Have Microphone, Will Travel: The Broadcasting Odyssey of Rich Waltz

Spokane, Wash. - Rich Waltz accomplished what most young ballplayers can only dream of – reaching the big leagues. He just always imagined he would be holding a bat on the field instead of a microphone in the booth. A talented middle infielder at UC Davis, Waltz helped lead the Aggies to back-to-back Far Western Conference baseball titles in 1984 and 1985 but realized his days as a player were likely numbered.

Waltz didn’t waste any time crafting an alternate route to the majors, becoming the sports director of UC Davis' student station KDVS 90.3 FM and calling football and basketball before graduating in 1986. Even though Waltz had never seen a hockey game live before, his first broadcasting job after college came with the Spokane Chiefs. This also gave Waltz the opportunity to hop in the booth for the Spokane Indians, where he could call games through the 1988 season – capped off by Mike Humphreys' dramatic steal of home to win the Northwest Championship in Waltz’s final game with the team.

He earned a promotion to Double-A with Wichita and then Triple-A with Las Vegas before calling his first MLB game in 1994. Waltz covered various sports with ESPN for the next decade before landing a permanent gig as a TV announcer with the Marlins in 2005, where he was paired up with fellow Indians alum Tommy Hutton in the broadcast booth for over a decade. Waltz’s time with the Marlins included Roy Halladay’s perfect game, Ichiro’s 3,000^th MLB hit, Jose Fernandez’s final start (and the emotional game that followed his passing), and Giancarlo Stanton’s 59 home run season in 2017.

In addition to his well-known work in MLB and NCAA football and basketball, Waltz has also done play-by-play for the World Baseball Classic, Major League Soccer, ATP/WTA events on the Tennis Channel, NFL Europe, Arena Football, and Little League World Series.

We recently caught up with the three-time Emmy winner to discuss his start in Spokane, the nuances of calling different sports, and favorite memories from his career.

You grew up in the Bay Area and attended UC-Davis - how did you end up in Spokane? What were your impressions of the Northwest? I played college baseball at UC Davis; I was a good college infielder but not a prospect. I was going to go to law school but I had a burning desire to get to the Major Leagues. As well, I felt I wanted to have fun at making a living. Being a play-by-play announcer seemed like fun so naively I jumped into it. I didn’t realize how long the odds were, and that probably worked in my favor. I spent four months calling and knocking on every door, and all I heard was “We have someone who’s been our voice for 25 years…” Finally, I happened upon Bob Hamacher who had a company called Impact Sports. He ran it with Paul Sorensen and they had acquired the radio rights to Washington State, Gonzaga, Eastern Washington, and other teams. They had just signed a deal with the Spokane Chiefs Hockey Club and Bob asked me if I could do hockey. Of course, I said yes. When Bob found out I’d never seen a hockey game live he was angry. But as I pointed out his question was, “Can you do hockey?” Not “Have you done hockey?” During that first hockey season they also signed the Spokane Indians to a deal, which meant I got to call baseball. Soon I added EWU Football and Hoops to the Indians and Chiefs. It was a perfect place for me to get better, very much like graduate school. I spent two seasons with the Indians before I moved to AA in Wichita and then AAA in Las Vegas.

How did you spend your time off in Spokane? Any favorite spots in town, restaurants, hikes, etc?

I didn’t have a lot of time off, but I enjoyed Spokane. We often would hit the Mustard Seed or the Onion after games. I loved running around the South Hill, and did hit the ski slopes a bit.

Best memory from your time in Spokane? Have you been back since?

Just getting to do everything there…I called some Gonzaga games on TV, did the GSL Game of the Week from Joe Albi on KAYU. I mean the best part was I sucked at the start but was given the opportunity on a near nightly basis to get better. I was on the East Coast for a long time, but since I’ve been back in the Northwest, I’ve called some Gonzaga games for CBS.

Do you remember your call of Mike Humphreys’ steal of home to win the NWL Championship in 1988? What was going through your mind as the play unfolded? Impossible to forget that moment. I had an idea he was going to try it, so I think I was on top of the call. I’d stolen home in college and high school and just watching the pitcher’s wind up and Mike’s lead triggered something in me. When manager Steve Lubratich whispered in his ear I was sure he was going to go. It still was quite stunning; what a way to win a title. I remember dancing on the dugout and in the stadium with players and staff late into the morning. Thank God they didn’t have cell phones then, because I’m not sure we were fully clothed.

Do you stay in touch with anyone from your time here?

Tom and Jan Leip were so good to me; Tom was the Indians GM and he had a huge hand in this franchise’s success. They fed me, encouraged me, and I would not have made it without them. Tom sadly passed last year, but I just saw Jan in Portland this Winter. I am always tickled when Bobby Brett would text me stuff like “Hey watching your game.” He was great to work for. Bob Hamacher followed my career and we would text when he saw me. I had dinner with him last year before a Gonzaga game two years ago; we lost him last year.

