Joe Buck is the voice of ESPN's Monday Night Football, but he began his broadcasting career in baseball. He says he may call "a game or two" for the network in 2026.

He's called more World Series games on television than anyone in history, but Joe Buck still sees himself as "Jack Buck's kid."

And now, Buck will be joining his late father in Cooperstown next summer as the winner of the Baseball Hall of Fame's annual Ford Frick Award for broadcasting excellence.

Buck was announced Wednesday, Dec. 10, as the 2026 recipient of the Frick award − which Jack Buck won 39 years earlier in 1987.

"I'm blown away," Buck, 56, said on a conference call with baseball writers.

"It's hard for me because I tend to downplay awards because of always feeling like I had a leg up at the start of my career. And I did," Buck said of learning the broadcasting business while tagging along with his father.

"The greatest gift he gave me was to be in the room with him."

Calling his first Fall Classic at the age of 27 in 1996, Buck went on to broadcast 24 World Series for Fox Sports − in addition to 26 league championship series and 21 All-Star Games.

Buck made a point to thank former major league catcher Tim McCarver (himself a Frick Award winner in 2012), who was his first on-air partner on Fox and who also called games with Jack Buck. "My dad knew I was in great hands with Tim ... Gave me credibility instantly."

Also a recipient of the NFL's broadcasting excellence award, Buck moved to ESPN in 2022 to become the voice of "Monday Night Football." Although he stopped broadcasting baseball games nationally at the time, he returned to call an opening day game for ESPN this past season.

"I love the game. I'm a fan of the game. I still watch it. I still keep up with it," Buck told reporters, adding he "may do a game or two this season (on ESPN). That's been talked about."

Buck said his "best memory" of his father as a baseball broadcaster came when he received the Frick Award at the 1987 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. And on July 27, 2026 in upstate New York, the moment will come full circle.

"This is the greatest honor I could receive. I know what he would be thinking and feeling on this day, and that is what makes it special."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Broadcaster Joe Buck gets Hall call as 2026 Ford Frick Award winner

Reporting by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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