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Dan Dickerson

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Dan Dickerson
Dickerson at Comerica Park in 2011
Born
Daniel Hill Dickerson

(1958-11-13) November 13, 1958 (age 66)
NationalityAmerican
EducationOhio Wesleyan University (B.A.)
Sports commentary career
TeamDetroit Tigers (2000–present)
GenrePlay-by-play
SportMajor League Baseball

Daniel Hill Dickerson (born November 13, 1958)[1] is an American sportscaster, best known for his current position as the lead radio play-by-play voice of Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network.[2]

Early life and education

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Dickerson grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, the son of James Preston Dickerson and Rosemary Dickerson (née Wilcox). James was a political science professor at Oakland Community College whom Ronald Reagan appointed in 1981 as the special assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.[3] Dickerson attended the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills before graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980.[4][5]

Early career

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He began his radio career at WMAX in Grand Rapids, Michigan as a news anchor and reporter. He also covered high school football and basketball. He moved to competitor WCUZ in 1982, where he would cover sports for the next six years. Dickerson moved to Detroit in 1988 and WWJ, where he served as a general assignment news reporter and weekend news and sports anchor. He also hosted the post-game call-in show for the station's Detroit Lions broadcasts.

In 1995, Dickerson moved to crosstown competitor WJR, where he held a variety of positions. He served as co-host of the weeknight sports call-in show Sportswrap; morning sports anchor; sideline reporter and fill-in play-by-play announcer for Michigan Wolverines football; and play-by-play announcer for Michigan basketball for two seasons.

While visiting with legendary Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell in the WJR booth during the final game at Tiger Stadium in 1999, Dickerson was invited by Harwell to call an inning of play-by-play.[6] The following season, he joined the Tigers' radio broadcast team full-time, calling the middle innings of each game while Harwell handled the rest. Along with former Tigers catcher and color analyst Jim Price, this crew remained intact for three full seasons, even as the team switched radio flagship stations (from WJR to WXYT) at the end of the 2000 season.

Current roles

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Dickerson took over as lead play-by-play announcer on Tigers radio following Harwell's retirement at the end of the 2002 season, working with Price as a two-man crew.

Dickerson has called several events for Fox Sports Detroit television, including high school football since 2002, a Michigan State Spartans hockey game in 2008, and Detroit Titans basketball games in 2010 and 2011.

Dickerson is a longtime member of the Detroit Sports Media Association, founded in 1948 by pioneering Tigers announcer Ty Tyson. He was honored by DSMA in 2009 with the Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting and has been named Michigan Sportscaster of the Year three times (2005, 2006, 2014) by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

During the Tigers' 2016 season, Dickerson moved to the television booth to call several road series for Fox Sports Detroit while regular TV announcer Mario Impemba joined Jim Price in the radio booth, an experiment that was discarded the following season.[7] As of the 2024 season, he calls select telecasts on Bally Sports Detroit when primary TV announcer Jason Benetti is doing national work, with Erie SeaWolves broadcaster Greg Gania filling in for him on the radio.[8]

Dickerson also appears as the Detroit Tigers correspondent on MLB Network's weekday afternoon baseball news show The Rundown.

He also hosts a hot stove podcast with Pat Caputo called TigerTalk during the winter months, available on the Tigers' website and iTunes,[9] as well as the interview-style podcast Have a Seat alongside Jason Benetti.[10]

Broadcasting style

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In a 2006 interview, Dickerson described his broadcasting style:

I really took my cues from Ernie Harwell. Growing up listening to him, I always felt he gave the other team a good call on a home run and, I'd say, better calls for the Tigers. But I like the way he just called the game. It was never moaned or complained... Everybody knows you're pulling for the Tigers and you're going to get more excited for the Tigers, but give a good call for both teams.[11]

Dickerson's typical home run call is "Way—back—and—gone!"[12] For long home runs hit by Tigers, he often uses an exuberant "Watch it fly!" For strikeouts, Dickerson's typical call is "Swing and a miss—he got 'im on strikes!"[13]

Memorable calls

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On October 14, 2006, when Magglio Ordóñez hit a walk-off home run in Game 4 of the ALCS, making the Tigers the American League champions for the first time since 1984:

"Swing and a fly ball, left field, it's deep, it's way back... the Tigers are going to the World Series! Three-run, walkoff home run! Ohhh man! Ordóñez around third, he's into the mob scene at home! The Tigers have beaten the A's 6-3, completing a four-game sweep in one of the greatest turn-arounds in baseball history! The Tigers, three years after losing 119 games, are going to the World Series! Magglio Ordóñez with his second home run of the game. What a sight at home plate!"[14]

