One of the most legendary voices in the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates got his due on Wednesday.
Lanny Frattare the play-by-play man for the Pirates between 1976 through 2008, was inducted into the team’s “Media Wall of Fame” Wednesday.
Frattare is the longest-tenured play-by-play Pirates broadcaster in history (33 years) and only second behind color analyst Steve Blass’ 34 years.
During a ceremony in the Left Field Lounge at PNC Park, Frattare was joined by partners John Wehner, Bob Walk, current “Voice of the Pirates” Greg Brown and Blass.
Pirates pitcher and broadcaster Kent Tekulve and former Pirates manager Jim Leyland were also on hand.
Frattare left the Pirates to join the communications department at Waynesburg University and has taught, inspired and mentored the next generation of broadcasters (many of whom are currently working at 93.7 The Fan).
Frattare had the unenviable task of following in the shoes of Bob Prince, but he became the voice of a new Pirates generation, calling the 1979 World Series and the three-straight Eastern Division titles in the early 1990s.
“In the proud history of the franchise, nobody has described the action of Pirates baseball longer than Lanny Frattare,” said Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting. “With the countless number of appearances he made in the community, Lanny’s positive impact on the Pirates and the Pittsburgh community has reached far beyond the broadcast booth. It is with great honor that we are able to recognize his outstanding contributions with this tribute.”
The Pirates “Media Wall of Fame” began in 1989