Carson City man, former WNC broadcaster gets chance to announce pro baseball
Chris Graham of Carson City made his first professional play-by-play debut Friday night for the Ogden Raptors.
Sports fan, occasional local columnist and one-time announcer for Western Nevada College Wildcat baseball, Chris Graham of Carson City made his first professional play-by-play debut Friday night for the Ogden Raptors.
The Raptors are a part of the Pioneer League, a partner league for Major League Baseball. Graham was invited into the announcing booth and on-air for the weekend series after inquiring the Raptors' manager and former WNC Wildcat pitcher Evan Parker if he had an extra space to do a mock broadcast.
"Evan said 'Well, if you're gonna come, we might as well do it right.' And that's how I got to broadcast a professional baseball game live for the first time," said Graham, noting the dynamics behind this professional broadcast team in Ogden, Utah is "amazing" with top notch equipment and staff.
"You'd think they were MLB level. It's amazing. Makes it for an easy broadcast," said Graham.
Regular play-by-play announcer and voice of the Raptors, Ellis Beacom, said Graham's debut was outstanding.
"It was a beautiful night at Lindquist Field, the Raptors churned out one of their most impressive performances of the 2024 season," Beacom said. "With eight years of nationally prominent Western Nevada College play by play experience, Chris Graham made his professional play by play broadcasting debut for the Ogden Raptors, a partner league for Major League Baseball, and boy did he choose a good one to call."
Having started announcing with WNC full time in 2008 through the end of the program in 2016, the opportunity to do professional announcing has been a dream for Graham. As Graham was sharpening his skills and preparing to make a step up, WNC abandoned the program saying that it was too costly for the college to continue.
"It was a heartbreak for all of us," Graham said. "It has been tough to chase this dream but not giving up on it was the love I have for the game of baseball, the players, coaches and of course broadcasting."
While only announcing for the weekend, Graham, always a gentleman, extended a warm thank you to Evan Parker and Ellis Beacom for giving him the opportunity he's been waiting years for.
"Being able to finally do play-by-play live on air for a Major League Baseball partner league game almost made my eyes teary," he said.
Graham works in the private sector with Southwest Gas in the GIS Department.