Beavers' Schonely receives Oregon broadcasting honor

Published on January 30, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - For the second time in less than a week, a member of the Portland Beavers front office has been honored by his peers.

Bill Schonely, play-by-play broadcaster for the Triple-A baseball club, has been named Oregon's Broadcaster of the Year for 2003, it was announced today by the Salisbury, N.C.-based National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

Schonely, a three-time winner of the award, will be honored at the group's 45th annual awards program, held May 1-3 at the historic Salisbury Depot.

It's Schonely's second honor from the NSSA for his work with the Beavers; he was named Oregon's top sportscaster after the team's inaugural 2001 season, his return to baseball after an illustrious career as the legendary voice of the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA.

"Indeed, it is a great honor to be recognized in this way," said Schonely.

Portland Tribune writer Kerry Eggers was named the state's top sportswriter by the organization. Eggers has garnered the annual award four times.

The state awards are chosen by a poll of area media representatives.

FOX television personality Joe Buck and Rick Reilly, noted author and senior sportswriter at Sports Illustrated, are this year's national winners.

Longtime baseball broadcaster Joe Garagiola and legendary baseball writer and historian Jerome Holtzman will be inducted into the organization's hall of fame at the annual event.

Schonely, who coined the phrases "Rip City" and "Bingo Bango Bongo" as the first play-by-play voice of the NBA's Blazers, started calling baseball in the 1960s with the Triple-A Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. Schonely ascended to the expansion Seattle Pilots in 1969, serving on-air duty during their lone American League season.

Schonely, 74, then moved on to the Blazers in 1970. He called the play-by-play for more than 2,500 Blazers radio and television broadcasts, from Portland's very first preseason outing (September 24, 1970) to their final matchup in the 1998 NBA Playoffs.

After a five-year absence from basketball, "Schonz" returned to the Blazers this season, appearing on the team's radio and television broadcasts as the host of two segments, "Memorable Moments" on television and "Blazers Flashback" during the Blazers radio pre-game broadcasts. In addition, Schonely voices radio spots, acts as an ambassador at charity and community events and hosts pre-game functions and in-arena elements.

The Blazers recognized Schonely, who is slated to return to the Beavers for a fourth year, and his many contributions to the franchise earlier this season, raising a banner to the rafters of the Rose Garden in his honor.

Fellow PCL broadcasters honored include Tucson's (AZ) Brett Dolan and Las Vegas' (NV) Russ Langer. Other notable state broadcast winners were Vin Scully (CA), Steve Stone (IL) and Len Berman (NY).

Earlier this week, Beavers special assistant Jack Cain and his wife, Mary, were presented with a special merit award at the 2004 Oregon Sports Awards at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from January 30, 2004


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