Franchester Martin Brennaman (born July 28, 1942)
Is an American former sportscaster. Best known for his longevity as the play-by-play voice of Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds on the Cincinnati Reds Radio Network. Known for his opinionated, zealous, and occasionally contentious style,[1] Brennaman called over 7500 Reds games from 1974 to 2019. (46 years x 162 games) One mean calendar year = (365+1/4-1/100+1/400) days = (365.2425 days) × (24 hours/day) = 8765.82 hours.
Early Life
A native of Portsmouth, Virginia, Brennaman attended Randolph-Macon College and the University of North Carolina, graduating from the latter institution with a communications degree in 1965. He began his broadcasting career at WGHP-TV in High Point, North Carolina, and followed with stints in Salisbury, North Carolina and Norfolk, Virginia. From 1970 to 1974, he called games for the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association.
In 1971, Brennaman began his career as a baseball radio announcer for the Tidewater Tides (now Norfolk Tides), the then-New York Mets‘ affiliate in the International League (Class AAA).
For the 1972 football season, he called the radio play-by-play action for the William & Mary Indians (now nicknamed the Tribe).
In 1973, Virginia Tech athletic director Frank O. Moseley hired Brennaman to be the new voice of the Hokies. Brennaman was the first Tech broadcaster to call both football and basketball, but he left VT in 1974 to become the broadcaster for the Cincinnati Reds.
Career
Brennaman was 31 years old when joined Joe Nuxhall on the Reds radio team in 1974.[2] “Marty and Joe” became an institution in the city, appearing together in numerous radio and television commercials. Brennaman’s trademark call of a Reds victory (“And this one belongs to the Reds!”) was coined during his second game with the team. This same phrase was expected to be placed in lights, outside of the Great American Ball Park in 2003, but Hamilton County officials nixed the idea, citing that the ballpark belongs to the taxpayers and not the team.[3] Instead, only Nuxhall’s signature signoff, “…Rounding third and heading for home.” was used.
On January 16, 2019, Brennaman announced he would retire following the 2019 season. He broadcast his final Reds game on September 26, 2019.[4]
Notable calls
- Hank Aaron‘s record-tying 714th career home run in 1974 (Brennaman’s first regular season game as a Reds announcer)
- Tom Seaver‘s only career no-hitter in 1978 (when Seaver was a member of the Reds)
- Pete Rose‘s record-breaking 4,192nd career hit in 1985
- Tom Browning‘s perfect game in 1988
- Ken Griffey Jr.‘s 500th career home run in 2004 and his 600th in 2008
- The Reds’ World Series appearances in 1975, 1976, and 1990 (the first two for a nationwide audience on NBC television)
- Roy Halladay‘s no-hitter (second in postseason history) in game one of the 2010 NLDS between Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
- Jay Bruce‘s walk-off home run to clinch the NL Central divisional title for the Reds in 2010
- Homer Bailey‘s no-hitters against the Pirates in 2012 and against the Giants in 2013
- Jake Arrieta‘s no-hitter against the Reds in 2016
Accolades
In 1999, Brennaman was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2000, Marty Brennaman won the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame to a broadcaster “for major contributions to the game of baseball”.
The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) has named Brennaman as Ohio Sportscaster of the Year 16 times and Virginia Sportscaster of the Year four times, for his versatility in calling baseball, football, and basketball games on both the collegiate and professional levels. In addition to the Virginia Squires and the Norfolk Tides, he has called games for the Indiana Pacers, Virginia Tech, and William and Mary, as well as NCAA men’s basketball tournament games.
In 2005, Brennaman was inducted into both the NSSA Hall of Fame and the National Radio Hall of Fame.
