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Steve Zabriskie

Steve Zabriskie
Zabriskie
Steve Zabriskie
Born: May 13, 1947 at Palo Alto, Cal.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 6.03 Weight: 235

Steve Zabriskie was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on April 23, 2010, May 14, 2010, and June 23, 2012.

Non-playing roles with Mets
  • Broadcaster: Television 1983 - 1989

Share your memories of Steve Zabriskie

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Mr. Sparkle
April 26, 2002
I thought Steve was pretty damn good and I couldn't figure out why the Mets dumped him. He was a perfect compliment to Kiner and McCarver and they were the best team since Lindsey Nelson left and after living through the horror that was Brown/ Lamar/ Albert. I could have sworn I saw his name attached to a play of some sort in some newspaper but I'm not sure. He did star as himself in "The Program" a football movie with James Caan.

Joe Figliola
September 17, 2002
My favorite Steve Zabriskie call came in 1986, when he was about to call the final out in what was going to be a Mets loss to the Reds:

"High fly to fly, Parker's under it. He makes the?NOOOOOOOO! He dropped the ball..."

I liked him; he complimented Tim and Ralph in the booth. But when you saw him on TV, he reminded me of a cardboard cutout.

Jonathan Stern
January 18, 2005
Zabriskie shared the booth with Rusty Staub in the division clinching game. I remember him saying to Le Grande Orange something to the effect that he must wish he was still a member of the team. This elicted a long, rambling response from Staub that nearly stopped the broadcast in its tracks.

Mike Friedman
February 25, 2005
I remember meeting Steve at the Mets Fantasy Camp I attended in 1992 and how he blended in as one of the guys. He also did a great job organizing the camp and the player and coach introductions.

Kevin
April 2, 2005
Man this is hilarious. I was a Zabriske fan and also wondered what happened to him. I'm pretty sure he was a "hot commodity" as an announcer back in the day and I figured he'd be a featured guy for many years but then he just disappeared. I have to absolutely LMAO at the guy who commented that he butchered the division winning call in 1986. That might be the worst division winning call in history. For some reason I remember his call included something like "while the regular season is not over...". It was simply atrocious. It's also very funny because the Mets video ("A Season To Remember") used Bob Murphy's call (which was so-so) instead of Zabriske's.

I don't want to give a negative impression of the guy though. I thought he was a very solid announcer.

Steve Zabriskie
November 6, 2005
A friend told me about this site and suggested that I respond to those of you who have been kind enough to wonder where I am and what I'm doing. In contacting the Webmaster, he felt it would be best to just post my response here for anyone to read. It may be lengthy as I will also address the blown call of the '86 clincher and the Phil Mushnick article since they seem to have drawn some comments.

My wife and I still live in the Orlando area where we have resided in the same home for the past 21 years. Our three daughters are grown with two of them married. I retired from broadcasting at the end of 1996 although I did do some baseball in '97 and ABC Sports asked me to come back and televise one college fb game in '97. I enjoyed more than 32 years as a sportscaster but was ready to devote my time to other things.

After leaving the Mets at the end of the '89 season, I broadcast MLB and college basketball for ESPN for 4 years. Then, in an effort to further reduce the number of events, I did games for The Baseball Network for the two seasons ('94 & '95) that the network existed. In '96 and '97 I was asked to do 25 to 30 games per year for Red Sox TV and that sort of wrapped things up. More than 30 years on TV for a guy who has the perfect face for radio!

With respect to the Mets clinching game of the '86 regular season, I apologized a couple of times on the air back then but let me take this opportunity now to do so to any Mets fans who visit this site. To this day, I still don't know why I didn't say what I wanted to say at that moment and I DID BLOW THE CALL! It's interesting to realize that one of the challenges I always loved about live TV is the fact that you have to rise to the occasion in the moment. That was one of the few times I really failed to do so and I can only hope that that failure won't wipe out more than 30 years of what were, hopefully, better performances.

