![]() Being from the area, I'll tune in to hear what John Sterling has to say. “ is a guy who is recognized as a pro, and people tell me that he's even a better person. After he’d achieved his goal, and subsequently spent decades in the profession, he still goes to that well everyday at the ballpark. Hearing those games on a transistor radio, he knew that he wanted to be a baseball broadcaster. But we'll take it from there.”īloom grew up in Westchester county, New York, listening to the Yankees’ trio of Phil Rizzuto, Bill White and Frank Messer. … I don't want to necessarily bring it up unless he goes in that direction. So, I'm hoping that Len throws me some softballs. … What was able to do was beyond anybody's comprehension. “But wherever wants to steer it, I'll go from there. “My all-time personal favorite story is the time I set a pick for Jordan on an asphalt basketball court,” Bloom said with a laugh. Cleveland manager Terry Francona and hitting coach Mike Barnett served in the same roles for Birmingham during Jordan’s lone Minor League season. Clips of his call of Jordan’s first game, hit and homer can be found between photos of Bloom and Jordan on the field together at batting practice and a photo of Jordan holding Bloom’s infant daughter, Chloe, alongside Bloom and his wife, Laura.Īs fate would have it, this Sunday’s game should serve as a reunion of the Jordan years once Bloom arrives. “All Len's got to do is serve me a softball.”īloom’s personal website has its own tab dedicated to his experiences with Jordan. Of course, among the many All-Stars and Hall of Famers he’s seen pass through Birmingham or the Southern League, Bloom also comes from the unique position of having called all of Michael Jordan’s games for the Barons in 1994. “When you're flip-flopping down the bus and your legs are dead at 3 in the morning and one day you're with Dylan Cease or Michael Kopech and years ago Mike Cameron and Ron Coomer. “That's what your bus rides, your pregame and postgame interviews, your late night stops on the road are for,” Bloom said. The familiarity with the specific players, especially in the many disarming settings that the Minor Leagues provide, could help him color his broadcast in a way that few around the Majors can. He was with the Barons long enough to see, what he estimates to be, about 70 percent of Chicago’s active roster play in Birmingham. “We wanted to take this time to acknowledge the fact that you’ve been a great teammate of ours,” Quintana said in the Zoom call when he invited Bloom to The Show.īloom’s time spent with Birmingham puts him in a unique position as he moves up to the White Sox booth. With Jason Benetti, the lead White Sox play-by-play TV announcer, working the Sunday morning game of the week on Peacock, and Darren Jackson, who usually works on the radio broadcasts on Sundays, not around this weekend, a spot opened up for Bloom. White Sox senior director of broadcasting Cris Quintana gave Bloom the good news on a Zoom call last week. “I'm looking forward to hopefully making an impression and to hopefully have 30 clubs go, 'Wow, these Minor League guys can do it.’”Ĭheck out the moment our very own learned he's getting called up to Chicago for his MLB broadcasting debut on Sunday, July 24th □ #BuiltinBham | /rT207圓Zoy- Birmingham Barons July 13, 2022 You can tell your family you got to the big leagues,'” Bloom said. “I don't plan on this being my one and only - 'Hey, thanks for your years of service. But this Sunday’s contest will be his first call of a regular season White Sox game. Bloom has some Major League experience, filling in for six games for the Braves and Orioles in 20, respectively. This Sunday, Bloom will join Len Kasper in the White Sox radio booth as the club hosts the Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field. ![]() “'Act like you've been there before,'” said Bloom, echoing Bryant’s words. Now in his 31st season, Bloom can count himself among those on that list. For more than three decades, Bloom has provided play-by-play and color commentary as superstars like Tim Anderson, Mark Buehrle and Mike Cameron passed through town on their way to the White Sox. ![]() After stops in Woodbridge, Virginia, and Huntsville, Alabama, he’s been on the call for Double-A Birmingham since 1991. ![]() First up, Double-A Birmingham broadcaster Curt Bloom.Īdvice that originated from Bear Bryant is usually worth taking, especially for someone working in sports in Alabama.Ĭurt Bloom called his first Minor League game on the radio for the Bakersfield Dodgers in 1988. This series tells the story of Minor League broadcasters getting their own Major League experience this season. In the Minors, it’s not just the players and coaches who are grinding toward a big league opportunity.
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