio personalities.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
My choice as the leading sports-talk host in Tucson history, “Gabe” was an ASU grad who focused on local sports, from high school up. From 1989-98, Gabe’s no-holds-barred approach worked; he eschewed the easy way out by wasting a Tucson listener’s time with NBA, NFL and MLB chatter.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The face of Channel 9 sports for 25 years wasn’t a news-breaker, but he was a welcome and friendly face in your living room.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The public address announcer at McKale Center and Arizona Stadium from 1978-96 was a part of the fabric of UA sports. His call of ‘STEVE KERRRRRRR!” was one of a kind.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
What didn’t Roemer cover at Channel 13, Channel 11, and as the public-address announcer at Hi Corbett Field and Tucson Electric Park for 30 years?
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
His work was so appreciated that the Toros named the press box after him.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
His seven-year stint as Channel 4’s sports anchor was a glimpse of a big-market talent in Tucson. He has since moved to TV work on his home turf, Pittsburgh.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Ryan Radtke occupied the No. 2 chair behind Jeffries for seven years in Tucson, taking on play-by-play duties of the Tucson Sidewinders and hosting an insightful radio sports-talk show. He recently left his gig as the Nevada Wolf Pack play-by-play voice to work nationally for Westwood One radio.
Editor’s note: This summer, Star columnist Greg Hansen is counting down the top 10 of just about everything related to Tucson sports.
Today’s list: The top 10 sports voices in Tucson history.
Arizona hired its first true “Voice of the Wildcats” in 1972 and if anyone suggested it was a job of many colors, that doesn’t begin to describe Ray McNally.
Before assuming radio duties at the UA, McNally, a Missouri grad, had done radio play-by-play for Wichita State, New Mexico and Texas Tech. He had served as sports editor of the Tucson Citizen and as an editor at Golf World magazine.
More? He then worked for the state high school athletic association, helping to keep statistics and records, became an assistant general manager/statistician for the Tucson Toros, served as assistant sports information director at the UA, and took charge of programming at the university’s radio station, KUAT.
McNally essentially replaced former Cleveland Indians play-by-play voice Jimmy Dudley and jack-of-all-trades TV sportscaster Bernie Perlin as the most-heard voice of Tucson sports.
When McNally died in 1981 (he was only 61), the UA worked through many voices, including Notre Dame’s 1964 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte, future MLB announcer Kent Derdivanis, Harry West, Gene Adelstein, Pete Solomon, Ray Odom and others.
It then hit the mother lode of broadcasting, hiring NFL Hall of Famer Ray Scott, a mainstay at CBS, to call UA games from 1984-87.
When Scott retired after the ’86-87 basketball season, Arizona promoted Brian Jeffries from the so-called second team; Jeffries, who grew up near Seattle, had been working pre- and post-game shows and calling Arizona baseball games.
Jeffries has endured and become the recognized voice of the Wildcats to generations of UA fans. Only Cal’s Joe Starkey is believed to have stayed on the job longer at a Pac-12 school.
Our top 10 list doesn’t include those former UA athletes like baseball’s Joe Magrane and golf’s Jerry Foltz, who have gone on to accomplished broadcast careers, or those whose stay was so brief, such as Scott and Fox Sports Arizona’s talented Todd Walsh. We’ve chosen to stay as local as possible.
Here’s the list:
He began his career as an old-style disc jockey in Washington and Idaho.
The Sabino High School and UA grad has gone on to be NBC’s lead play-by-play man for the PGA Tour, Olympic swimming and has also been a regular NFL voice. He began as a weekend sports anchor at Channel 4.
Although Sitton tragically died when only 58, he left quite a legacy. A baseball and rugby lover, Sitton worked UA football and basketball telecasts for 20 years after serving as Arizona’s baseball radio voice for most of the 1980s.
The Salpointe Catholic High School and UA grad from Sonoita worked her way up the ladder to become one of the NFL’s leading sideline and studio personalities.
My choice as the leading sports-talk host in Tucson history, “Gabe” was an ASU grad who focused on local sports, from high school up. From 1989-98, Gabe’s no-holds-barred approach worked; he eschewed the easy way out by wasting a Tucson listener’s time with NBA, NFL and MLB chatter.
The face of Channel 9 sports for 25 years wasn’t a news-breaker, but he was a welcome and friendly face in your living room.
The public address announcer at McKale Center and Arizona Stadium from 1978-96 was a part of the fabric of UA sports. His call of ‘STEVE KERRRRRRR!” was one of a kind.
What didn’t Roemer cover at Channel 13, Channel 11, and as the public-address announcer at Hi Corbett Field and Tucson Electric Park for 30 years?
His work was so appreciated that the Toros named the press box after him.
His seven-year stint as Channel 4’s sports anchor was a glimpse of a big-market talent in Tucson. He has since moved to TV work on his home turf, Pittsburgh.
Ryan Radtke occupied the No. 2 chair behind Jeffries for seven years in Tucson, taking on play-by-play duties of the Tucson Sidewinders and hosting an insightful radio sports-talk show. He recently left his gig as the Nevada Wolf Pack play-by-play voice to work nationally for Westwood One radio.
Tags
More information
View this profile on Instagram#ThisIsTucson 🌵 (@this_is_tucson) • Instagram photos and videos
Most viewed stories
-
Cheer on the Wildcats in the Final Four at these local restaurants and bars 🐻⬇️
-
Over 30 fun events happening in Tucson March 27-29!
-
Over 70 fun events happening in Tucson in April 🎡🐰
-
New Eats! 20 new restaurants that opened up in Tucson this winter 🍽️
-
5 basement bars and speakeasies to visit when you want a fun drink and cool AC
-
Bloomfest celebrates palo verde blooms and Tucson culture
-
Vintage band tees take center stage at Tucson’s new shop Almandel
-
Over 40 exciting events to check out this weekend! 🌱
-
OaxaRico opened their first brick-and-mortar, serving up delicious mole and gorditas