ASTROS BROADCASTING ICON BILL BROWN VISITS ROUND TOP

  

Legendary Houston Astros broadcaster Bill Brown visited the town of Round Top on Thursday.

Brown spoke to a crowd gathered at the Round Top Family Library to share stories from his 30-year career as the television play-by-play announcer for the Astros.  He also promoted his new book, “Wartime Athletes”, which recounts the history behind dozens of professional athletes across multiple sports who set their careers to the side to serve in the military during World War II, Vietnam and other wars or conflicts.

Brown, who worked for the Cincinnati Reds prior to joining the Astros, recalled a memory from when he was asked by a friend who was blind to describe a Reds game they were attending as it was happening live.  Brown said that experience stuck with him as a formative moment in his broadcasting career.

Brown also talked about his spirituality and how, just as a pitcher can stretch the strike zone at home plate, many people will apply the same principle to real life in order to try to get what they want.

Brown later took questions from the audience about the success of the modern-day Astros as well as his favorite historic Astros teams, the imbalance of payrolls between today’s clubs, and his favorite call from his career, which was Craig Biggio’s 3000^th hit.  He then stayed to sign copies of his book, which is now available through online outlets.

Brown is a recipient of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association’s Sportscaster of the Year Award, as well as the Fred Hartman Award for Long and Meritorious Service.  He is a member of the Houston Media Wall of Honor, the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame and the Astros Hall of Fame.