Blass has been with the Pirates for 60 years, the past 33 as a color analyst on the broadcast crewPIRATES
Longtime Pirates TV analyst Steve Blass revealed that this coming season "will be his last behind the mic," as he will be retiring from the booth after his 34th year on the air, according to Nubyjas Wilborn of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. Blass said, "It's been a wonderful run. ... I'm going to do the whole season, (then) I'll be in a reduced role as an ambassador with the organization." Blass yesterday "regaled a large contingent of media members and friends with a riveting speech that went a little over 30 minutes," after which he "received one of several rousing ovations during the day" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/16). THE ATHLETIC's Rob Biertempfel noted this summer will mark Blass' 60th year with the club, "including the past 33 as a color analyst on the broadcast crew." The Pirates yesterday announced Blass' departure, but he "avoided describing it with such finality." Blass instead said he will "semi-retire." Blass: "Why now? It feels right. You look at the overview of a life, this is kind of like rounding third and heading for home. I want to find out what those last 90 feet are like" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/15).
A GOOD SHEPARD: FS Detroit Senior VP & GM Greg Hammaren and Exec Producer Jeff Byle said that they consider new Tigers play-by-play man Matt Shepard the "perfect answer to a tumultuous time and search, in great part because he is known as a tireless, universally deft broadcast artisan who can juggle plates in the fashion of an ancient Ed Sullivan Show guest" (DETROIT NEWS, 1/16). FS Detroit execs said that they had "more than 100 candidates and personally spoke to 50 broadcasters and 20 agents before settling on Shepard, who has covered every Detroit sports team and several colleges during a decades-long career in local media." In Michigan, Evan Woodberry noted Shepard "filled in on short notice last September" when former Tigers broadcast duo Mario Impemba and Rod Allen were "pulled from the broadcast booth." He also has "experience working" with former MLBer Kirk Gibson and Baseball HOFer Jack Morris, who will alternate as booth analysts (MLIVE.com, 1/15).
