Mark Holtz

Mark Holtz

• Born October 1, 1945 in Elmhurst, IL USA
• Died September 7, 1997 in Dallas, TX USA

Biographical Information

Most Popular Texas Rangers Announcer

Mark Holtz was a broadcaster for the Texas Rangers from 1981 until he passed away in 1997. He is most remembered for his familiar phrase "Hello win column!" after each Ranger victory. Also, most Ranger fans knew what was happening when a second baseman fired his relay to first and Holtz yelled, "Dip coming!" His long-time radio broadcast partner, Eric Nadel has been quoted as saying: "In my opinion, Mark Holtz was the first announcer who truly got fans excited about listening to Rangers games. His ability to paint word pictures and capture the excitement of late-game dramatic moments was and still is unequaled. In addition, Mark's warm, friendly personality came through on the air, endearing him to Ranger fans from the moment he arrived. He informed and entertained a new generation of Ranger fans as the team was gaining credibility and more than doubling its attendance. His role in the growth of the team's following was enormous."

Making Memories

Holtz began with the Rangers as their television play-by-play announcer before moving to radio in 1982. He teamed with Nadel for 13 years before moving back to television in 1995. He passed away two years later, after surgery for bone marrow cancer. While he was working for the Rangers, he called four no-hitters and two perfect games. He was an eight-time Texas Sportscaster of the Year and was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990. One other favorite memory fans have of Holtz was one time when young Robin Ventura charged future Hall-of-Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan after being hit by a pitch. Holtz screamed something like: "I can't believe it! He's charging 'The Legend'!"

Earlier Career

Prior to joining the Rangers, Holtz was the voice of the Omaha Royals in 1971 and the Denver Bears from 1976 to 1980. He was also a broadcaster for the Dallas Mavericks NBA team in their first season, 1980-81. Additionally, he spent time in the booth for the University of Illinois (football), Bradley University (basketball), University of Colorado (football/basketball), and the University of Denver (hockey).

Sources

Derived in part from an article by T.R. Sullivan on MLB.com