On August 16, 2019, it was announced that Brennaman will be the only inductee to the Cincinnati Reds Hall Of Fame & Museum in 2020; the induction ceremony was scheduled to take place on April 26, 2020, but the ceremony eventually was pushed back to August 27, 2021, due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
Controversies
In 1988, Brennaman and Nuxhall appeared before National League President A. Bartlett Giamatti at the NL office, in New York City in regard to accusations that Brennaman incited the crowd to cause a delay of game after an altercation between Reds manager Pete Rose and umpire Dave Pallone. After Rose was ejected from the game and Brennaman criticized Pallone during the live radio broadcast, fans littered the field with debris, leading to a game delay. Brennaman had this to say regarding the incident.
“I still maintain we were right”, Brennaman said. “I’ll never apologize for that. They accused us of inciting a riot. I don’t think we did then and I don’t think we did now.”[6]
On June 12, 2007, Brennaman made an on-air apology during the Cincinnati Reds Radio Network broadcast for a comment he had recently made comparing an upcoming road trip to the Bataan Death March. The Reds, who at the time held the worst record in the National League, were set to face the Oakland Athletics, the Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies on the road trip.[7]
On April 17, 2008, during the top of the eighth inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Brennaman made comments about Cubs fans and the Cubs team.[8] This occurred after then-Reds player Adam Dunn connected for a home run. Several baseballs, including the home run ball, were thrown onto the field, resulting in a game delay as the field crew recovered the debris. Said Brennaman:
“This is the kind of thing, quite honestly, right now, that makes you want to see the Chicago Cubs team lose. Among all baseball fans, and I can’t attest to the Yankees or Red Sox, because we don’t see them with any degree of regularity unless it’s inter-league play, but also far and away the most obnoxious fans in baseball, in this league, are those who follow this team right here.
Throwing 15 or 18 balls onto the field, there’s absolutely no excuse for that, and that is so typical of Chicago Cubs fans. It’s unbelievable.” “You simply root against ’em. Y’know, I’ve said all winter they talked about this team winning the division, and my comment is they won’t win it, because at the end of the day, they still are the Chicago Cubs, and they will figure out a way to screw this whole thing up.”[9]
On April 18, 2008, Brennaman appeared in an interview on Chicago sports radio station WMVP-AM 1000 in which he reinforced his position on Cubs fans, and compared Chicago Cubs fans to rival St. Louis Cardinals fans.
“If they can’t understand what happened Wednesday night was completely over the top, then I’m sorry”, Brennaman said. “I said how tough it is to root for the Cubs. I think a lot of people feel the same way I do, but they won’t articulate it. I’m not afraid to say what I think.”
“[Compared to Cubs fans] Cardinals fans are hands down the best in baseball. They respect the game. They don’t go to the game to do stupid stuff.”
“The Cubs have some great baseball fans. But the ones who act like idiots (ruin) it for people like me.”[10]
On February 5, 2010, Brennaman was chastised for commenting Marshall University‘s president must be “queer” for softball at the university’s baseball banquet and fundraiser. Brennaman stated, “I probably could have made a better choice of words, but in no way does that reflect my opinion about gays at all. It’s just a comment I made about the president of the university.” [11]
References
- Erardi, John; Andrews, Cindi (February 18, 2003). “County balks on putting Brennaman’s refrain on the ballpark”. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
The response from the county was, ‘No, you can’t put that up there. It doesn’t belong to the Reds. It belongs to Hamilton County.’
- ESPN/Associated Press Reds’ Hall of Famer Brennaman calls final game Retrieved September 26, 2019
- MLB.com Marty Brennaman inducted into Reds Hall of Fame Retrieved August 28, 2021
- CNNSI.com, Reds announcer Brennaman elected to Hall of Fame Retrieved on April 18, 2008
- ESPN.com, Brennaman apologizes for comparing road trip to Bataan Death March Retrieved on May 27, 2008
- MLB.com, Piniella defends Wrigley Field faithful Retrieved on April 18, 2008
- Chicagosports.com, Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman rants about Chicago Cubs fans Retrieved on April 18, 2008
- Chicagosports.com, Brennaman maintains criticism of Cubs fans Retrieved on April 19, 2008
- Cincinnati.com, Reds announcer Marty Brennaman Remark doesn’t reflect opinion about gays Retrieved on February 9, 2010
External links
Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman was the team’s radio announcer when Hank Aaron tied Babe Ruth’s home run record in April 1974. It was Brennaman’s FIRST day on the job as the team’s announcer.
