In recent months, ESPN has announced a number of talent re-signings. Aside from perhaps Scott Van Pelt, none has been more important for Bristol than yesterday's announcement that Dan Shulman is staying at ESPN. Shulman is ESPN's lead announcer for both Major League Baseball and college basketball and is one of the best play by play men in the business. Via ESPN…
"Dan Shulman – the 2012 NSSA Sportscaster of the Year – has reached a multiyear extension with ESPN. Shulman will continue to serve as the voice of Sunday Night Baseball – ESPN’s exclusive national MLB game of the week. He will also resume his play-by-play roles for ESPN’s Saturday primetime Men’s college basketball telecasts with analyst Dick Vitale and ESPN Radio’s coverage of the MLB postseason, including the World Series."
ESPN can afford to lose almost anyone and not break a sweat in reloading their talent base, but Shulman has to be in their Top 10 of most indispensable on-air personalities. Top play by play men are hard to come by and Shulman is certainly one of the few. He's understated without being morose, gets up for the big moments, stays on top of the action, and is able to relate to viewers at home.
Shulman's ability to work with different broadcast partners is where you see his true talent though. Anyone who can work with two announcers at the polar opposite ends of the announcing spectrum like Orel Hershiser and Dick Vitale, and do so at a consistently high level, is deserving of elite status.
