A Look Into the Pittsburgh Pirates Broadcast Team - KHarmo88's Dynasty

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A Look Into the Pittsburgh Pirates Broadcast Team

Posted on March 26, 2013 at 09:06 PM.

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GREG BROWN

Greg Brown is in his 20th season as a radio and television play-by-play announcer with the Pirates. Only three other broadcasters in club history have had more time behind the microphone than Brown.

Greg's association with the Pirates began in 1979, when he interned in the Promotions department while attending Point Park College. Following the World Series that year, Brown worked as the clubhouse manager during the Instructional League program in Bradenton, Florida. His 10-year stint in the Bucs front office included work in the Sales, Public Relations and Broadcasting departments. Greg also served as the team's public address announcer during the 1987 campaign. In 1988, he was a sports anchor on WFMJ-TV in Youngstown, OH.

Prior to joining Pittsburgh's broadcast team in 1994, Brown spent five seasons (1989-1993) doing play-by-play and color commentary for the Buffalo Bisons of the American Association (now International League) as well as hosting a sportstalk show on WGR Radio. He also worked as a color analyst and a pre- and post-game show host for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League for five seasons (1989-93). Also during his time in Buffalo, Greg served as a play-by-play announcer for University of Buffalo basketball on WGR Radio and as a broadcaster for the Empire TV Sports Network.

Brown's dedication and passion for the Pirates extends to his efforts away from the broadcast booth as well. In addition to various off-season appearances in the community and his work on the annual Pirates caravan and PirateFest events, Greg spearheaded the "Gloves for Kids" program, which raised money for much-needed equipment and gloves for youth baseball and softball organizations in underserved areas around the Pittsburgh area. During the course of the season, Brown teams up with broadcast partner Steve Blass and hosts several pre-game receptions for members of the 65 Roses Club, which is part of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Brown is a native of Washington, D.C. He currently resides in Leet Township with his wife Kim and son Ryan (14).

TIM NEVERETT

Tim Neverett joined the Pittsburgh broadcast team on December 18, 2008 and is in his fifth season as a radio and television play-by-play announcer with the club.

Prior to joining the Pirates, Neverett spent four years working for FSN Rocky Mountain, where he spent the 2008 campaign serving as both the pre-game and post-game studio host for Colorado Rockies games. During his tenure with FSN Rocky Mountain, Tim also served as a play-by-play announcer for Rockies games, college football, basketball, hockey and lacrosse, as well as arena football and track and field.

Neverett was also one of the original play-by-play and studio voices for the mtn, The Mountain West Conference Sports Network, where he called a number of football and basketball games along with hosting a weekly roundtable studio show. In addition, Tim worked as a weekend talk show host for the nationally syndicated Sporting News Radio Network, where his show was heard on over 160 stations nationwide. He also served as a Sports Talk Host for ESPN 560 in Denver, Colorado, where he was named the 2005 Best Radio Sports-Talk Host by Westword magazine in its annual "Best of Denver" issue.

Neverett also called baseball, softball, basketball and soccer during the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics. During the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and 2006 Olympic Games in Torino he handled play-by-play duties for hockey and numerous skiing events. The multi-national feeds were seen in more than 100 countries.

Prior to his time in Denver, Neverett lived in Las Vegas, where he called games on radio and TV for the Padres and Dodgers Triple-A teams. He also served as the play-by-play voice for Las Vegas' International Hockey League team for five seasons, then added college baseball and football at UNLV to his duties.

Neverett began his baseball broadcasting career in 1985 with Pittsburgh's Double-A affiliate in the Eastern League. At the age of 19, he had the opportunity to fill in calling radio play-by-play of Nashua Pirates games, which led to more innings and ultimately a schedule of games that season.

Tim has three sons; Matthew (18), Kyle (16) and Drew (13). He is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston where he lettered in baseball for four seasons.

BOB WALK

Bob Walk is in his 20th season as a member of the Pirates broadcast crew. He joins Greg Brown as being one of only six men with at least 15 years of service behind the microphone for the Bucs on radio.

The former right-handed pitcher spent 10 of his 14 years pitching in the Major Leagues with Pittsburgh (1984-1993). He compiled a 105-81 lifetime record, which included an 82-61 mark with the Pirates.

Walk's professional career began with Spartanburg in 1977 after he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 3rd round of the 1976 June draft. He made his big league debut with the Phillies in 1980 and was the starting pitcher in Game One of the World Series that October against Kansas City.

