Ben Wagner

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Ben Wagner
Born
Benjamin L. Wagner

(1980-08-07) August 7, 1980 (age 44)
New Paris, Indiana, U.S.
Sports commentary career
Team(s)Baltimore Orioles (2024– )
Toronto Blue Jays (2018–2023)
GenrePlay-by-play
SportMajor League Baseball

Benjamin L. Wagner (born August 7, 1980) is an American sportscaster. As of 2024 he works as a play-by-play announcer for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball, after having performed the same role for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2018 to 2023.[1]

Early life

Wagner was born in New Paris, Indiana. As a child, he was a fan of the Chicago Cubs.[2] He was hired for his first on-air role in November 1997, with WAWC-FM in Syracuse, Indiana.[3] Wagner attended Indiana State University, where he worked for WISU-FM calling both men's and women's college baseball games, and graduated in December 2003 with a bachelor's degree in radio-TV/film.[4] While attending the university, he met his wife, Megan.[2]

Career

In 2004, Wagner began working as the play-by-play announcer and director of media and public relations for the Class-A Lakewood BlueClaws.[4] In the offseason, he worked in the radio booth for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, calling the Hawks basketball games.[5] On March 19, 2007, Wagner was hired as the play-by-play radio announcer for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.[4] He remained in that role with the Bisons until March 27, 2018, when it was announced that he would replace the retiring Jerry Howarth as the lead radio play-by-play announcer for the Bisons' parent club, the Toronto Blue Jays.[6][7] He was dismissed by Sportsnet on November 28, 2023 in a move that was unpopular with Blue Jays fans.[8] He never got to work with a color commentator who was a former player during his six years, half of which he was never allowed to travel with the ballclub for away games. Critical of Sportsnet's decision, Howarth said, "That was embarrassing for me to see that happen to Ben and the audience across Canada."[9]

Wagner was announced as the newest on-air talent with the Baltimore Orioles on both television and radio three months later on February 23, 2024.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Orioles announce 2024 broadcast team". MLB.com. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Radio-TV/Film grad aspires to big-league announcing career". indstate.edu. November 5, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  3. ^ Clark, Dennis (April 10, 2007). "Major league dreams: ISU grad working his way up baseball's broadcasting ladder". tribstar.com. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Ben Wagner is new "Voice of the Bisons"". MiLB.com. March 19, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  5. ^ "Ben Wagner, voice of the Hawks, gets called up to Triple-A Buffalo". easternshorehawks.com. March 20, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  6. ^ "Ben Wagner & Dan Shulman join Sportsnet's Blue Jays radio broadcast team". Sportsnet. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  7. ^ Harrington, Mike (March 27, 2018). "Bisons radio announcer Ben Wagner promoted to Blue Jays' booth; Pat Malacaro named replacement". buffalonews.com. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  8. ^ Holmyard, Braydon. "Sportsnet parts ways with Blue Jays radio voice Ben Wagner after six seasons," Toronto Star, Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Longley, Rob. "'Embarrassing': Legendary Blue Jays broadcaster Jerry Howarth rips Rogers for Ben Wagner’s dismissal," Toronto Sun, Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  10. ^ "Orioles announce 2024 broadcast team," Baltimore Orioles press release, Friday, February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
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