Doug Flynn, left, played for coach Joe Hall, right, at Kentucky and became friends with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman during his playing time with the Cincinnati Reds.
When Doug Flynn started playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 1975 he did not have a lot of interaction with Marty Brennaman, the Reds radio play-by-play announcer who is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
“He did not hang out with us little guys. He would hang out with Joe (Morgan) and Pete (Rose) and those guys,” said Flynn, a Lexington native. “He also was not nearly as critical of players as he was later in his career because guys back then ran out ground balls, didn’t dog it and did what it took to win big games.
“He came to Cincinnati in 1974. The Reds won the World Series in 1975 and 1976 and looked like they had a chance to do it again in 1977 when they ended up making trades. What eventually turned Marty off and made him more critical was seeing guys not running out ground balls and just being lazy on plays. He could not stand that.”
Brennaman and Flynn are now “dear friends” and even vacation together. That’s why it is no surprise that Brennaman plans to be in Lexington when Flynn is inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame.
“It is pretty special that he is coming. He called me as soon as he found out I was selected and said he was coming,” Flynn said.
He also knows Dick Gabriel, his TV play-by-play partner for UK baseball games, and long-time friend will be there, too.
“Dick and I think we were born on air doing games. We were doing the game before SEC Network+ came along. We have tried to figure out exactly how long we’ve worked together but honestly do not know,” Flynn said about Gabriel, a long-time WKYT-TV sports personality who also has his own nightly radio sports talk show in Lexington.
“Dick is probably as prepared as anybody I have ever been around. We have become very good friends. He will cover my blunders on air, and I make plenty,” Flynn said. “He and Marty were both English majors. Lord knows I was not. I owe Dick a lot for making me look better than I am.”
One Response
Marty is one if not the best baseball announcer ⁵that ever call the game. Very well remember listening to him and his side kick Nuxhall back in the 70's. They made it sound you were at the game by listening to them. Go reds!!