In the spring of 1981, Walk was dealt to the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Gary Matthews. He spent three seasons in the Atlanta organization before being acquired by Pittsburgh in 1984. Bob was a 1988 National League All-Star and he posted six straight winning seasons from 1987 to 1992. One of his finest moments in a Pirates uniform came in 1992 when he pitched a 7-1, complete-game victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game Five of the National League Championship Series.

Walk, a native of Newhall, CA, resides in Wexford with his wife Lorrie. They have three sons; Tommy (33), Johnny (30) and Ronny (23). Tommy and his wife, Dominique, are the proud parents of daughters Makayla (10) and Kylie (7). Johnny is scheduled to marry Nikki on May 11, 2013.

STEVE BLASS

The 2013 season marks Steve Blass' 54th year of involvement with the Pirates and his 28th behind the microphone as a color commentator. He has been associated with the club since signing his first professional contract on June 27, 1960.

For the ninth straight season, Steve will work only those games played at PNC Park. He will continue in his role as an analyst on both radio and TV. Only Lanny Frattare (33 years) and Bob Prince (28) have spent more years behind the microphone than Blass (27).

A right-handed pitcher, Blass made his professional debut with Kingsport in 1960 and his Major League debut with the Bucs on May 10, 1964. He joined the big league team permanently in 1966 and went on to pitch a total of 10 seasons in the Majors, compiling a 103-76 record, 57 complete games and 16 shutouts in 282 games (231 starts). Steve ranks seventh on the club's all-time list in strikeouts (896).

In his third full season in the Majors in 1968, Steve went 18-6, leading the league with a .750 winning percentage while posting a 2.12 ERA, 12 complete games and a career-high seven shutouts. His 2.12 ERA ranked fifth in the N.L. as St. Louis' Bob Gibson led the circuit with a 1.12 ERA.

During a five-year span from 1968 thru 1972, Blass was one of the best pitchers in the National League as he compiled a 78-44 record, 50 complete games and a 3.05 ERA. He won a career-high 19 games in 1972 and was named to the National League All-Star team that season.

In the 1971 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, Blass recorded two complete game victories, allowing only seven hits and two runs in 18 innings of work. He finished second in the voting for World Series MVP behind teammate Roberto Clemente and remains the last National League pitcher to throw a complete game in Game Seven of a World Series.

After retiring following the 1974 season, Blass remained in the Pittsburgh area and worked in private business, while continuing to do community service for the ballclub.

In 1983, he worked with the legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Prince on Pirate cable telecasts and was also retained the following year when the cable rights were secured by Home Sports Entertainment. Blass officially joined the Pittsburgh Pirates radio broadcast crew in 1986.

A native of Canaan, CT, Steve and his wife Karen live in Upper St. Clair. They have two sons, David and Christopher, and five grandchildren. In 2002, Steve became the 13th recipient of the "Pride of the Pirates" award, a yearly honor (since 1990) which recognizes a member of the Pirates family who has demonstrated the qualities of sportsmanship, dedication and outstanding character during a lifetime of service.

On September 10, 2009, Steve defied the astronomical odds and recorded a pair of holes-in-one in the same round of golf. According to Golf Digest, the odds of a golfer making two aces in the same round are one in 67 million.

JOHN WEHNER

Pittsburgh native John Wehner joined the Pirates broadcast team prior to the 2005 season. He serves as an analyst on both radio and TV, working all road games and a handful of games played at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Entering the 2013 campaign, John has spent a total of 22 seasons in the Pittsburgh organization (1988-1996, 1999-2001 and 2003-2012). Prior to being named to the broadcast team, John spent time as a coach with the Double-A Altoona Curve (2002-2004) after serving the Pirates as a special instructor during spring training in 2002.

He saw his last action in the Major Leagues with the Pirates in 2001. He hit the last home run in the history of Three Rivers Stadium on October 1, 2000 off Chicago's Jon Lieber and also made the final out. In 11 seasons in the Major Leagues, John compiled a .249 batting average, hit four home runs and collected 54 RBI in 461 games. In addition, he shares the Major League record of playing 99 consecutive errorless games at third base (also Jeff Cirillo).

Wehner is a graduate of Pittsburgh's Carrick High School and attended the University of Indiana, where he played baseball for three years. He resides in Cranberry Township, PA, with his wife Brandie and has five children; sons Tyler (21) and Brandon (19) and daughters Hailey (14), Brooke (12)?and Hannah (10).