The following is a list of Detroit Tigers broadcasters, past and present:
Radio
Current
The current flagship radio station for the Tigers is WXYT-FM, at 97.1 FM.Detroit Tigers Radio Affiliates Dan Dickerson calls play-by-play.Detroit Tigers Broadcasters' Biographies Bobby Scales and Andy Dirks rotate as the primary color analysts as of the 2024 season. The games are available online as well via Audacy. If a scheduling conflict occurs, WWJ is a substitute for its sister station.
Former flagships WJR was the Tigers' radio flagship from 1964 to 2000. Other former Tigers flagships include WXYT (currently known as "The Bet Detroit") and WKMH (currently known as WDTW).
Former radio announcers Ty Tyson (1927–1942, 1951) Harry Heilmann (1934–1950) Paul Williams (1951) Van Patrick (1952–1959) Dizzy Trout (1953–1955) Mel Ott (1956–1958) George Kell (1959–1963) Ernie Harwell (1960–1991, 1993, 1999–2002) Bob Scheffing (1964) Gene Osborn (1965–1966) Ray Lane (1967–1972) Paul Carey (1973–1991) Rick Rizzs (1992–1994) Bob Rathbun (1992–1994) Frank Beckmann (1995–1998) Lary Sorensen (1995–1998) Jim Price (1998–2023) Al Kaline (2009, substitute analyst for select road games) John Keating (2009, substitute analyst for select road games) Dan Petry (2012, 2019, 2021–2022, substitute analyst for select games) Ken Kal (2013, 2016, 2018, substitute play-by-play for select games) Dan Hasty (2018–2025, alternate play-by-play) Austin Jackson (2021–2022, substitute analyst for select road games) Craig Monroe (2021–2023, substitute analyst for select road games) Alex Avila (2022, substitute analyst for select road games) Doug Fister (2022, substitute analyst for road doubleheader)
Broadcasters by year
2020s YearFlagship stationsPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary2024WXYT-FMDan Dickerson (primary) Greg Gania (substitute)Andy Dirks (home) Bobby Scales (away)2023Dan DickersonJim Price202220212020
2010s YearFlagship stationsPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary2019WXYT-FMDan DickersonJim Price201820172016201520142013201220112010
2000s YearFlagship stationsPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary2009WXYT-FMDan DickersonJim Price20082007WXYT20062005200420032002Ernie Harwell Dan DickersonJim Price20012000WJR
1990s YearFlagship stationsPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play1999WJRErnie Harwell Jim Price1998Frank Beckmann Lary Sorensen (April–June) Jim Price (June–September)1997Lary Sorensen199619951994Rick Rizzs Bob Rathbun1993Rick Rizzs Ernie Harwell1992Rick Rizzs 1991Ernie Harwell Paul Carey1990
1980s YearFlagship stationsPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play1989WJRErnie Harwell Paul Carey198819871986198519841983198219811980
1970s YearFlagship stationsPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play1979WJRErnie Harwell Paul Carey1978197719761975197419731972Ray Lane19711970
1960s YearFlagship stationsPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play1969WJRErnie Harwell Ray Lane196819671966Gene Osborn19651964Bob Scheffing1963WKMHGeorge KellErnie Harwell196219611960
1950s YearFlagship stationsPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play1959WKMHVan Patrick George Kell1958Mel Ott195719561955Dizzy Trout1954195319521951WXYZTy Tyson Paul Williams1950Harry Heilmann
Television
Current
The television rights are currently held by Detroit SportsNet after Bally Sports Detroit (formerly Fox Sports Detroit) closed shop at the end of the 2025-26 NBA season. Jason Benetti serves as the primary play-by-play announcer beginning in 2024, while Andy Dirks and Dan Petry rotate as primary analysts.
Pre-game and post-game show hosts and reporters include John Keating, Mickey York, Trevor Thompson, Justin White, Cameron Maybin, and Johnny Kane, while Dan Petry provides studio analysis.