On June 12, 2007, when Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander threw the sixth no-hitter in franchise history against the Milwaukee Brewers:

"The 0-2 pitch—swing and a high fly ball to right—Ordonez going back—he's got room—HE MAKES THE CATCH! Justin Verlander has just thrown the sixth no-hitter in the 107-year history of the Detroit Tigers!"[15]

On October 18, 2012, when Yankees infielder Jayson Nix popped out to Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder in game 4 of the ALCS, making the Tigers the 2012 American League champions:

"Coke is ready. The 1-1 to Nix—he swings and he pops it up on the right side! Fielder calling for it and he MAKES THE CATCH—WORLD SERIES BOUND! The Tigers sweep the Yankees with an 8-1 win!"[16]

On August 22, 2021, when Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera hit his 500th career home run:

"Fly ball, right-center, deep, got a chance—FIVE HUNDRED! Miguel Cabrera has done it! The high-five to Santiago as he rounds third and his teammates pour out of the dugout! And this crowd in Toronto on their feet!"[17]

Personal life

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Dickerson lives in Clarkston, Michigan with his wife Lori Anne, a journalism professor at Michigan State University, and their children Rachel and Justin.[18]

Dickerson tripped on a curb while jogging outside the Detroit Tigers team hotel in Kansas City, Missouri on May 26, 2009, forcing him to return to Michigan for surgery and miss six games. John Keating filled in for the remainder of the Kansas City series, and Al Kaline substituted for the Baltimore series. Dickerson returned to work on June 2.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Daniel Arrives". The Detroit Free Press. November 20, 1958. p. 27. A son, Daniel Hill, was born Nov. 13 to Mr. and Mrs. James R. [sic] Dickerson (Rosemary Wilcox), of Birmingham.
  2. ^ Detroit Tigers Official Site - Broadcaster Biographies - Dan Dickerson
  3. ^ Oguntoyinbo, Lekan (July 14, 2000). "James Dickerson: Reagan appointee taught politics". The Detroit Free Press. p. 3B.
  4. ^ "Cranbrook Schools Dan Dickerson". Cranbrook Schools. Retrieved June 16, 2021. Dan Dickerson Class of 1976
  5. ^ "Dan Dickerson '80 and more..." Ohio Wesleyan University. August 27, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2021. Daniel Dickerson '80: The Detroit News spends "A day with Dan Dickerson: Face behind voice of the Tigers." Dickerson is celebrating his 10th season as the lead play-by-play radio voice for the Major League Baseball team.
  6. ^ Kornacki, Steve (May 5, 2010). "Tigers radio voice Dan Dickerson recalls his first inning with Ernie Harwell at Tiger Stadium". mlive.com.
  7. ^ Crawford, Kirkland (January 25, 2017). "Jack Morris bows out of Detroit Tigers' TV booth". Detroit Free Press.
  8. ^ Paul, Tony (January 30, 2024). "Dan Dickerson reveals who'll call Tigers games on radio when he subs on TV". The Detroit News.
  9. ^ Tigers Podcasts MLB.com
  10. ^ Introducing Have a Seat with Jason Benetti & Dan Dickerson Detroit Tigers Official YouTube Channel
  11. ^ Hinds, Julie (October 20, 2006). "He Calls It as He Sees It". The Detroit Free Press. p. 2B.
  12. ^ "Interviewing Dan Dickerson - Part 2". The Detroit Tigers Weblog. December 4, 2005. Archived from the original on December 7, 2005. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  13. ^ Foster, Terry (2013). 100 Things Tigers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 169. ISBN 978-1-60078-787-4.
  14. ^ "How They Called It". The Detroit Free Press. October 15, 2006. p. 8D.
  15. ^ "How They Called It". The Detroit Free Press. June 13, 2007. p. 7C.
  16. ^ "10 years ago today, Detroit Tigers clinched a World Series berth by sweeping the Yankees". www.freep.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  17. ^ Drysdale, Don (August 22, 2021). "Detroit Tigers: Dan Dickerson's call of Miguel Cabrera's 500th home run will give you goosebumps". Detroit Sports Nation. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  18. ^ "Tigers Broadcasters". Detroit Tigers. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved June 16, 2021. Resides in Clarkston, MI with wife, Lori, and their children, Rachel and Justin.
  19. ^ Lowe, John (June 2, 2009). "Back Behind Mike". The Detroit Free Press. p. 2B.
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