Eric Collins New Dodgers Broadcaster

Eric Collins will join Steve Lyons in the television booth on KCAL and PRIME TICKET during 38 games in 2009. Collins, whose play by play experience includes Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Olympics, College Baseball, and Women’s Softball, will call the action in games east of Colorado.

    Collins, 39, was the lead play-by-play announcer for NBC in its baseball coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. For the past five years, he has called ESPN’s College Baseball Super Regionals, and also performed radio and television play by play for the Chicago White Sox on occasions in 2004 and 2008. 

  One of the nation’s preeminent voices for women’s softball, the Cleveland native has called the sport’s World Cup for ESPN in each of the past three seasons and served as a play-by-play announcer at the Women’s College World Series in 2007 and 2008.

  “I’m thrilled to be joining the broadcasting team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a legendary franchise with a legacy of pioneering and innovation,” said Collins. “I cherish this opportunity.  I’m humbled to join an organization with such class, professionalism, and tradition.”

  In addition to baseball and softball, Collins has been play by play announcer for ESPN/ABC the past five years in its college football coverage and in college basketball’s Championship Week.  

  The search for the broadcaster, led by Dodger Vice President of Communications Josh Rawitch and Vice President of Broadcasting Lauryn Lukin, included substantial participation from rightsholders PRIME TICKET and KCAL 9, and other members of the Dodgers’ organization.

  “As one can imagine, it was an extremely competitive group of candidates," said Rawitch.  "Eric has a fresh approach.  He brings enthusiasm, knowledge, and a noticeable charisma on and off the air."

  “Eric's network television experience and curiosity about all facets of the game, combined with his years of calling baseball at every level, make him a great addition to our talented team of broadcasters,” said Lukin. “We truly feel that we have a shared vision with our partners at KCAL and PRIME TICKET, who played an integral role throughout this process.”

  Prior to joining ESPN/ABC, Collins spent four seasons calling minor league baseball for the Schaumburg Flyers and the Rochester Red Wings. He has served as a pregame and postgame host for the White Sox and Cubs and as a sideline reporter for the Chicago Bulls from 1997-2002.

  Collins earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY prior to earning a Master’s from Syracuse University.

  He and his wife, Keri, make their home in Chicago with their three-year-old daughter Beatrice and three-week old daughter, Harriet.