Long-time Astros broadcaster Bill Brown is retiring

There are big changes on the way for the Houston Astros’ TV broadcasts. Bill Brown has been their primary TV voice for the last 30 years since joining the team in 1987, but the team announced Thursday that he’ll be retiring at the end of the season:

Thank you to longtime #Astros broadcaster @BrownieTw, who has announced his retirement. His final scheduled game is on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/4Wb0pco7zr

— Houston Astros (@astros) September 22, 2016

“This is one of the best play-by-play jobs in the country,” Brown said in a press release. “Astros fans, the Astros organization and the community of Houston has been great to us. We never dreamed when I took this job that we’d be here this long. I look forward to watching the Root Sports team in 2017 and will be attending many games as a lifelong Astros fan.”

“Brownie” has been around baseball since 1976, when he joined the Cincinnati Reds’ television crew, staying until 1982. He then came to Houston in ’87, making him the Astros’ longest-tenured current television broadcaster.

Since calling his first Astros game on April 6, 1987 — a 4-3 Opening Day win over the Dodgers in the Astrodome –Brown was the voice for a number of memorable moments, including Jeff Bagwell’s 400th career home run in 2003, Craig Biggio’s 3,000th hit in ’07 and Mike Fiers’ no-hitter last season.

“Bill Brown’s unwavering commitment and passion for the Houston Astros has inspired fans for many years,” owner Jim Crane said in the release. “On behalf of everyone in the Astros organization, I want to personally thank Bill for his great work, his genuine love for this team, and his commitment to exceptional work. Bill Brown has had a Hall of Fame-caliber broadcasting career — and we are fortunate it has been with the Houston Astros.”

Brown and analysts Alan Ashby and Geoff Blum fared reasonably well in our local MLB TV announcing ratings earlier this year, with their Root Sports Southwest broadcast placing 18th out of 30. His experience and knowledge of the Astros won’t be easy to replace.

[Astros.com]