FRED HICKMAN (YES Network)
"Fred Hickman is the studio anchor and host for YES Network. He will anchor the Yankees' hour-long pregame show and a postgame report. One of CNN Sports' originals, he co-anchored CNN Sports Tonight with Vince Cellini. He joined the CNN team in 1980.
Hickman previously anchored TBS Superstation's Wednesday night NBA Studio show in 1995; Turner Sports' coverage of the Good Will Games in 1986, 1990 and 1994; TNT's studio show for the 1994 Winter Olympics from Lillehammer, Norway; and the 1992 Winter Olympics- cable television's first Olympics.
Hickman began his career in 1977 at WLWW-AM in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he was a news anchor. He then moved to WFBM-AM in Springfield, Illinois. Before joining CNN, he was sports director and anchor at Springfield's television station, WICS. Hickman spent three years away from CNN from 1984-86 at WDIV-TV in Detroit as sports anchor. Hickman won Cable ACEs (Award for Cable Excellence) for Best Sports Host in 1993 and 1994 and was nominated in 1991 and 1992.
Hickman attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids and lives in Scarsdale, New York with his family."
2003 New York Yankees Information & Record Guide
JIM KAAT (YES Network)
"Former major league pitcher Jim Kaat is the Yankees game analyst for the YES Network and WCBS-TV. Kaat has established himself over the past 20 years as one of the most well respected analysts in the business.
In 1995, while at the MSG Network, Kaat was nominated for a New York Emmy Award in the 'On Camera Achievement' category. In 1996 and 1998 respectively, he was on the team that won New York Emmy Awards for 'Outstanding Live Sports Coverage- Single Program' for coverage of Dwight Gooden's no-hitter and David Wells' perfect game. In 1998, MSG's Yankee telecasts also won the New York Emmy for 'Outstanding Live Sports Coverage Series- Professional.'
Kaat also provided pregame insights on the 'Yankees Score Card,' a half-hour pregame show that aired prior to most MSG Network telecasts. In 1995, he also called the Yankees/Mariners playoff series for the Baseball Network and ABC Sports.
He previously spent one year as the chief analyst on ESPN's 'Baseball Tonight.' He also served as the primary analyst for CBS Sports when they held the rights to Major League Baseball [broadcasts] from 1989-93.
During the strike season of 1981, Kaat began his baseball broadcasting career as an analyst working for the Home Team Sports Network, covering minor league games before resuming his playing career for two more seasons. In 1984 and 1985, Kaat was the chief correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America, and covered the World Series. During the 1986 season, he was the analyst and play-by-play announcer for WPIX-TV, covering 100 New York Yankees games.
The following year he handled a variety of analyst duties with WTBS (in Atlanta), ESPN and NBC Sports. While in Atlanta, he also did play-by-play and analyst work WSB-AM radio. In 1988, Kaat covered Olympic baseball for NBC and handled spring training, feature sports, the College World Series and the Major League playoffs and World Series for ESPN. During the same season, Kaat was the primary analyst for 75 Minnesota Twins games on the CBS affiliate WCCO-TV before moving to CBS Sports.
Kaat, who has served as the President of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, pitched professionally (1957-83). He reached the big leagues in 1959 with the Washington Senators and went on to play for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals. Kaat was a member of six divisional champions, two pennant winners and the 1982 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
An avid golfer and fan of horse racing, Kaat lives with his wife MaryAnn in Stuart, Florida. He has four children: Jim Jr., Jill, Stacey and Drew."
2003 New York Yankees Information & Record Guide
BOBBY MURCER (YES Network)
"Bobby Murcer is the pre- and postgame host for Yankees games on the YES Network. Murcer symbolizes the traditions and history of the New York Yankees. For parts of five decades, Murcer has continued to exude class, charisma and professionalism both on and off the field.
Over a 17-year career, Murcer played in 1,908 games, batting .277 with 252 home runs and 1,043 RBI. He joined Lou Gehrig, John Blanchard and Mickey Mantle as the only Yankees to hit home runs in four consecutive at-bats. He appeared in the 1980 and 1981 American League Championship Series and the 1981 World Series. A five-time All-Star from 1971-75, fans know Murcer as a teammate of the late Thurman Munson as well as hitting greats Lou Piniella and Graig Nettles.
In 1983, Bobby traded his glove and bat for a microphone and began broadcasting Yankees baseball, serving as color analyst for WABC-Radio until 1985. After serving a season as assistant general manager for the Yankees, he returned to the booth as color analyst on SportsChannel New York. In 1989, the first year Yankees games appeared on MSG, Murcer served as color commentator alongside Tommy Hutton. In 1990, he joined the WPIX broadcast team and served in that capacity through the end of the 1998 season.
Murcer resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the town he grew up in, with his wife, Kay. They have a daughter, Tori, and a son, Todd."
2003 New York Yankees Information & Record Guide
PAUL O'NEILL (YES Network)
"2003 marks Paul O'Neill's second season in broadcast television, serving as a pre- and postgame analyst for the YES Network. The gritty and revered five-time All-Star outfielder played 17 years in the major leagues, spending his final nine seasons in pinstripes. O'Neill was a pillar in the Yankees' run to four World Championships, his passionate play embodying a team-first formula that led to unequalled success.
