The Padres on Thursday night feted retiring play-by-play broadcaster Dick Enberg "in style" with a pregame ceremony featuring a pair of video tributes and a speech from Enberg, and the club also "re-named Broadcast Booth 1 'the Dick Enberg Broadcast Booth,'" according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. Enberg then called his "final game in San Diego," a 9-4 loss to the Dodgers. He "will be calling it a career Sunday afternoon" in Arizona against the D-backs (MLB.com, 9/30). In San Diego, Jeff Sanders notes the on-field ceremony Thursday included "taped messages" from fellow HOF broadcaster Vin Scully. The Padres also gave Enberg a "microphone trophy," and painted in the center field grass his signature phrase, "OH MY" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/30).
HANGING IT UP: Longtime Astros broadcaster Bill Brown last week announced his intentions to retire at season's end, and in Houston, David Barron notes team President of Business Operations Reid Ryan "believed fans should be given a heads-up." Brown "acquiesced, so viewers had a chance to watch" Wednesday's game against the Mariners with the "knowledge it was the capper to a stellar 30-year career." Brown's departure has "drawn less hoopla" than did late Astros broadcaster Milo Hamilton's in '12. Brown has "never sought the spotlight," though his place in Houston broadcasting history "should not be underestimated." He was a "well-respected veteran who was comfortable with his place in the organization" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/30).
ANOTHER GOODBYE: ESPN Radio will carry the final inning of Scully's career on Sunday as part of an agreement ESPN reached with MLB. ESPN will go live with Scully’s call of the Dodgers-Giants game as it starts the 9th inning. The game, which starts at 3:00pm ET, will be the last of Scully’s 67-year career calling Dodgers games (John Ourand, Staff Writer). HBO's Bryant Gumbel said Scully is "inarguably the best play-by-play man that sports has ever seen or heard." He had an "unmatched broadcasting career, one that has earned him a deserving place in baseball's Hall of Fame." Gumbel noted Scully "always worked alone ... and subscribed to three constants: Keeping personal opinions to himself, avoiding silly ... catchphrases and not criticizing players or umpires" ("Real Sports," HBO, 9/27). In DC, Marc Fisher writes under the header, "Baseball Will Never Have Another Vin Scully" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/30).
