Bob Costas facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Bob Costas
Costas in 2014
Born	Robert Quinlan Costas (1952-03-22) March 22, 1952 (age 73) New York City, U.S.
Education	Syracuse University (did not graduate)
Occupation	Sportscaster
Years active	1973–present
Spouse(s)	Carole Krummenacher (m. 1983; div. 2001) Jill Sutton (m. 2004)
Children	2

Robert Quinlan Costas (born March 22, 1952) is a famous American sports announcer. He worked for NBC Sports for a long time, from 1980 to 2019. Bob Costas has won 28 Emmy awards for his amazing work. He was also the main host for 12 Olympic Games from 1988 to 2016.

Today, he works for Warner Bros. Discovery. He shares his thoughts on sports for CNN. He also works for MLB Network, where he appears in special shows.

Early Life and School

Bob Costas's father, John George Costas, was Greek. His mother, Jayne Costas, was Irish. Bob grew up in Commack, New York. He went to Commack High School South.

He studied at the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. But he left school in 1974. Costas first worked in radio as a freshman at WAER. This was a radio station run by students. Later, he started a scholarship at the Newhouse School.

Broadcasting Career

Starting Out in Sports Broadcasting

Costas began his career in 1973 while still in college. He worked at WSYR-TV and WSYR-FM radio in Syracuse. He announced games for the minor league Syracuse Blazers hockey team.

In 1974, he joined KMOX radio in St. Louis. He covered games for the American Basketball Association (ABA). Costas also announced Missouri Tigers basketball games. He even called games for the Chicago Bulls on WGN-TV during the 1979–1980 NBA season.

Working at NBC Sports

In 1980, NBC hired Bob Costas. He was 28 years old at the time.

For many years, Costas hosted NBC's coverage of the National Football League (NFL). He also hosted the National Basketball Association (NBA) games. He announced games for both NBA and Major League Baseball (MLB).

Baseball Coverage

For baseball games, Costas worked with different experts. These included Tony Kubek and Joe Morgan. One of his most famous calls was on June 23, 1984. This game is known as "The Sandberg Game". Costas was announcing a Saturday baseball game from Wrigley Field. The game was between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.

In the ninth inning, Ryne Sandberg hit a home run to tie the game. Then, in the tenth inning, Sandberg hit another home run to tie it again! The Cubs won in the 11th inning. When Sandberg hit that second home run, Costas famously said, "Do you believe it?!"

Costas hosted pre- and post-game shows for many World Series and Major League Baseball All-Star Games. He first announced a World Series game from start to finish in 1997. He won an Sports Emmy Award for his play-by-play announcing.

On August 3, 2019, Costas announced a double-header for the YES Network. He covered games between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

In October 2021, Costas hosted the NLCS for TBS. On October 31, 2024, Costas announced he was retiring from calling MLB games. His last game was Game 4 of the 2024 American League Division Series.

Basketball Coverage

Costas was NBC's main announcer for National Basketball Association (NBA) games from 1997 to 2000. He called three NBA Finals during this time. This included the 1998 series between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz.

Costas also hosted NBC's pre-game show, NBA Showtime. He later co-hosted NBC's NBA Finals coverage in 2002. This was NBC's last NBA broadcast before the games moved to ABC.

Football Coverage

Costas started as a play-by-play announcer for football. In 1984, he became the studio host for NBC's NFL coverage. He stayed in this role until 1992.

In 2006, Costas returned to host Sunday Night Football. He hosted its pre-game show Football Night in America.

Olympic Games (1988–2016)

Costas was the main host for many Olympic Games broadcasts for NBC. He covered the Olympics in Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), Salt Lake City (2002), Athens (2004), Torino (2006), Beijing (2008), Vancouver (2010), London (2012), Sochi (2014), and Rio (2016).

During the 2014 Winter Olympics, Costas had an eye infection. This meant he had to let Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira host for a few nights. This was the first time Costas had not hosted every night since the 1998 Winter Olympics.

Leaving NBC Sports

On February 9, 2017, Costas announced he was stepping down from his main roles at NBC Sports. He passed his Olympics hosting duties to Mike Tirico.

Costas's last major broadcast for NBC was hosting the 2018 Belmont Stakes. In this race, Justify won the Triple Crown. On January 15, 2019, Costas officially left NBC Sports after 40 years.

On August 11, 2024, Costas made a special appearance on NBC's coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics. He discussed memorable moments from past Olympics held in the United States.

Talk Show Hosting

Costas hosted a radio show called Costas Coast to Coast from 1986 to 1996. He also hosted Later with Bob Costas on NBC from 1988 to 1994. He decided to leave Later because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Working for HBO Sports

In 2001, HBO hired Costas to host a series called On the Record with Bob Costas. In 2002, Costas also became a co-host for HBO's show Inside the NFL. He hosted this show until the end of the 2007 NFL season.

Working for MLB Network

Costas joined MLB Network full-time on February 3, 2009. He hosted an interview show called MLB Network Studio 42 with Bob Costas. He also announced some live baseball games. In 2017, Costas called Game 1 of the 2017 American League Division Series.

Working for CNN and TNT Sports

In July 2020, Costas joined CNN as a contributor. He shares his thoughts on sports topics. In October 2021, he joined Turner Sports to host their postseason baseball coverage on TBS.

