White Sox: Rebuild Extends to the Broadcast Booth
By Matt Manetti
Ken Harrelson will retire from the broadcast booth after the 2018 season. He will spend 2019 as a White Sox ambassador.
The roster isn’t the only thing the Chicago White Sox will rebuild. The broadcast booth will also be getting a makeover. The team announced Wednesday that Ken Harrelson will retire from the booth. His 34 year broadcasting career will end following the 2018 season.
“Hawk” Harrelson has had quite the career for the White Sox that began in 1982. He’s a five-time emmy winner and two-time recipient of Illinois Sportscaster of the Year. He’s best known for his phrases like “you can put it on the board” and coming up with “Big Hurt” to describe Hall of Famer Frank Thomas.
"“His passion for the White Sox and for the game of baseball is apparent in every telecast he does. There have been only a handful of broadcasters who literally have re-written the dictionary of baseball terminology and nicknames.”-Jerry Reinsdorf, White Sox Chairman"
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The White Sox also announced they had agreed to a multiyear deal with Jason Benetti. Benetti joined the the broadcast team last season. He will continue to be the primary play-by-play voice for the White Sox, most likely being paired with Steve Stone.
Harrelson will broadcast just 20 games next season. Those games will include Sunday home games and a few others. After 2018, he will spend the 2019 season as an ambassador.
"“It has been an amazing honor for me to deliver White Sox baseball to generations of fans. I cannot thank the fans of Chicago, the White Sox and Jerry Reinsdorf enough for allowing me this fantastic career and for agreeing to my role for the 2018 season and beyond.”-Ken “Hawk” Harrelson"
A whole new area of White Sox baseball is coming. And that includes in the television booth. Benetti has done a great job since taking over much of the play-by-play duties. He definitely knows baseball and seems to get along really well with Stone.
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Hawk will be missed by some. But he really hasn’t been around much the past two seasons. Benetti has done the majority of broadcasts at home this season and his fresh take on the team will be refreshing for viewers.