Former TV outlets
The Tigers have spent most of their broadcast televised history across two of Detroit's heritage "Big Three" network stations, WJBK (Channel 2, Fox; formerly with CBS from 1948 to 1994) and WDIV (Channel 4, NBC; originally WWJ-TV from 1947 to 1978), as well as two of the market's former legacy independent stations, WMYD (Channel 20, formerly WXON-TV and WDWB) and WKBD (Channel 50). Channel 4 was the original Tiger television outlet, carrying games from 1947 to 1952, and again for a twenty-season run from 1975 to 1994. Channel 4, at least during a time when NBC's ratings were sagging during the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, was one of a handful of the network's affiliates that was either a primary outlet or an affiliate of the local/regional baseball team.
Significant in the Tiger broadcasting network were television stations owned by Tigers' owner John Fetzer, including WKZO-TV (now WWMT) in Kalamazoo, WLNS in Lansing, WJRT in Flint, WWTV and WWUP-TV in northern Michigan, and even some television stations in Nebraska, namely KOLN-TV in Lincoln and its satellite in Grand Island, Nebraska.
WJBK took over the Tigers telecasts starting with the 1953 season, and carried games until the end of the 1974 season; since 2007, the station simulcasts the team's home opener each season from Fox Sports Detroit. WKBD, for many years known as Detroit's leading independent TV station, as well as the longtime over-the-air TV home of the Red Wings and Pistons, televised Tigers games starting in 1995 (when it was an UPN owned-and-operated station) until 2003. WMYD televised selected Tigers games only for the 2006 season, and as WXON-TV and the local affiliate of the ONTV subscription TV service, Channel 20 also showed the team's games from 1981 to 1983.
Pro-Am Sports System (PASS), originally started in 1982, became the regional cable outlet for the Tigers starting in 1984, after the network was purchased by then-Tigers team owner Tom Monaghan. Monaghan sold PASS to Post-Newsweek Stations (now Graham Media Group) in 1992, after he sold the Tigers to local pizza magnate and Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch. PASS, thereafter, re-located its operations to the WDIV studio/office facility in Downtown Detroit. PASS shut down operations in 1997, after the Red Wings, Tigers, and Pistons all elected to sign-with and helped launch Fox Sports Detroit.
Former TV announcers Ty Tyson (1947–1952) Harry Heilmann (1947–1950) Van Patrick (1953–1959) Dizzy Trout (1953–1955) Mel Ott (1956–1958) George Kell (1959–1963, 1965–1996) Ernie Harwell (1960–1964, 1994–1998) Bob Scheffing (1964) Ray Lane (1965–1966, 1999–2003) Larry Osterman (1967–1977, 1984–1992) Don Kremer (1975–1976) Al Kaline (1976–2001) Joe Pellegrino (1977–1978) Mike Barry (1978–1979) Larry Adderley (1981–1983) Hank Aguirre (1981–1983) Norm Cash (1981–1983) Bill Freehan (1984–1985) Jim Northrup (1985–1994) Jim Price (1993–1997) Fred McLeod (1995–1997) Josh Lewin (1998–2001) Frank Beckmann (1999–2003) Tom Paciorek (2000) Lance Parrish (2002) Mario Impemba (2002–2018) Rod Allen (2003–2018) Jack Morris (2015–2016, 2019–2022) Matt Shepard (2019–2023)