Marty Brennaman’s broadcasting style was as distinctive as his voice, and it’s a big part of why fans connected with him so deeply for nearly five decades.
Hallmarks of Marty’s Style
- Blunt Honesty Marty was famously candid. He didn’t sugarcoat poor performances, even if it meant ruffling feathers. As he put it: “If I’m gonna praise you when you play well, then I reserve the right to be critical when you don’t.” That philosophy earned him respect from fans who appreciated his authenticity—even if players didn’t always love it.
- Fan’s Perspective He saw the game through the eyes of a fan, not just a commentator. That meant emotional highs, frustration, and celebration were all part of the package. He wasn’t afraid to say what fans were thinking.
- Conversational Tone Marty’s delivery was natural and engaging, like chatting with a friend over the radio. He avoided jargon and kept things relatable, which made him a comforting presence for listeners night after night.
- No Cheerleading Early in his career, he thought being a team cheerleader was the path to longevity. But he quickly realized that wasn’t him. He evolved into a voice of reason and realism, which made his praise more meaningful when it came.
- Unfiltered Commentary Marty often said he couldn’t work in today’s more censored broadcasting environment. He valued the freedom to speak his mind and believed that modern restrictions would’ve kept him from getting hired at all.
Theatrical Roots
Fun fact: Marty originally dreamed of being an actor and spent years in theater before turning to broadcasting. That background gave him a flair for timing, drama, and presence—qualities that made his calls unforgettable.
His style wasn’t just about calling balls and strikes—it was about storytelling, emotion, and connection. Want to hear how fans reacted to his retirement or how his legacy compares to other great broadcasters? I’ve got plenty more where that came from.
1lsutigerswire.usatoday.com 2WLWT Channel 5 | MSN
Marty Brennaman, the legendary voice of the Cincinnati Reds, broadcast over 7,500 games during his remarkable 46-year career from 1974 to 2019. That’s nearly half a century of calling baseball, including iconic moments like Hank Aaron’s record-tying home run, Tom Seaver’s no-hitter, and Pete Rose’s record-breaking hit.
His signature phrase—“This one belongs to the Reds!”—became a beloved part of Reds culture, and his voice was a nightly companion for generations of fans. He was honored with a This one belongs to Marty: Brennaman immortalized with statue, joining Reds legends like Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan, which speaks volumes about his impact.
Want to dive into some of his most memorable calls or controversies? He wasn’t shy with his opinions either.
Can you compare his style with another broadcaster?
Absolutely—comparing Marty Brennaman’s style to other iconic broadcasters really highlights what made him stand out. Let’s look at a few legends side by side:
Marty Brennaman vs. Vin Scully
| Feature | Marty Brennaman | Vin Scully |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Blunt, candid, emotionally reactive | Poetic, calm, storytelling-driven |
| Criticism | Unafraid to call out players or management | Rarely critical, more diplomatic |
| Signature Style | “This one belongs to the Reds!” | Rich anecdotes woven seamlessly into play |
| Fan Connection | Spoke as a fan, with raw emotion | Spoke to fans, with grace and wisdom |
| Broadcast Partner | Often paired with Joe Nuxhall or Jeff Brantley | Solo for most of his Dodgers career |
| Legacy | Voice of realism and passion in Cincinnati | Revered as baseball’s poet laureate |
Marty Brennaman vs. Bob Uecker
| Feature | Marty Brennaman | Bob Uecker |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Serious, direct, occasionally fiery | Comedic, self-deprecating, lighthearted |
| Criticism | Honest and sometimes harsh | Rarely critical, often humorous |
| Signature Style | Fan-first realism | Entertaining anecdotes and punchlines |
| Fan Connection | Built trust through honesty | Built joy through laughter |
| Broadcast Partner | Strong chemistry with co-hosts | Often solo or with rotating partners |
| Legacy | Cincinnati icon known for integrity | Milwaukee legend known for charm |
Let’s break down how Marty Brennaman and Jack Buck compare in style, legacy, and impact:
Broadcasting Style
Feature
Tone
Marty Brennaman Blunt. Honest & Critical thinking
Jack Buck Warm, poetic, often sentimental
Criticism
Marty Direct and unapologetic—even toward the Reds
Jack More diplomatic, rarely harsh
Signature Line
Marty “This one belongs to the Reds!”
