Broadcaster History

Shown here is the complete list of broadcasters the Texas Rangers have had since they moved here for the 1972 season..

Notes

• 2020 – Both CJ Nitkowski & Matt Hicks were tested positive for covid-19, and as such it threw off the broadcasting teams when they disappeared.  We had some substitutes on TV like David Murphy who were “promoted” from the FSSW team to substitute for CJ, also we got more Tom Grieve than usual at the end of the season.
• 2017 – CJ Nitkowski brought in as the primary #2, bumping Tom Grieve to #3, easing his workload as he ages (he’s been a broadcaster since 1995, a GM for 10 years before that, and a player into the 60’s).
• 2016 – The Rangers brought in Dave Raymond to replace Mark McLemore as the #3 guy.
• 2014 – Starting in 2014, Tom Grieve had it written into his contract that he would get several bits of vacation.  When he’s off the air, he’s replaced by Mark McLemore.  Mark also is a “third man” in the booth in an inning or two in the middle of games he’s not sitting in for Tom Grieve, so he’s there every game in some capacity.
• 2012 – The team started off with the same team that finished the 2011 season.  However, in June, Dave Barnett had an on air “mishap” on June 18th.  The official reason has never been disclosed, but some think he had a stroke.  Anyway, he was temporarily replaced on TV with Steve Busby from the radio, and Busby was replaced by Brian Dolgin from pre/post game.  However, in late June, they more permanently replaced the second radio broadcast with Matt Hicks, who was working for AA Frisco.  Whether this stays in place beyond 2012 is not yet known.
• 2011 – John Rhadigan started off the season as the new color guy, replacing Josh Lewin. However, he was fired on May 26th, and was replaced on May 27th with Dave Barnett.
• 2004/2005 – During some weekend games, Josh was off doing national broadcasts. During those games Bill Land subs for Josh Lewin.  This policy continued on until the end of 2010 with various radio guys subbing for Josh when he was away (Controneo, Rojas, Barnett, etc).  This then in turn prompted a sub on the radio side, which was usually the pre/post game person (Scott Franzke, Steve Busy, Brian Dolgin, etc).
• 2003 – Bill Land was the sub in 2003
• 2002 – During Josh’s national broadcasts, Vince Cotroneo filled in for Josh, and Scott Franzke filled in for Vince on the radio.
• 1997 – Bill Jones replaced Mark Holtz on May 23, 1997 due to Holtz’s illness that later took his life.
• From 1981 through 1995, there were different TV broadcast teams on the “regular” channels vs the cable broadcasts.  From 1996 onwards, that policy stopped.

Starting in 1996, the Rangers did away with the concept of a separate TV broadcast team for conventional TV broadcasts and Cable TV.  The TV broadcast was merged into one from that point.