As of the 2022 MLB season, Costas announced games for TBS's Tuesday night baseball. He also hosted TBS's ALCS postseason coverage. This was the first time since 2000 that Costas announced an entire postseason baseball series.

Costas announced the 2024 American League Division Series for TBS. After this series, he announced his retirement from calling MLB games.

Famous Calls

Bob Costas is known for his exciting calls during big sports moments. Here are some of his most famous ones:

June 23, 1984: Costas called "The Sandberg Game" for NBC. Ryne Sandberg hit two home runs to tie the game.

Costas's call of the first home run:

Into left center field, and deep. This is a tie ball game!

Costas's call of the second home run:

Costas: 1–1 pitch. [Sandberg swings]
Kubek: OHHH BOY!
Costas: [Over Kubek] And he hits it to deep left center! Look out! Do you believe it, it's gone! We will go to the 11th, tied at 11.

October 28, 1995: Costas called Game 6 of the 1995 World Series. The Atlanta Braves won their first World Series championship since moving to Atlanta.

Left-center field, Grissom on the run. The team of the '90s has its World Championship!

October 26, 1997: Costas called Game 7 of the 1997 World Series. Édgar Rentería hit a game-winning single for the Florida Marlins.

The 0–1 pitch. A liner, off Nagy's glove, into center field! The Florida Marlins, have won the World Series!

June 14, 1998: Costas called Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. Michael Jordan hit a shot to give the Chicago Bulls the lead with seconds left. The Bulls won their sixth championship.

Jordan with 43. Malone is doubled. They swat at him and steal it! Here comes Chicago. 17 seconds. 17 seconds, from Game 7, or from championship #6. Jordan, open, CHICAGO WITH THE LEAD! Timeout Utah, 5.2 seconds left. Michael Jordan, running on fumes, with 45 points.

June 4, 2000: Costas called Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals. Kobe Bryant threw an alley-oop pass to Shaquille O'Neal.

Portland has three timeouts left, the Lakers have two. Bryant ... TO SHAQ!

September 25, 2014: Costas called Derek Jeter's final game at Yankee Stadium. Jeter hit a single to win the game.

A base hit to right! Here comes Richardson, they're waving him home! The throw, it's close but he scores! On a walk off hit by Derek Jeter!

Interests

Love for Baseball

Bob Costas is a huge baseball fan. He even wrote a book called Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball in 2000. For his 40th birthday, a baseball manager let Costas manage a team during a practice game.

Costas gave a speech at the funeral of baseball legend Mickey Mantle. He also gave a speech for Stan Musial after he passed away in 2013.

Costas has shared his thoughts on how Major League Baseball's playoff system works. He believes winning a division championship should be more important.

Personal Life

Bob Costas was married to Carole "Randy" Randall Krummenacher from 1983 to 2001. They have two children, a son named Keith (born 1986) and a daughter named Taylor (born 1989).

Costas and Jill Sutton at the 2014 Miami International Film Festival

On March 12, 2004, Costas married his second wife, Jill Sutton. They mostly live in Newport Beach, California. Even though Costas grew up in New York, he often says he thinks of St. Louis as his hometown.

His children have also won Sports Emmys. Keith has won two Emmys as an associate producer for MLB Network. Taylor won an Emmy as an associate producer for NBC's coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Awards and Honors

Bob Costas has received many awards for his work:

29-time Emmy Award winner (he is the only person to win Emmys for sports, news, and entertainment)
Eight-time NSMA National Sportscaster of the Year
Four-time American Sportscasters Association Sportscaster of the Year
Has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame
1999 Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame
2000 TV Guide Award for Favorite Sportscaster
2001 George Arents Award from Syracuse University
2004 Dick Schaap Award for Outstanding Journalism
Inducted into the NSMA Hall of Fame in 2012
2012 Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism
2013 Marty Glickman Award for Leadership in Sports Media
2015 WAER Hall of Fame inductee
2017 Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame
2018 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee
2019 Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame inductee

Career Timeline

1974–1976: Spirits of St. Louis Play-by-play, KMOX radio
1976–1981: Missouri Tigers men's basketball Play-by-play, KMOX radio
1976–1979: NFL on CBS Play-by-play
1979–1980: Chicago Bulls Play-by-play, WGN-TV
1980–2018: NBC Sports Play-by-play & studio host
1980–1983: NFL on NBC Play-by-play
1983–1989: MLB on NBC #2 play-by-play
1984–1992, 2006–2016: NFL on NBC Studio Host
1988–1994: Later Host
1990–1997, 2002: NBA on NBC Studio Host
1992–2016: Summer Olympics Primetime Host
1993: Notre Dame Football on NBC Alternate play-by-play
1994–2000: MLB on NBC Lead play-by-play
1997–2000: NBA on NBC Lead play-by-play
2001–2018: Thoroughbred Racing on NBC Lead host
2001–2009: On the Record with Bob Costas and Costas Now Host
2002–2014: Winter Olympics Primetime Host
2002–2008: Inside the NFL Host
2003–2014: U.S. Open host, NBC Sports
2008–2012: NHL Winter Classic Host
2009–present: MLB Network Studio 42 with Bob Costas Host (2009–2014), Thursday Night Baseball Play-by-play
2016: NBC/NFL Network Host, Thursday Night Football
2017–present: MLB Network play-by-play, MLB Postseason
2020–present: CNN Sports contributor
2021–present: TBS baseball studio host, 2021 NLCS