Late Oakland A’s Broadcaster Bill King To Be Honored With Baseball Hall Of Fame’s Frick Award

King

The late BILL KING, the longtime play-by-play voice of BAY AREA sports and, in particular, OAKLAND ATHLETICS baseball for decades, has been named the 2017 recipient of the FORD C. FRICK Award for excellence in broadcasting from the BASEBALL HALL OF FAME.

KING, known for his handlebar mustache and goatee, his call of "Holy Toledo!," and his eclectic, intellectual tastes in culture and life, started in radio in the military while stationed in GUAM in WORLD WAR II, recreating ballgames for the local ARMED FORCES RADIO NETWORK station.  He handled minor league baseball and high school football and basketball before becoming play-by-play voice at BRADLEY UNIVERSITY and the UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. 

Moving to the BAY AREA in 1958 and briefly a member of the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS' broadcasting crew, he was named the play-by-play voice of the SAN FRANCISCO WARRIORS when the NBA franchise (later and presently the GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS) moved to the city from PHILADELPHIA for the 1962-63 season.  KING served as the radio voice of the OAKLAND A'S in 1981-2005 and also called OAKLAND/LOS ANGELES RAIDERS football in 1983-92.  He passed away in 2005 at the age of 78.

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