Jon "Boog" Sciambi (/ˈʃɑːmbi/) is an American sportscaster for ESPN and the Marquee Sports Network, and has been the everyday play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs TV broadcasts on Marquee since 2021. He has worked extensively as a baseball play-by-play announcer, calling games for ESPN television and on ESPN Radio. Sciambi's nickname, "Boog," was given to him by Hank Goldberg because of his physical resemblance to former major league player Boog Powell.[1]
Jon Sciambi | |
|---|---|
 Sciambi at Champion Stadium in March 2008 | |
| Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Boston College |
| Occupation(s) | Baseball play-by-play announcer, television personality |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Employer(s) | ESPN Marquee Sports Network |
Early life
editBorn in Philadelphia, Sciambi grew up on Roosevelt Island in New York City.[2] He is a graduate of Regis High School in New York City and Boston College.[3]
Career
editAs Sciambi attended Boston College, he began his sportscasting experience on WZBC, the school's 1000-watt FM radio station broadcasting to the Greater Boston area. Classmates and fellow broadcasters at WZBC included Joe Tessitore and Bob Wischusen, both of whom also went on to become successful sports announcers.[4]
Sciambi was an announcer with the Florida Marlins from 1997 to 2004.[5]
Sciambi was the play-by-play announcer for the Atlanta Braves on SportSouth and FSN South from 2007 to 2009. He was paired with Joe Simpson.[6] Late in the 2009 season, it was announced that Sciambi would be leaving the Braves and joining ESPN's Major League Baseball and college basketball coverage full-time.[6]
He formerly worked in South Florida sports radio on 790 The Ticket. Sciambi left the radio show on April 4, 2008, to focus on broadcasting for the Atlanta Braves. Prior to being on 790, Sciambi was a talk show host on WQAM for several years.[7]
On January 4, 2021, Marquee Sports Network named Sciambi as play-by-play announcer for its Chicago Cubs telecasts following the resignation of the former play-by-play announcer, Len Kasper.[3][8] He also continues to call regular-season and postseason games on ESPN Radio; in October 2022, it was announced that Sciambi will take over as the lead announcer for ESPN Radio's postseason coverage in the 2023 season, replacing Dan Shulman.[9][10]
Sciambi succeeded Matt Vasgersian and took over the main play-by-play calls for the MLB: The Show video game series starting with MLB The Show 22.[11] He did play-by-play calls for MLB The Show 23 along with former MLB player Chris Singleton.
Philanthropy
editSciambi has been involved in funding research of and direct care for victims of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.[12] In 2006, Sciambi founded Project Main St. with Tim Sheehy, a friend who later died from the disease.[13]
References
edit- ^ How did Boog Sciambi get his nickname?
- ^ Brown, David (May 18, 2018). "AA Q&A: Jon Sciambi talks baseball, redheads, the ESPN TV job he didn't get and the ALS charity he helped to start". Awful Announcing. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ a b Rosenthal, Phil (January 5, 2021). "Jon 'Boog' Sciambi named the Chicago Cubs' new TV play-by-play voice on Marquee Sports Network — but he'll keep his ESPN role too". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ Finn, Chad (November 30, 2012). "Broadcasters found their voices at BC". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ^ "Jon Sciambi". espnmediazone.com. ESPN MediaZone. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
- ^ a b Rogers, Carroll. "Jon "Boog" Sciambi leaving Braves TV broadcast booth". ajc.com. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
- ^ The Ticket shuffles lineup - 28 March 2008 - MiamiHerald.com
- ^ "Jon 'Boog' Sciambi to call play-by-play on Chicago Cubs broadcasts". ESPN. Associated Press. January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ "Dan Shulman picks Sportsnet over ESPN for next Blue Jays' playoff run | Offside". dailyhive.com. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
- ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (October 17, 2022). "Jon Sciambi will take over ESPN Radio World Series calls next year". Awful Announcing. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
- ^ Montemurro, Meghan (March 8, 2022). "Chicago baseball fans will hear familiar announcing voices in 'MLB: The Show': Boog Sciambi and Chris Singleton". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ "Lou Gehrig Day close to Sciambi's heart". MLB.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ "About Us - Project Main St". October 8, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2021.