The affiliated Amarillo Gold Sox had suited up from 1977-1982, but in the succeeding years, the city was represented by the independent Amarillo Dillas, a member of the Texas-Louisiana League, Central League and United League from 1994-2010, followed by the Amarillo Sox, relocating from Pensacola in 2011, who played in the American Association for five seasons, the last as the Amarillo Thunderheads in 2015. The city of Amarillo, Texas, might have known something of how he felt. “When I was in independent ball, one of my big questions was how I was going to get above that, because even if you spend a few seasons, it can be a difficult jump.” “…hat was a huge moment for me,” Levitt said. 2 broadcaster with the Corpus Christi Hooks, working with Michael Coffin. “It does show you, in a funny way, and I guess it’s not early social media but it’s already five years ago, the power of putting things out and being active on social and why it can be a huge benefit for a team.”įollowing the 2016 season, Sam Levitt entered affiliated ball as the No.
“It’s one of my favorite memories of being with the Grizzlies,” said Levitt. By the next day, Thomas was being interviewed on SportsCenter amid a slew of national media attention. Word spread to Levitt who rushed to the lot, took a photo, and shared it on social media. It was with Gateway in late August 2016 that Levitt memorably called a Brandon Thomas grand slam that traveled into the players’ parking lot and smashed the windshield of a truck–Thomas’s own truck, as it happened, which he discovered to his dismay later that night. 2 broadcaster under Adam Young with the Frontier League’s Gateway Grizzlies in 2014, moving into the role of Voice of the Grizzlies when Young departed for New Mexico State University. I ended up switching into the Medill School of Journalism and going to the Cape Cod League.” And I went to the student radio station and I started doing sportscasts on the news in the afternoon and doing the weekly sports talk show, and it took off. To really not my surprise, I didn’t make the team. “The reason I even got into WNUR, the student radio station at Northwestern was because I didn’t make the club baseball team….I wasn’t a very good high school player, I probably had no business going out for even the club team at Northwestern, but it seemed like a fun thing to do. “I thought I would be likely pre-med when I went to Northwestern,” he recalled. Levitt is a product of Northwestern University, where his chosen career path took a sudden turn from his initial expectations. Here’s the video version: scroll down for information about subscribing to the audio version. We sat down with Levitt in this week’s Ballpark Digest podcast.
Sam broadcaster 2016 professional#
It’s that colloquial delivery that makes Sam a one-of-a-kind sports professional and a very beloved talent across the world of baseball, but especially here in Amarillo! Perhaps that is why our fans have branded him as the ‘Prince of the Panhandle’!” “Sam understands and has succeeded in utilizing his skills through both traditional and digital broadcast mediums to create a tremendously enjoyable game experience for our fans, and his unique, personable style leaves all listeners feeling like he is calling the game straight from their living room. “We could not be more proud of Sam and I can’t think of anyone more deserving to be named as Ballpark Digest’s 2021 MiLB Broadcaster of the Year!” said Tony Ensor, President and General Manager of the Sod Poodles. “We’re in the midst of tremendous changes in how baseball is broadcast, and Sam’s efforts both on the airwaves and social media shine a path on that future.” “We’re so happy to recognize what a young broadcaster like Sam Levitt has accomplished and look forward to his continued growth in the industry,” said Ballpark Digest Kevin Reichard.
“…here are literally hundreds of Minor League broadcasters who work tirelessly and are so talented and quite frankly so many that would be equally deserving of an award like this, so I really appreciate it.” “Minor League Baseball is a special place, it’s a special place to work,” said Levitt. The 2021 Ballpark Digest Awards choice for Broadcaster of the Year is someone who exemplifies this balance: the Voice of the Amarillo Sod Poodles (Double-A Central), Sam Levitt. The awarding of Ballpark Digest’s Broadcaster of the Year is a highly competitive honor, one that takes into account the skill, diligence and innovation that a broadcaster shows both on and off the airwaves. By Jesse Goldberg-Strassler on Novemin Awards, Minor-League Baseball, Podcasts