Gary Thorne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gary Thorne
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Thorne in 2015
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Gary Francis Thorne
June 9, 1948 |
| Nationality | American |
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| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Years active | 1977–present |
Gary Francis Thorne (born June 9, 1948) is a well-known American sportscaster. He is famous for calling many different sports games. He was the main play-by-play announcer for the Baltimore Orioles baseball team on MASN from 2007 to 2020. Gary Thorne has also worked for big sports networks like ESPN and ABC. He has announced games for the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, college football, and the Frozen Four hockey tournament. He even narrated a show called WrestleMania Rewind for World Wrestling Entertainment on their WWE Network.
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Gary Thorne's Early Life and Education
Gary Thorne grew up in a town called Old Town, Maine. He finished high school there in 1966. After high school, he went to the University of Maine, graduating in 1970. He also studied law, attending the University of Maine School of Law and Georgetown Law School. While he was studying, he worked as a sportscaster and a disc jockey to help pay for his education. Later, he became an assistant district attorney in Penobscot County, Maine.
Gary Thorne's Career in Sports Broadcasting
Gary Thorne has had a long and exciting career in sports broadcasting. He has announced games for many different sports teams and national networks.
Announcing Baseball Games
Gary Thorne started announcing baseball games in 1985. He worked for the New York Mets radio team for four years. He was even in the broadcast booth during a very famous game, Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, when the Mets played the Boston Red Sox.
From 2007 to 2019, Thorne was the TV play-by-play announcer for the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, covering Baltimore Orioles games. Fans loved his special calls, like "Goodbye! Home run!" when a player hit a home run, and "Mercy!" He would end his Orioles broadcasts by saying "Adieu" if the Orioles lost, or "Adieu-Adieu" if they won.
In 2020, Gary Thorne left the Orioles broadcast team. He later filled in for other announcers, like for the New York Mets on SNY in July 2021 and on radio for WCBS in September 2022.
Gary Thorne's National Baseball Work
Gary Thorne also worked on national baseball broadcasts. In 1989, he became a backup play-by-play announcer for ABC's Thursday Night Baseball. He was also a reporter for the 1989 World Series. He was even at San Francisco's Candlestick Park when the Loma Prieta earthquake happened on October 17, 1989.
From 1996 to 2003, Thorne announced the World Series for MLB International. This meant his voice was heard in over 200 countries! He worked with Ken Singleton during this time. He was on the call when New York Mets player Robin Ventura hit a famous "Grand Slam Single" in the 1999 National League Championship Series.
In 2008, Thorne became the main play-by-play announcer for ESPN Radio's Sunday Night Baseball. He worked with Dave Campbell. He also announced games for the College World Series and the Little League World Series on ESPN. Gary Thorne was also the voice for several Major League Baseball 2K9 video games. He has also been the master of ceremonies for the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
Announcing Hockey Games
Gary Thorne started his hockey announcing career in 1977, calling games for local radio and TV stations in Augusta, Maine. He became well-known in Maine for announcing University of Maine hockey games.
From 1987 to 1993, Thorne was the play-by-play voice for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL. In March 2014, he even called some high school hockey games in Minnesota, saying it was "great fun." He also filled in for the Los Angeles Kings during the 2016–17 NHL season.
Gary Thorne's National Hockey Work
From 1992 to 2004, Gary Thorne was a key voice for NHL games on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. He often worked with Bill Clement as his co-commentator. This duo also announced games for EA Sports' NHL 07 and other video games. They called many Stanley Cup Finals games for ESPN. Thorne also announced the hockey tournament at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City for NBC.
After ESPN stopped broadcasting NHL games in 2005, Thorne continued to announce baseball and college football for ESPN. He also became the main play-by-play announcer for the Frozen Four college hockey tournament. He was on the call for two big moments when the New York Rangers (in 1994) and the Detroit Red Wings (in 1997) won the Stanley Cup after long waits.
When ESPN and ABC got the rights to NHL games again for the 2021–22 NHL season, many fans hoped Thorne would return. He even said he would "love to talk to them about it," but he was not chosen for the new broadcast team.
Announcing Football Games
Gary Thorne announced college football games for ABC's coverage of the Capital One Bowl in 2004 and 2005. In 2011, he joined CBS Sports Network to announce more college football games, working with Randy Cross.
Announcing PBA Bowling
Gary Thorne also announced bowling! He took over for some of the remaining events of the 2011–12 PBA Tour season for ESPN. This included a famous moment when Pete Weber won his fifth U.S. Open championship.
Narrating for WWE
On February 25, 2014, the WWE Network launched a show called WrestleMania Rewind. This show looked behind the scenes at famous matches from the annual WrestleMania event. Gary Thorne became the narrator for most episodes of this program.
Gary Thorne's Career Timeline
- 1977–1986: University of Maine Hockey Play-by-Play
- 1985–1988: New York Mets Radio Play-by-Play
- 1985–1993: New Jersey Devils TV Play-by-Play
- 1988–1992: SportsChannel America's Hockey Play-by-Play
- 1989: Chicago White Sox Play-by-Play
- 1994–2002: New York Mets TV Play-by-Play
- 2007–2020: Baltimore Orioles Lead Play-by-Play on MASN
- 2007–2014: EA NHL head announcer in game.
- 2009: MLB 2K9 head announcer in game
- 2010: MLB 2K10 head announcer in game
- 2011: MLB 2K11 head announcer in game
- 2012: MLB 2K12 head announcer in game
- 2013: MLB 2K13 head announcer in game
- 2016: Los Angeles Kings fill-in play-by-play announcer with Fox Sports West
- 2017: World Baseball Classic Pool D Announcer
- 2021: New York Mets fill-in play-by-play announcer with SportsNet New York (SNY) and WPIX.
- 2022: New York Mets fill-in radio play-by-play announcer with Wayne Randazzo on WCBS.
Gary Thorne's Work at ESPN/ABC
- 1989: Major League Baseball on ABC Play-by-Play
- 1990–1993, 1996–2000, 2003–2009: ESPN Major League Baseball Play-by-Play
- 1992–2004: ESPN National Hockey Night Lead Play-by-Play
- 1993–1994, 2000–2004: NHL on ABC Lead Play-by-Play
- 2004–2006: ESPN College Football on ABC Play-by-Play
- 2008–2009: Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio Lead Play-by-Play.
