2. Mike Emrick – 2008 Award Winner
Mike Emrick is not in the Hall of Fame (and it’s a crime), but he did win a prestigious award given by the HHOF. Mike “Doc” Emrick is in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and he won the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award. The latter of which is why he ends up on this list.
“Doc” became famous during his broadcasting career calling the Devils. He started with New Jersey as the team’s first broadcasting voice, but he actually moved to the Flyers for a few years in the 80s. Eventually, he returned to the Devils broadcast, calling most of the team’s most seminal moments.
He returned in 1993 and called games for the Devils until 2011. He was regularly known as either the best or one of the best voices in hockey and sports. Eventually, he was given a role that the Devils couldn’t match and Emrick couldn’t refuse. He was given the national play-by-play role for NBC Sports, who had exclusive U.S. NHL rights.
Of course, just calling Devils games wouldn’t be enough to salvage a Hall of Fame career. It’s what Emrick did on a national level that made him truly famous. He was the best play-by-play voice in sports for a few years. Emrick won the National Sportscaster of the Year (in all sports) four times while working for NBC.