You worked for a long time with another Spokane Indians alum – Tommy Hutton – during your time with the Marlins. Did the two of you ever discuss your time in Spokane? Oh yeah…Spokane comes up a lot. I think he spent a whole season living in the Davenport so when I’m there for a Gonzaga game I send him pics. He played on the Greatest Minor League Team in history. I mean he dominated the Coast League….Garvey, Valentine, Hutton, Buckner, Russell, Hough, Lopes, Paciorek…Tommy Lasorda managing…I’m sure I’m missing a few other major leaguers. Hut is such a great partner and friend; he has made me a better announcer and a better person.

Favorite big league ballpark to visit? Favorite country you’ve visited as a broadcaster?

The first time calling games in parks like Fenway, Wrigley, old Yankee Stadium, or Dodger Stadium is pretty special. Having climbed from my start in Spokane helps me really appreciate all the ballparks and venues. There is something about calling a game in places that you only knew as a kid watching on TV; Notre Dame Stadium, Pauley Pavilion, Cameron Indoor, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, LA Coliseum, The Horseshoe, Big House, Mac Court, and many more. Modern MLB favorites are probably San Diego, Pittsburgh, Philly, and SF. And it never gets old; this January I called a game at Allen Fieldhouse on CBS and I was giddy the whole game. This career has taken me to some amazing places. I had a couple tours with NFL Europe for Fox; Barcelona, Berlin, and Amsterdam beats Kamloops, Moose Jaw, and Medicine Hat. Two of the World Baseball Classics I’ve called were in Japan; both Tokyo and Fukuoka. If you are a baseball fan I would highly recommend going to watch baseball in Japan. It is really incredible.

You’ve called baseball, football, basketball, hockey (with the Spokane Chiefs), and tennis – what is your favorite sport to call and why? Which is the most difficult?

Hockey is tough, and I was lucky that it’s the very first thing I mastered. Each sport challenges you in different ways. I like the fact that I get to do different sports, and when I was coming up I did literally every sport. Baseball demands play-by-play woven into conversation. Basketball is so fluid. Football is more structured but there’s a hell of a lot going on. Tennis forces you to be succinct and quiet. Soccer was like hockey in slow motion for me. I played football and basketball in HS too, so at the end of baseball season I can’t wait for football, in November I’m excited for hoops, and come April I’m ready for baseball.

What is the most memorable moment from your career? A single play? A game? A season?

There are a lot. My first MLB game; Baltimore at Seattle in 1994 for Mariner’s TV and radio. All of those first times were impactful to me. First ESPN-ABC CFB games, first Fox Saturday MLB, first CBS College Football & Basketball games. All of those moments remind me of the people that have helped me, shaped me, and taught me. I’ve been lucky to call six MLB No-hitters, including Roy Halladay’s perfect game. Ichiro’s 3,000th hit was special because I was with him when he started in Seattle. Jose Fernandez final start and the game after his death are memorable but in a haunting way. I’ve had a ton of amazing CFB games and finishes. Stanton’s 59 home run season was a great ride, none of his 59 were cheapies. The Netherlands upset of The Dominican Republic in the 09 WBC is still the most amazing upset I’ve ever called. The Dominican’s had a MLB roster filled with Hall of Famers and All-Stars and The Netherlands had some minor leaguers, a couple of big leaguers, and some guys who played in the Dutch League. The Dutch beat them TWICE. I can still hear my partner Jim Kaat shouting, “If you ain’t Dutch, you ain’t much!” One of the coolest moments for me was one of my first national TV MLB games. It was Mets at Diamondbacks on the FX Game of the Week. It was special because my analyst was Ken Brett. It brought my start in Spokane full circle because I’d worked for the Brett Brothers, and here I was calling a national game with Kemer. I got to call a Djokovic-Federer match on Tennis Channel, and I filled in and called an NHL game on ESPN. The two Wooden Classics I called were awesome because I got to spend the part of the day with John Wooden. Really, every time I walk into a Ballpark, Stadium, or Arena (even if it isn’t a great game) I look around and marvel that I’m getting paid to come to this game. Riding the buses around the NW League and WHL helped give me that perspective.

Did you always plan on a career in broadcasting?

Nope. I was planning on playing shortstop for the Oakland A’s, but when that didn’t happen, I decided to try to get to MLB anyway I could. Broadcasting didn’t dawn on me until I was around 22.

Any advice you would give to aspiring broadcasters?

Yes. Do any sport or fill any role you can. Getting on the air and getting experience is the most important thing you can do. It’s like riding a bike. You can take a class, watch a video, or listen to a lecture about riding a bike, but until you fall on your butt many times and then finally stay up…you don’t know how to ride a bike. Same with broadcasting. You are going to crash and burn, but that’s good. Don’t be afraid of failure. Just make sure you are getting better with each rep. It’s all you can control. Are you getting better.

Anything else you would like to say to the fans in Spokane?

Yes. Thank you. Thank you for letting me fail and get better. Thank you for pushing me forward.

ABOUT THE SPOKANE INDIANS

The Spokane Indians are the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies located in Spokane, Washington, and were named 2021 MiLB Organization of the Year. Avista Stadium is home to the MultiCare Kids Bench Seat. Parking at all Spokane Indians games is FREE. The Spokane Indians Office and Team Store hours are 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM on Monday through Thursday and 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM on Fridays. On game days, the Office and Team Store are open from 10:00 AM through the end of the game.