Rangers' Radio Voice Sidelined

While listening to yesterday's game on the radio, I noticed that the normal play-by-play announcer, Eric Nadel, was not behind the microphone. I later learned that he suffered a torn retina and had to undergo laser eye surgery, which caused him to miss the game. Nadel is scheduled to miss the entire series with the Red Sox this weekend, but should return to the booth soon.

It was very strange listening to the game without hearing Nadel's voice. He has broadcasted Rangers' baseball for 31 years (all my life), and is in his 14th season as the lead voice of the Rangers. In fact, it has been 20 years since Nadel has missed a Rangers' ballgame, going back to 1989 when he missed 4 games when his father passed away. During that 20 year span he has broadcasted 3,176 consecutive regular-season games. He is the "Iron Man" of baseball broadcasting.
I have very fond memories of listening to Nadel when I was a kid. He was behind the microphone during all of Nolan Ryan's milestones with the Rangers. He and the late Mark Holtz were the play-by-play duo during the 80's and early 90's when I was growing up, and they were one of the best baseball radio tandems I have ever heard.

A little known fact about Nadel is that he is fluent in Spanish. When the Rangers began aquiring more and more Latin players, he decided that he wanted to be able to speak to them and interview them in their native tongue. So he learned Spanish and has even traveled to South America and broadcasted games in Spanish.

Get well soon, Eric! Texas Rangers baseball just isn't the same without you!