Affectionately known as a warrior to most Yankee followers, O'Neill began his major league career in 1985 with the Cincinnati Reds, earning the first of his five World Championships in 1990. He joined the Yankees in 1993 after eight seasons with the Reds, and in 1994 claimed the American League batting title with a .359 average. In 2001, at the age of 38, O'Neill became the oldest player in major league history to steal 20 bases and hit 20 home runs in the same season.
He lives in his native Cincinnati with his wife, Nevalee, and their three children: Andrew, Aaron and Alexandria."
2003 New York Yankees Information & Record Guide
KEN SINGLETON (YES Network)
"Game analyst for the YES Network, veteran analyst Ken Singleton had a 15-year major league baseball career as an outfielder and designated hitter. Known on the diamond as a consistent power hitter, he has proven to be equally as reliable since joining the radio and television broadcast booths. Previously, Singleton divided his time calling play-by-play and providing commentary at the MSG Network. In 1998, he was part of MSG's production team that won four New York Emmys for its Yankees coverage.
He joined the MSG Network in 1997 from The Sports Network (TSN), where he served as an analyst for the Montreal Expos (1985-96). From 1991-96, he also called play-by-play and served as an analyst for CIQC Radio, the Expos' flagship radio network. In 1996 and 1997, he was named by FOX Sports as a lead analyst for Saturday afternoon baseball broadcasts. In 1997 and 1998, he worked as an analyst for Major League Baseball International.
Born in Manhattan and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, Singleton has fond memories of visiting Ebbets Field, seeing Willie Mays play at the Polo Grounds, sitting in the bleachers at Yankee Stadium for Roger Maris' 47th home run in 1961 and listening to Red Barber announce Brooklyn Dodger games.
Singleton played both baseball and basketball in high school and played baseball in the Bronx Federation League at Macombs Dam Park, right across from Yankee Stadium. After earning a scholarship to play basketball at Hofstra University, and playing both sports for a year, Singleton was drafted by the Mets.
In April 1972 he was traded to the Expos with Mike Jorgensen and Tim Foli for Rusty Staub. It was in Montreal that Singleton had his first of many productive seasons, hitting 23 home runs with 103 RBI (fifth in the NL), 100 runs, 123 walks (one behind the NL leader) and a .302 batting average. After 1974, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles with Mike Torrez for Dave McNally and two others.
In Baltimore, Singleton established himself as a true offensive asset. His .328 batting average in 1977 was third best in the AL, and is still an Orioles record that he currently shares with Roberto Alomar. His .438 on-base percentage (in 1977), 118 walks (in 1975) and 35 switch-hit home runs (in 1979) are still Orioles records.
Singleton is one of only six players in major league history to hit 35 or more home runs in a season as a switch-hitter. He also ranks in the Orioles' top 10 all-time in most offensive categories, including home runs, RBI and batting average. During his career, Singleton was named to the American League All-Star team in 1977, '79 and '81. He was named Most Valuable Oriole in 1975, '77 and '79.
Retiring after the 1984 season as a three-time All-Star with a 1983 World Championship ring and 15 years as a high caliber player, he continued his association with the game by becoming a broadcaster.
Singleton enjoys golf and reading historical novels, lives with his wife Suzanne in Sparks, Maryland and has three sons and a daughter. He is the first cousin of former New York Knick and current head coach of the Orlando Magic, Doc Rivers."
2003 New York Yankees Information & Record Guide
CHARLEY STEINER (WCBS)
"This will be Charley Steiner's second season in the WCBS-AM radio Yankees broadcast booth with John Sterling. In addition to Steiner's on-air duties, he also hosts occasional specials for the YES Network.
Before joining the Yankees broadcast team, Steiner spent 14 years at ESPN where he anchored the 6 p.m. Monday through Friday SportsCenter, was the play-by-play voice of major league baseball on ESPN Radio, announced Big 10 and SEC college football and was the boxing analyst for the network during his time there. Steiner won two Emmys, a Cable ACE and a Clarion award for his work at ESPN.
Steiner began his professional broadcasting career in 1969 at WIRL Radio in Peoria, Illinois as a newscaster. After a nine-month stint at KSTT Radio in Davenport, Iowa, Steiner moved to Connecticut where he served as News Director at WAVZ Radio in New Haven and later at WPOP Radio in Hartford.
After a year and a half in Cleveland working at WERE Radio and WKYC television as a sportscaster, Steiner moved home to New York where he worked at WXLO and for seven years served as the morning sportscaster on the Rambling with Gambling show on WOR Radio.
In addition, Steiner called the play-by-play for the USFL New Jersey Generals and later for the New York Jets on WABC Radio. He won the UPI Best Radio Sportscaster award for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in 1981, 1983 and 1985, and the New York State Broadcasters Award for best radio play-by-play in 1983, 1984 and 1987, before moving to ESPN.
Steiner is a 1971 graduate of Bradley University, where he was inducted into the Peoria school's Hall of Fame in 1995."
2003 New York Yankees Information & Record Guide
The Yankees Spanish language broadcasters were not listed in either the New York Yankees Official 2003 Yearbook or the New York Yankees 2003 Information & Record Guide.
