Best Play-by-Play Announcer

Baseball announcers have traditionally been genial, low-key companions who take you through a hot, lazy summer night. But more and more are turning into Dick Vitale-like screamers shouting, "There's a looooong fly ball that has a chance! -- but it's caught by the shortstop." Luckily, Astros fans have someone from the old school who's been doing a solid job below the radar for quite a while. Bill Brown doesn't overwhelm the listener with convoluted stats, and he leaves the detailed analysis to his broadcast partners. What he does do is keep the viewer informed of everything he or she needs to know, with a minimum of fuss or ego gratification. It can almost make watching the Astros bearable.