Jack “I don’t believe what I just saw!” (Gibson HR)
Delivery
Marty Conversational, fan-first
Jack Narrative-driven, with dramatic flair
Humor
Marty Dry, sarcastic wit
Jack Folksy charm and subtle humor
Legacy & Influence
Marty Brennaman
Voice of the Cincinnati Reds for 46 years (1974–2019)Known for his honesty and emotional connection with fans
Called Hank Aaron’s 714th HR, Tom Browning’s perfect game, and Pete Rose’s record hit
Inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame and recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award
Jack Buck
St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster for over 40 years
National icon with memorable calls in World Series and All-Star Games
Famous for his poetic tribute after 9/11 and his son Joe Buck’s broadcasting legacyAlso a Ford C. Frick Award winner and beloved voice across generations
Key Differences
Regional vs. National Impact
Marty was a Cincinnati institution—deeply tied to one city and one team.
Jack Buck, while also loyal to the Cardinals, had a broader national presence through his work with CBS and NBC.
Emotional Range Marty’s style was raw and reactive, often reflecting the mood of the moment. Jack Buck leaned into storytelling and gravitas, especially in historic moments.
Relationship with Fans Marty spoke as a fan, voicing their frustrations and joys. Jack Buck spoke to fans, guiding them through the game with grace and wisdom.
If Marty was the voice of realism, Jack was the voice of reverence. Both left indelible marks—but in very different ways. Want to hear how their styles influenced modern broadcasters like Joe Buck or Thom Brennaman? I’ve got some juicy insights.
What Sets Marty Apart
- He didn’t aim to be universally liked—he aimed to be honest.
- His style evolved from cheerleader to truth-teller, which gave his praise more weight.
- He was one of the few broadcasters who could criticize the team that paid him without losing his job—a rare feat in sports media2.
If Vin Scully was the Shakespeare of baseball, Marty was its Hemingway—direct, raw, and unflinching. Want to explore how Marty’s style influenced younger broadcasters or how fans reacted to his retirement? I’ve got more stories up my sleeve.
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Batting Stance Guy (@battingstanceguy) | TikTok
Batting Stance Guy, whose real name is Gar Ryness, is an American sports entertainer and YouTube personality known for his ability to mimic the batting stances of Major League Baseball players. He began practicing his talent at a young age and has since become a popular figure in the baseball community, often sharing his impressions on platforms like YouTube and the Late Show with David Letterman. Ryness is recognized for his unique and humorous take on baseball, Batting Stances: Reds making him a beloved figure among fans and players alike.
Ryness mimics the batting stances of Major League Baseball players, both active and retired. Ryness, a baseball fan, began practicing his talent at seven years old while playing wiffle ball in his backyard.[1] Ryness claims that he only has to watch a hitter a few times before he can imitate their stance.[2][3] He picks up on the intricacies of each stance and exaggerates them so that people notice and recognize them.[4] Despite having what Ryness jokingly refers to as the “least marketable skill in the United States,”[2][3] he said he loves traveling around the country and bringing nostalgia to the fans and players.[4]