Here's the real story behind the charges leveled against me by Phil Mushnick regarding my 'resume'. I received 'Honorable Mention' All America honors as a running back in high school and was recruited by many colleges. I was going to go to Oklahoma until Bud Wilkenson retired after my junior year. I finally decided to attend the U of Houston on a football scholarship. I had turned down a pro baseball offer from the Angels to play college football but still wanted to play baseball in college and then professionally. I suffered a couple of serious injuries during my first two years there which limited my career and sent me back to professional baseball early. When I joined the Mets, my former football and baseball activities rightly received only passing mention in the Media Guide since, as I used to say on the air, "My athletic career started off slow and then tapered off!" Before either my 2nd or 3rd year with the club, the public relations department (Jay and Dennis) took it upon them selves to write in my bio that I had been a 'star' running back in college. I was an excellent athlete (I competed in the Decathlon), a good player, and started when not injured, but I was not what I would call a star nor did I claim to have been. When the Media Guide came out in the Spring, I questioned them about it and they laughed it off as just 'good PR'. For some reason, Phil grabbed it and ran away with it. He never bothered to ask me about it before coming out with the article and admitted to me later that he never spoke to my college FB coach, Bill Yoeman, either. I was hurt and saddened by it because I never claimed to be anything other than what I was and, as is almost always the case, there was never a printed retraction or correction of the facts.

All in all, I had a wonderful career and did it on my terms. I started in radio during the off-season in 1966 and got my first TV job in 1968. I learned very early on that you can not please every viewer and certainly not every fan. Some people will appreciate your work while others will wonder, "who hired that jerk?" and you can't worry about it. I saw my job as helping to make the other people on the air with me better and to hopefully, add to the viewer's enjoyment of the game. It was never about me.

I started doing college fb play-by-play for ABC-TV in 1976 and did my last game for them in 1997. Along the way I traveled the world doing 'Wide World of Sports' events, did MLB for ABC, ESPN, NBC, The Baseball Network, the Angels, Mets and Red Sox. Did a couple of years of The NFL on CBS and many other sports from track and field to motorcycles on ice! I had a great time.

One of the main reasons that I reduced my work load over a number of years en route to 'retirement' from broadcasting was my desire, as a devout Christian, to serve the Lord. I am an ordained minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have been blessed to be able to volunteer my time in serving in many different callings and capacities over a number of years. That is the work I plan to continue without 'retirement'.

My thanks to each of you for your interest in and love of the game and for being Mets fans. May God grant you the righteous desires of your hearts. Steve Zabriskie

Inz 41
December 12, 2005
I'll never forget waiting in anticipation for Mets to clinch their first division title in 13 years back in 1986. Steve Zabriskie was doing play-by-play, when the big moment arrived, and he totally botched it. He said something like, "Ground ball to second, Backman throws to first, and, the dream season, ...is not over, as the Mets..." I quickly reached for the radio to hear what Bob Murphy was saying because the fans were piling on the field, the players were jumping up and down, it was an electric atmosphere, and Zabriskie was short-circuiting. I had a tape in my VCR so I could have the clinching moment on tape forever. I figured I could show it to my kids one day. I have still never looked back at that tape, too painful. I felt it would be cruel to hear an announcer suffering through a moment like that again. I've listened to Bob murphy's call of the moment several times, and I prefer to remember it like that.

There was another Zabriskie Moment. This one actually gave me a good laugh. Back in 1983, in a June trade, the Mets acquired a catcher from the Pirates named Junior Ortiz. The Mets crew hustled to get a pre-game interview with Ortiz as he had just arrived and suited up for his 1st game with the Mets. They went down to the field and Zbriskie starts the interview with Ortiz standing next to him. He goes into this long winded question about how Junior feels being a part of the Mets, what he thought of their chances, how excited he must be now, to be able to catch the young Mets pitchers and his first assignment which was catching Tom Seaver. At that moment Zabriskie, with this huge smile on his face, puts the microphone in front of Ortiz and quickly realizes that Ortiz can't speak a word of english. Ortiz replied with some barely audible answer like, "Seaver throw de ball pretty fast". Zabriskie somethinfg else, and Ortiz said, "Yea, Tom Seaver is pretty good peetcher". Zabriskie just stared straight back at the camera with the smile still there, and said "OK, back to you Timmy."

