SAN FRANCISCO -- The running joke about Giants broadcaster Jon Miller is he does great impressions of legendary baseball announcers Vin Scully and others, but he still needs work on imitating Jon Miller.
The man with storytelling gifts and big vocal cords has been given a six-year contract extension through the 2012 season as the Giants' voice on KNBR 680, the team's flagship radio station, and on television.
Executive vice president and chief operating officer Larry Baer made the announcement Friday.
"Jon is perhaps the leading baseball broadcaster in the country. We are extremely fortunate to have him calling Giants games for the foreseeable future," said Baer. "His knowledge of baseball and the game's history are unsurpassed, and his rich descriptions of Giants games paint a vivid picture for our fans. Jon combines a tremendous wit with a flair for the dramatic, which makes listening to his radio and television accounts such a joy for baseball fans."
Miller has come a long way since 1974, when he worked Oakland A's games under Charlie O. Finley's leadership. The broadcaster enters his 11th season with the Giants, handles play-by-play on ESPN's Sunday's telecasts, won the coveted "ACE" award for cable TV excellence in 1991, was nominated twice for a national Emmy Award in 1995 and broadcast the World Series on ESPN Radio for eight years.
Prior to joining the Giants, Miller was the voice of the Baltimore Orioles for 14 years. He has also broadcast basketball, soccer and hockey.
Fellow San Francisco announcers Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow are signed through 2010 -- their 20th seasons with the team. Hall of Famer broadcaster Lon Simmons was a 24-year veteran with the Giants, while Hank Greenwald was at the team's microphone for 15 years.
