Broadcaster Jerry Coleman wins Frick award

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Longtime San Diego Padres play-by-play announcer Jerry Coleman is the winner of the 2005 Ford C. Frick Award for his contributions to baseball broadcasting.

The announcement was made Tuesday in Cooperstown, N.Y., where Coleman will be inducted into the broadcasters wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Coleman, 80, who was an infielder for the New York Yankees from 1949 to 1957, has been in broadcasting for more than four decades, announcing for the California Angels, Yankees and 32 years with the Padres. He also called games for CBS Radio.

Coleman is known for his trademark calls "Oh, doctor!" and "You can hang a star on that one."

"Jerry Coleman's name is synonymous with baseball in San Diego after 32 years of calling Padres games," Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey said.

"He has a strong and concise play-by-play calling style, which he effectively mixes with malapropisms, much to delight of his listening audience."