Longtime Baltimore Orioles Radio Announcer Fred Manfra Calls Last Game
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Longtime Baltimore Orioles radio announcer Fred Manfra called his last game Sunday, bringing an end to a 25-year run with the Orioles.
After 25 years with the Orioles Radio Network, Manfra retired from broadcasting.
The East Baltimore native and Patterson High School graduate joined Orioles Radio broadcasts in 1993.
In his 48-year broadcasting career, Manfra has covered NBA Finals and NBA All-Star Games, the Olympics, NHL Stanley Cup Finals and All-Star Games, the Breeder's Cup, and Triple Crown races, among other marquee events.
"More emotional than I thought it would be when I was driving over from the hotel to the ball park, so many thoughts just washing through my mind," he said. "For a guy who wanted to play for the Orioles or broadcast for the orioles, I lived my dream."
Manfra and his wife will be moving to Tampa, Florida to be closer to their daughter, her husband and their grandchildren.
Manfra, however, had trouble maintaining the team's grueling schedule after two hip replacement surgeries in 2014 and a back surgery, according to the Baltimore Sun. He expects to need two knee replacements in the future but plans to attend Orioles games when they travel to Tampa.
"As I walked through the ballpark, so many people wishing me well, how much they enjoyed the broadcast over the years, and it really shows you how you touch people by being part of their life on the radio."
MASN broadcaster Jim Hunter will play a large role in filling Manfra's spot.
Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook