As the Pirates march toward a goal that has proven elusive for 20 years, there are few within the organization who have survived as long as Greg Brown, broadcaster extraordinaire. He is best known, as most good broadcasters are, for his trademark calls “Clear the Deck, Cannonball Comin” and “Raise the Jolly Roger,” but there is a more to calling a baseball game than citing catchy quips.
This success was not easily obtained; it is a product of years of hard work and dedication to what he discovered to be his passion. Minus a five-year stint broadcasting in Buffalo for the Bills, Bison and University of Buffalo Basketball team, Brown has been with the Pirates organization since 1979, working in sales and public relations before taking to the booth.
Brown’s popularity stems from his eternal optimism, which in light of the time frame in which he has inhabited the booth, is nothing short of flabbergasting.
“You never look at the entirety of a season,” Brown said about maintaining his positive outlook. “Each game, each night, there’s a hope that the streak ends, and a new streak begins”.
When asked whether the two decades of non-winning seasons has taken it’s toll on him, or prompted him to reconsider his career choice, and Greg was quick to quote Steve Blass.
“It’s the greatest job in the world when you’re winning,” Brown said. “And when you’re losing, it’s STILL the greatest job in the world.”
Although it may sound to many as if Brown is a “homer,” he described how precarious of a balancing act it can be to spend the better part of a year in a group of guys’ presence yet still remain neutral while broadcasting.
“You get to know the guys, and in a lot of cases their families, and you become familiar with them,” Brown said. “It’s hard to not be fans of the players themselves, knowing them on that level, but you have to try to not be a fan of the team itself when broadcasting.”
Speaking of fans, Brown stated how often people approach him and state how happy they are for him that the team has finally put the pieces together to create a real winner. His response to those folks: “I’m happy for YOU.” He loves the atmosphere in the city when the Bucs do well.
“Pittsburgh is as good a baseball town as any in the country,” Brown said when speaking in terms of fan intensity.
Brown believes that the physical proximity the fans have to the players within PNC Park help to spark some of the electricity that is generated within those friendly confines.
“The fans in left field can actually physically touch [Starling] Marte when he goes back to the wall to make a catch,” Brown said. “That’s huge”.
As with any fan base, Pittsburgh can be very superstitious. Of course, the players themselves are superstitious to a fault, but does Brown take part in any of the nonsense? The only thing that he will not do is say the words “no hitter” when a pitcher has one going, regardless of which team for which that pitcher plays.
“I do this out of respect for the pitcher and the players, not so much because I believe my vocalizing will have an effect on the outcome,” Browns said.
No pregame ritual chicken slayings (a la Cerrano) for this guy, it seems.
The difference in atmosphere around the city itself — as the Pirates success goes — seems to bring about a swelling of pride in this team in Brown.
“I see a lot more young fans, pre-kindergarten through high school ages. I see a lot more Pirates shirts, hoodies and the amount of Jolly Rogers,” Brown said. “I’m amazed at how it’s taken off.”
Brown knows the importance of perpetuating a solid fan base; these younger fans seem to make him a pretty happy guy.
“I’ve long said, that all this ballpark needs is a winner,” Brown said.
Well, Brown, the city finally has one. Pittsburgh is just as happy for you as you are for us.
Photo by: Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
