Herb Carneal

Inducted 2004

If baseball is America’s greatest pastime, then Herb Carneal is its ambassador emeritus throughout the Midwest. For more than four decades, Carneal has been the radio broadcast voice of the Minnesota Twins on WCCO and the Twins Radio Network.

Early tapes of Carneal play-by-play broadcasts reveal a surprisingly familiar style. His broadcasts are free of gimmicks; just clear, straightforward and accurate descriptions laced with a wealth of accessible baseball knowledge from a man who lives and breathes the game. And, in a sport whose action ebbs and flows, Carneal is not afraid to be silent. Yet during key plays, his excitement is contagious and credible, and remarkably free from controversy, which has earned him the respect––and access––to players and coaches throughout Major League Baseball. Prior to coming to the Twins radio booth in 1962, Carneal spent five seasons broadcasting Baltimore Orioles baseball, mentored by the legendary Ernie Harwell. In 1996, in recognition of his exemplary baseball broadcasting career, Carneal received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Herb Carneal passed away at the age of 83, on April 1, 2007.