Broadcasters by year 2020s YearNetworkPlay-by-PlayColor CommentaryPre-Game Host2024Bally Sports DetroitJason BenettiDan DickersonCraig MonroeCarlos PeñaJohn Keating, Mickey York, Trevor Thompson, Justin White, Cameron Maybin, Dan Petry, Johnny Kane2023Matt ShepardCraig Monroe, Kirk Gibson, Austin Jackson, Dan Petry, Cameron Maybin, Todd JonesJohn Keating, Mickey York, Trevor Thompson, Johnny Kane, Natalie Kerwin, Dannie Rogers, Dan Petry, Cameron Maybin, Todd Jones2022Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris, Austin Jackson, Craig Monroe, Dan PetryJohn Keating, Mickey York, Trevor Thompson, Brooke Fletcher, Craig Monroe, Johnny Kane, Dan Petry2021Kirk GibsonJack MorrisJohn Keating, Mickey York, Trevor Thompson, Craig Monroe, Johnny Kane, Kristen Keith2020Fox Sports Detroit
2010s YearNetworkPlay-by-PlayColor CommentaryPre-Game Host2019Fox Sports Go Fox Sports DetroitMatt ShepardKirk Gibson, Jack MorrisJohn Keating, Mickey York, Trevor Thompson, Craig Monroe, Johnny Kane, Kristen Keith2018Mario Impemba Matt ShepardRod Allen (select games), Kirk Gibson (select games) John Keating, Mickey York, Trevor Thompson, Justin White, Craig Monroe, Johnny Kane, Kristen Keith2017Mario Impemba2016Rod Allen (select games), Kirk Gibson (select games), Jack Morris (select games)John Keating, Mickey York, Trevor Thompson, Justin White, Craig Monroe, Johnny Kane2015 Fox Sports DetroitJohn Keating, Mickey York, Trevor Thompson, Justin White, Craig Monroe2014Rod Allen2013John Keating, Mickey York, Ryan Field, Trevor Thompson, Justin White, Craig Monroe2012John Keating, Mickey York, Ryan Field, Trevor Thompson, Craig Monroe2011John Keating, Mickey York, Ryan Field, Trevor Thompson2010
2000s YearNetworkPlay-by-PlayColor CommentaryPre-Game Host2009Fox Sports Detroit Mario ImpembaRod AllenJohn Keating, Mickey York, Ryan Field, Trevor Thompson20082007Fox Sports Detroit WJBKJohn Keating None2006Fox Sports Detroit WMYD2005Fox Sports DetroitJohn Keating20042003Fox Sports Detroit WKBD-TVMario Impemba Frank BeckmannRod Allen Jack MorrisJohn Keating Ray Lane2002Kirk Gibson Lance Parrish2001Josh Lewin Frank BeckmannKirk Gibson Al Kaline2000Kirk Gibson, Tom Paciorek Al Kaline
1990s YearNetworkPlay-by-PlayColor CommentaryPre-Game Host1999Fox Sports Detroit WKBD-TVJosh Lewin Frank BeckmannKirk Gibson Al KalineJohn Keating Ray Lane1998Josh Lewin Ernie Harwell1997Ernie HarwellJim Price and Fred McLeod Al Kaline and Jim Price1996PASS Sports WKBD-TVErnie Harwell George KellJim Price and Fred McLeod Al Kaline19951994PASS Sports WDIV-TVJim Price and Jim Northrup Al KalineJohn Keating Van Earl Wright1993Jim Price George KellJim Northrup Al KalineJohn Keating Bernie Smilovitz1992Larry Osterman George KellPat Caputo Bernie Smilovitz19911990
1980s YearNetworkPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary1989PASS Sports WDIV-TVLarry Osterman George KellJim Northrup Al Kaline1988198719861985Bill Freehan and Jim Northrup Al Kaline1984Bill Freehan Al Kaline1983ONTV WDIV-TVLarry Adderley George KellNorm Cash and Hank Aguirre Al Kaline198219811980WDIV-TVGeorge KellAl Kaline
1970s YearNetworkPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play1979WDIV-TVGeorge KellAl Kaline and Mike Barry1978WWJ-TVAl Kaline, Joe Pellegrino and Mike Barry1977Larry Osterman, Al Kaline and Joe Pellegrino1976Larry Osterman, Don Kremer and Al Kaline1975Larry Osterman and Don Kremer1974WJBKLarry Osterman1973197219711970
1960s YearNetworkPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play1969WJBKGeorge KellLarry Osterman196819671966Ray Lane19651964Ernie HarwellBob Scheffing1963George KellErnie Harwell196219611960
1950s YearNetworkPlay-by-PlayColor Commentary/Secondary Play-by-Play1959WJBKVan PatrickGeorge Kell1958Mel Ott195719561955Dizzy Trout19541953WWJ-TV19521951Harry HeilmannTy Tyson1950
References
External links
Detroit Tigers history: all-time broadcasters