A broadcasting legend, Marty Brennaman called his final game for the Cincinnati Reds last Thursday, retiring after 46 seasons as their play-by-play voice. Replacing Brennaman in the radio booth for the 2020 season will be Tommy Thrall.
Thrall was informed of the decision last Thursday, but he never expected Brennaman to mention it on-air amid all the celebrations for his final day as the Reds radio voice. Brennaman wanted his last game with the Reds to be a home game, which is why he concluded his 46-year tenure with the team on Thursday.
“As big of a deal as that was for Marty (Thursday), it was an incredible day for him, I didn’t even dream my name would even be brought up,” Thrall told Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “As far as Marty is concerned in his career, I feel like I’m insignificant for him in the grand picture of everything that he’s accomplished. There are so many people that have been around him longer. It was pretty crazy. Hard to wrap your head around it.”
Thrall joined the Reds radio team for the 2019 season, with many people viewing him as the leading candidate to succeed Brennaman. Thrall was added as the team’s pre and postgame host, also working as a fill-in play-by-play announcer. Prior to joining the Reds radio team in 2019, Thrall served as the play-by-play voice of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. The Blue Wahoos were the Reds Double-A affiliate for the last decade, but entered a two-year deal with the Minnesota Twins beginning in 2019.
“You don’t replace somebody like Marty Brennaman,” Thrall told Nightengale. “You may follow him. You may be the next guy. But you can’t replace him. He is going to be synonymous with this organization forever. The sheer volume of iconic calls and moments that he’s been a part of and he’s voiced, those moments live on with the team forever.
“All you can do is show up and do the best job you can do day in and day out. Be the best version of yourself and see where that leads.”
Thrall will partner with Jeff Brantley in the booth, who remains the lead analyst for the Cincinnati Reds Radio Network. Brantley, a former MLB All-Star and Reds reliever, joined their radio team in 2007.
“To have somebody like Jeff that is comforting and uplifting like he is, he is always very positive and encouraging, extremely helpful, kind of helps show you the ropes on the road a little bit,” Thrall said. “On the air, as a broadcast partner, as good as they come. It’s invaluable really. You can’t put into words how important that is.”
Thrall’s predecessor, the 77-year old Marty Brennaman will be the sole inductee for the class of 2020 into the Reds Hall of Fame which will take place with an on-field ceremony Saturday, April 25, prior to a home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Marty Brennaman joined the Reds radio booth in 1974 replacing Al Michaels, having never called a Major League Baseball game when he was hired, launching a 46-year Hall-of-Fame career.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
