Tom Hamilton (sportscaster)


Tom Hamilton is an American sportscaster, primarily known as the chief radio play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Guardians/Indians of Major League Baseball for 35 years. He is the recipient of the 2025 Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Career

Hamilton joined the then- Indians Radio Network for the 1990 season, after spending three years in the booth for the then AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees, the Columbus Clippers.

Cleveland Indians/Guardians

Hamilton was paired with Indians legend Herb Score until 1997, when Score retired after 30 seasons. Hamilton became chief play by play announcer in the 1998 season, a position he still holds today. Because of his longevity and popularity, he is now considered to be the "voice of the Tribe". After the Indians were renamed to the Guardians, he has also been referred to as the "voice of the Guardians".
Over his career, Hamilton has called over 5,000 games, including three World Series.
On August 5, 2023, Hamilton received praise for his energetic call of a bench-clearing brawl between the Guardians and Chicago White Sox.

Other Work

Hamilton also called college basketball games in the offseason for ESPN Plus, and Big Ten Network for 25 years.

Broadcasting associates with the Indians/Guardians

- Nelson, and later Underwood joined Hamilton and Hegan in a three-man booth from 1998 to 2007, when the Indians then went to a two-man booth. Rosenhaus, Hamilton and Hegan formed a three-man team for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Broadcasting credits

Signature calls

  • "And we're underway at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario!" - after the first pitch of a Guardians home game
  • "STRIKE THREE CALLED!" - after a Guardians pitcher strikes out an opposing batter looking
  • "Swing and a drive, waaaay back, and gone!!" or "Swung on and belted, to deep ______, awaaaay back, and outta here!!" - for a Guardians home run
  • "Swiiiing and a miss, he tried to hit that one to Euclid / into Lake Erie." - when a batter swings really hard but misses
  • "A SWING and a miss!" - for a swinging strikeout by a Guardians pitcher
  • "Ballgame!" - after the final out of a Guardians win
  • "DOWN GOES ANDERSON! DOWN GOES ANDERSON!" - during an August 5, 2023, brawl between the Guardians and Chicago White Sox when Cleveland’s José Ramírez knocked Chicago's Tim Anderson down with a right hook.
  • "Cleveland, you will have an October to Remember!" - the final call of every game in which the Indians/Guardians have clinched a playoff spot since 1995.
  • "Swung on! Hit high, hit deep to left. THERE SHE GOES!...HOW ABOUT THAT? A walk-off 2-run home run to the bleachers in left by David Fry! And the magical 2024 season is NOT. DONE. BY ANY MEANS!" - Hamilton's call of David Fry's walk-off home run in Game 3 of the 2024 ALCS.

Personal life

Hamilton resides in Avon Lake, Ohio, with his wife and four children. One son, Nick, was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 35th round in the 2012 MLB draft out of Kent State University.
Another son, Brad, works as a reporter for Cleveland Fox affiliate WJW-TV 8.

Books

Awards and honors