Hawk Harrelson elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame

"Hawk" Harrelson

Our congratulations go out to longtime White Sox broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson, who on Wednesday was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the 2020 Ford C. Frick Award winner.

The award is presented annually for excellence in broadcasting. Harrelson will be recognized during the Hall of Fame awards presentation on July 25.

For 33 years, Harrelson was the TV voice of the Sox. He is a two-time winner of Illinois Sportscaster of the Year, a five-time Emmy Award winner, and he won the 2010 Ring Lardner Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism.

But most of all, Harrelson changed the vernacular of the game of baseball, and of life itself, with his colorful catch phrases and the unique nicknames he gave to players -- many of which have stood the test of time.

From "He Gone!" to "Can of Corn" to "Mercy" to "You can put it on the board, Yes!" Hawk has been the summertime soundtrack in my home and in the lives of many Chicago baseball fans for years.

He was an unapologetic homer, and that's part of what made him one of kind. He was for the Sox, and he let you know it. He wasn't afraid to criticize the opposition or rip the umpires if he felt the Sox had been done wrong. That made him a polarizing figure, even among Sox fans.

When the Sox were bad, especially in Harrelson's later years on the mic, the broadcast could become a tough listen. Sometimes, Harrelson would just go silent with disgust, or he would make excuses for the team's poor play.

But, when the Sox were going good, Harrelson's passion for the game and pure joy would shine through on the broadcast. When the Sox won a big game, you KNEW the Sox had won a big game, because Harrelson was at his very best in those moments.

And, of course, Harrelson gave the greatest Sox player of all time his nickname. Hall of Famer Frank Thomas will forever be known as "The Big Hurt."

Harrelson earned this honor by amassing the highest point total in a vote conducted by the Hall of Fame's 15-member Frick Award Committee. This year's other finalists included Joe Castiglione, Jacques Doucet, Tom Hamilton, Pat Hughes, Ned Martin, Mike Shannon and Dewayne Staats.