The Houston Baseball Media Wall of Honor Committee and the Houston Astros announced Tuesday that TV broadcaster Bill Brown has been elected as the 2011 inductee into the Houston Baseball Media Wall of Honor by a vote of season-credentialed media.
Brown, who celebrated his 64th birthday on Tuesday, will be presented with an induction plaque as part of a pre-game ceremony next Monday night prior the Astros' three-game series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park.
An additional plaque will be installed at the Houston Baseball Media Wall of Honor display, located in the Minute Maid Park press box.
Brown represents the fifth individual to be inducted into the Wall of Honor, joining Anita Martini (2007), former Astros radio broadcaster Gene Elston (2008), as well as former Houston Chronicle writers Neil Hohlfeld (2009) and Mickey Herskowitz (2010).
"It's quite an honor just to do the jobs we are privileged to do every day during the season," Brown said by email Tuesday evening. "Having known and respected the previous Wall of Honor recipients, it is a distinct pleasure just to be associated with Anita Martini, Gene Elston, Neil Hohlfeld and Mickey Herskowitz."
The Astros honored Brown during a ceremony in June for his 25th season with the organization as a play-by-play television announcer.
Prior to joining the Astros in 1987, Brown worked as senior producer and anchor of the Financial News Network's SCORE program.
He has also served as the sports director of the Sports Time Cable Network, which televised select Reds, Royals and St. Louis games.
Brown, a graduate from the University of Missouri in 1969, began his broadcasting career at the age of 18 and became a U.S. Army broadcast specialist, working as a sportscaster for the Armed Forces Vietnam Network in Saigon from 1970-71.
After leaving the service in 1971, Brown took a job at WLWT-TV in Cincinnati following one semester of graduate school at Central Missouri State College and later spent one year with HSE in Pittsburgh prior to being the television voice of the Reds (1976-82).
Over the last 25 years, the longtime Astros broadcaster has been an invited guest into the homes of millions of viewers, bringing extensive baseball knowledge, charisma and a sharp personality filled with genuine passion and a straight-forward approach.
Known as "Brownie," the 2004 Texas Baseball Hall of Fame inductee represents not only a true professional behind the microphone alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Deshaies, but also a quality, compassionate human being away from the diamond.
Brown's ongoing success attributes to being part of a stellar, dynamic duo with Deshaies -- one of his closest friends -- who brings a humorous side to the broadcast team, which goes hand in hand with Brownie's friendly mannerism and genuine approach.
He has been in the booth as part of the World Series for two teams -- the Reds (1976) and Astros (2005) -- in addition to calling franchise icon and future Hall of Famer Craig Biggio's historic 3,000th hit on June 27, 2007 against the Colorado Rockies.
His tremendous reputation and accomplishments over the years put him in position as a current nominee for the 2012 National Baseball Hall of Fame Ford C. Frick Award, along with former Astros broadcasters Larry Dierker and Dewayne Staats.
Fan voting for three of the 10 names on the final ballot for the Frick Award will be open until Sept. 30 at the Hall of Fame's Facebook page.
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