Career
During the baseball offseason, Hamilton also calls college basketball games for the Big Ten Network. Tom joined the Indians broadcast team for the 1990 season, after spending three years in the booth for the then American Automobile Association affiliate of the New York Yankees, the Columbus Clippers. He was paired with Indians legend Herb Score until 1997, when Score retired after 30 seasons.
Hamilton became chief play by play announcer in the 1998 season, a position he still holds today.
Because of his longevity and popularity, he is now considered to be the "voice of the Tribe." In the offseason, Hamilton calls college basketball games (usually Ohio State games) for the Big Ten Network. Prior to the founding of the Big Ten Network, he served in the same capacity for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network Plus.
The Indians honored "Hammy" with a talking Tom Hamilton bobblehead night in 2008. Also, on July 31, 2009, the Indians celebrated his 20th season with the Tribe with a post-game fireworks show featuring his best calls played in the background.
On August 1, 2014 prior to their game against the Texas Rangers, the Indians honored Hamilton in a pregame ceremony, commemorating his 25th season of calling Indians baseball on the radio.
Herb Score, 1990–1997 Mike Hegan, 1998–2011 Dave Nelson, 1998-1999* Matt Underwood, 2000-2006* Jim Rosenhaus, 2010–present* (*) - Nelson, and later Underwood joined Hamilton and Hegan in a three-man booth from 1998 to 2007, when the Indians then went to a two man booth. Rosenhaus, Hamilton and Hegan formed a three-man team for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. And we"re underway at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario! - after the first pitch of an Indians home game (during away games, Hamilton will usually say And we"re under way at or in ).
Swing and a drive, waaaay back & gone!! or Swung on and belted! To deep ____(left/center/right), awaaaay back! waaaay outta here!! - for an Indians home run And a mobbing at home plate! or He"s about to get mobbed! - after an Indians walkoff home run.
How about that! - after something unusual or exciting happens. A SWING and a miss! - for a swinging strikeout by an Indians pitcher.
Oh, what a job by ___ (name of Indians pitcher) - when an Indians pitcher dominates the opposing lineup or gets out of a jam. Juuust a bit (outside/inside) - when a close pitch by a pitcher is called for a ball.
Ballgame! Mm mm mm - after an Indians screw-up.
And the pay-off pitch. - just before a full-count pitch. STRIKE THREE CALLED! - after an Indians pitcher strikes out a batter So long, everybody - his sign-off The Pitcher is out on a string -Full-Count Pay-Office Pitch - 3-2 pitch coming.