john butera
April 28, 2006
The Big Z was nothing but class. I worked several years as his football statistian and the game was never about him. Some of his partners in the booth did however think it was about THEM. Steve treated all with respect, as did his wife Lynne who traveled with him on occassion. He knew the game, did his homework, and NEVER went out the night before the event. He ALWAYS studied. Steve was a real pro, a good Christian and a great friend and mentor. I learned more from him than I did in four years of College....And Steve, If you read this, remember the lost car, Rick Forzini, who I just saw at Super Bowl 40, Cupper and your spotter Billy!!!!

Jesse Dorsky
April 28, 2006
I remember listening to Steve, along with Tim McCarver & Ralph Kiner. I think I may have been spoiled by that trio, because I don't know of any other color commentary team that even comes CLOSE to the magic those three had together (although current WFAN commentator Gary Cohen, is excellent. I haven't lived in the NYC area for about 10 years. I was just a lad of about 14 or so when Zabriskie left Mets broadcasting to pursue bigger & better dreams. But I will always remember that Mets broadcasting trio for as I long live, senility notwithstanding.

Jim Snedeker
September 1, 2006
I'm curious what the "botched call" is that people are referring to. The part where Steve paused? What's wrong with that? Where does it say that an announcer has to prepare a piece of poetry and read it perfectly for every memorable moment? Since when did baseball broadcasting become an art form worthy of criticism?

I also can't stand it when people argue about who has the best "home-run call." Who cares? Whatever became of guys simply letting us know what happened? And nothing else needs to be said about John Sterling trying to sound apocalyptic every time someone hits a home run, or when the Yankees win: the way he says "T-- T--H--H--U--H--H--H" sounds like an ill goat. To say nothing of how predictable it's gotten.

Steve was a fine announcer with the Mets, and I missed him when he suddenly disappeared. I also was curious why he left. I highly doubt it was because of his pausing in the middle of a play-by-play.

Bud Kolstad
December 6, 2006
I have wondered for years where Steve went. I watched him announce games occasionally through the years, but my real recollection is of Steve in 1968 when he was the assistant coach of my high school football team (King's Garden, Seattle, WA.). This website has been very eye-opening for me and I thank you. The best to you, Steve.

Mary Pat
May 14, 2007
My memories of Steve are primarily from his KTUL days in Tulsa, Oklahoma....The Big Z was a prominent figure and did a remarkable job with both the Barry Switzer and Larry Lacewell shows during OU haydays. It was nice to occasionally see him on national broadcasts and to follow his career. Thanks to this website I too now know where he "disappeared" to. Maybe he'll see this and send an E-mail to say hello. He was one of a kind!

Pat Leonard
July 17, 2007
I remember Steve Zabriskie yelling, "THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS IN NEW YORK. THE INEVITABLE HAS BECOME REALITY!" What's wrong with that? Also, what year did he and McCarver have a fist fight?

tingaling
December 18, 2007
My favourite memory of Steve was when he was a counselor in my mission presidency!

mike friedman
April 3, 2008
Steve was such a gentlemen at the 1992 Mets fantasy camp. He always went out of his way to make sure you were taken care of. His humor was great too. Jerry Grote drafted a player because he needed a new set of golf clubs and his introductions of the former Mets players brought a tear to the eye of this fan.

Patrick
August 28, 2008
Blew the call?

That is one of the best calls ever, because it was true.

The inevitable has FINALLY become a reality.

Those words rung true because the Mets fumbled around for just shy of a week towards clinching.

To me that was a great call, haphazard, perhaps but it fit that moment, and that team.

