Herb Carneal

Who was Herb Carneal?

Herb Carneal was an American Major League Baseball sportscaster. From 1962 through 2006, he was a play-by-play voice of Minnesota Twins radio broadcasts, becoming the lead announcer in 1967 after Ray Scott left to work exclusively with CBS. Prior to 1962, he was the voice of the Baltimore Orioles, partnering with Ernie Harwell from 1957 to 1959, and with Bob Murphy in 1960-1961. His mellow baritone voice and laid-back demeanor were well loved by Twins fans. His enduring nickname was The Voice of the Twins. Carneal's trademark greeting, "Hi everybody," was reminiscent of his down-home style.

A Richmond, Virginia native, Carneal first broadcast major league games for the Philadelphia Athletics and Philadelphia Phillies in 1954. From 1957 to 1961 he was employed by the Baltimore Orioles. He also called games on CBS television for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League in the team's first four years of existence, and AFL games on NBC in 1965.

Carneal's announcing career received a significant boost when he took over the Twins broadcasts, as it united him with legendary broadcaster Halsey Hall, after whom many major league broadcasters have modeled their work.