Bob Middleman
May 7, 2009
Sorry guys, but a beleaguered Pirate fan here. My favorite memory of Steve is when he was a sportscaster on channel 4 WTAE in Pittsburgh. It was Johnny Majors first or second year at Pitt and during spring ball they had a lack of players since they just pounded the pee out of each other. We were so short of players that Steve had to suit up and play. He did quite well as I recall. I didn't realize you played at the U. of Houston. Did you play with then Pitt line coach Jim Dyer?

Rick Smith
June 9, 2009
I knew Steve during the mid 60's, as a star athlete at Edmonds High School, as a great mentor to his girlfriend's kid brother, me, and as a young man developing his skills in broadcasting using a reel to reel tape recorder reading lines from a MAD magazine in a comic voices with me.

Never had the chance to hear him in the big leagues, lost touch in 1969 when my sister and he broke up. I wish that wasn't the case; I loved to hear him rattle on. He made the most boring subjects sound so exciting. Not many young men, 17 to 21 years of age would bother with a kid 5 years younger. I had just lost my father and Steve stepped in, best single thing that ever happened to me. He was mature, thoughtful, and caring well beyond his years.

I was hoping to see him at Edmonds High last year for a special memorial for Coach Rowe. I know he felt highly for Rich, he lived with coach his senior year as Steve's parents moved to Houston. I think of him often.

Steve Kaye
July 1, 2010
I just found this site today. Steve Zabriskie was a great announcer for the Mets. The team of Steve, Ralph and Tim was up there with Ralph, Lindsey and Bob. I thank Steve for adding to the great memories of those great Met teams of the late eighties.

Mark Heaney
September 21, 2010
People PLEASE! Zabriskie BLEW THE CALL!!! It is the worst call ever of a championship win. I give him credit for owning up to it and apologizing, but the bottom line is that this was the defining moment of his career and he completely blew it. As Mets fans we don't have too many of these moments and we need every one to be special. His call reduced the moment and did not allow you to celebrate. He tried to get too cute and pontificate - trying to BE the moment when the moment was right there before him. I wish him well but thank goodness we have Keith Gary and Ron now. Now we just have to win again!

Lakawak
December 6, 2012
Sean, back in the mid-80s, before ESPN destroyed sports, broadcasters didn't put themselves above the game and "prepare" what they were going to say because they knew it was not about them. Give me Zabriskie's somewhat muddled call "The UNbelieveable season...is not over....but the championship is here in NY" over the garbage that is spewed from their cross town rival's announcers. John Sterling thinks his job is to promote John Sterling, not the Yankees.

Verne
August 11, 2015
I never liked Zabriske. I felt that he cost Strawberry the mvp in 1988 which his constant harping about where he played in the outfield. He was rooting for McReynolds who had good numbers but a lot of his numbers were just that: numbers. He never said anything about the play of Kirk Gibson who was basically a DH in the outfield. Strawberry was setting a record for home runs against lefthanded pitching, by a left or righthanded batter, but Zabriske made comments about Strawberry missing a punch he threw at Hernandez in spring training. He said he missed the punch because Hernandez was lefthanded.

When people look at Darryl's stats now they wonder how he could lose the MVP to an outfielder with 76 rbi. Part of the reason was Zabriske. When Hernandez didn't hit he always brushed it off and talked about his leadership. Strawberry alone had as many hr and rbi as Gibson and Hernandez had combined.

He also made that crack about Ramirez to Garcia to Gallaraga not sounding like a law firm which ticked off a lot of Hispanics who saw it as bigoted.

Keith Giles
May 8, 2022
I was 14 years old playing Babe Ruth baseball in 1972 Austin Texas. Steve was my Manager of our team sponsored by KNOW, a local radio station. Steve was our local sports analyst for I believe channel 42. I forget the station call letters. I can remember him bringing a camera to a practice to record our team in action one day. Remember this is 1972. This was a camera used at sporting events. I was in awe to see myself pitching in slow-mo. What a thrill. Steve was a gentle man and so cool with the team. Such good memories.








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