Kingery Ready to Move On
Listening to the Rockies will sound different next year.
Jeff Kingery, who has been a part of the Rockies radio team since the franchise came into existence, is going to retire at the end of this season – whenever that may be.
Kingery, who initially teamed with Wayne Hagin and is now a partner with Jack Corrigan, has been a part of all but 16 Rockies broadcasts in franchise history. He missed 13 for personal reasons, including his brother’s wedding in 2003, and was unable to handle the duties for a three-game series in Cincinnati in 1997 when he lost his voice.
Kingery is known for bringing a calming, factual approach to the broadcast.
Kingery knows there will be insinuations that his decision stems from an incident in late June on the Rockies bus carrying the team from Dodger Stadium to the team hotel. Kingery was banned from traveling on team planes and buses.
He, however, continued to handle the broadcasting chores for Rockies games, except for a trip to Florida and Washington, paying his own air fare, and said that incident did not play a part in his retirement.
“This is something (wife) Meryl and I started talking about last season and I came close to doing it a year ago, but for several reasons we decided I’d come back for a final season,’’ said Kingery. “Nothing has happened to convince me I want to keep on going.’’
Truth is, Kingery has discussed the possible retirement with friends both in and out of baseball for more than a year, indicating that he and his wife, who have no children, wanted to be healthy enough to enjoy retirement when he retired.
And that’s what makes the timing so good right now.
“We’ve been fortunate,’’ said Kingery. “I have made a good living out of this. Three or four years ago the thought started creeping in that we wanted to travel and do things that didn’t necessarily tie into being committed to being ordained by the job.
“We can afford to (travel) on our own. … Someone asked me recently when was the last time I had barbequed at home. I told them I couldn’t remember, but I did know our barbeque was broken a long time ago and we never fixed it because we didn’t use it.’’
Kingery and his wife will continue a dual residency, splitting time between the homes they own in Tucson and Denver. They moved to the Denver area in 1981, when Kingery joined KOA to handle broadcasting the University of Colorado men’s basketball and Denver’s Triple-A baseball team. He then spent 11 years as the voice of the Denver Nuggets before being moved to the Rockies broadcast team.
He will remain on the Rockies broadcast team through however long this season lasts. He will travel on the Rockies flights and buses for the final regular-season trip to Los Angeles this weekend, and any post-season games the Rockies play.
“I will miss the people, but when it gets to a point that the job is a grind, that’s time to move on,’’ said Kingery. “Next spring my baseball will consist of reading box scores at Starbucks. … After 30 years of living on someone else’s timetable, I am ready to do my own thing.’’
He said he did do a double take when he started calling friends in the business to inform them of his decision.
“I was talking to Vin Scully (of the Dodgers) and felt stupid,’’ said Kingery. “Here I am moving along after 17 years And Vin is still going strong after 60 years with the Dodgers.’’
He will move along with plenty of memories from his 17 years of calling Rockies games.
Among his most memorable were the first game ever in New York against the Mets in 1993; the first game in Denver, at Mile High Stadium, against Montreal in 1993; the four playoff games with the Braves in 1995, and the 2007 play-in game with San Diego.
“I don’t think anybody can beat that game with the Padres for me as far as an absolute emotional moment,’’ said Kingery. “I am making the call and my fishes are clinched above my head. That was one for the ages.’’
I’m gonna to miss his voice and broadcast style, there are way too many mediocre broadcasters out there.
Good for him for doing what he wants to do. But I’ll sure miss him. Genuinely one of the tops in the business. Tracy, hope that when you see him you’ll let him know how much Rockies fans know it’s not gonna be the same without him.
Sad to see a legend go. I was just nine years old when the Rockies came into existence, so Jeff Kingery’s voice really goes hand in hand with baseball to me. He broadcasts the game at the same time that he teaches it. He does a great job of calling games. It was sad to watch all of the “original Rockies” get traded or move on, so I guess to a certain extent we are losing the last “original Rockie.” I guarantee there isn’t a sole in this world who knows more about this franchise than Kingery.
Good for Jeff. I am happy that he has the opportunity to retire and still enjoy life.
On a side note, it is good to see you writing on this web site again Tracy. I like coming here for all information related to the Rockies.
I echo previous sentiments. I was only seven when baseball came to Colorado. We didn’t have cable (not that the Rockies were frequently on then anyway) and what I came to know of the Colorado Rockies was through the voice of Jeff Kingery. That has not stopped and, with all-do-respect to the FSN broadcast crew, I turn to KOA when I watch the games. I will never forget the days of the Blake Street Bombers hearing “back-to-back-to-back home run” calls or the immortal “Barrett dropped the ball!” It will really be hard to switch the radio on to listen to games knowing Kingery will not be there. Thanks for the years of great baseball calls!
I thought it was a mistake for him to leave the Nuggets broadcasts. However, I now watch baseball through his voice. His double play “Call it two” call gives me the chills each time.
The Boys of Summer will sound different next year.
Wonder who will take his spot?
I grew up listening to Vin Scully and regularly listen to other teams broadcasts on XM and I can tell you that Jeff and Jack are among the best.
Job well done Jeff. Enjoy your well earned retirement!
I’ll miss hearing Jeff’s voice. I immediately associate it with the Rockies.
Unlike stories I hear where kids would hide their radios under their pillows to listen to the games as they fell asleep, I didn’t have to hide my radio, but I do remember laying in bed as a kid, listening to the final innings of each game.
I’ve heard stories that Jeff isn’t too friendly, but I have to say, the fact that he was willing to pay his way to each road game just to keep doing his job is honorable. No matter what type of person he is off the mike, listening to Rockies games will not be the same.
My memories of Jeff start with the Denver Bears. Obviously there was no TV contract, so if you wanted to follow the Bears, you went to Mile High or listened to Jeff. I will miss him.
I will miss Jeff calling the games. I hope to hear at least 15 more of Jeff’s famous call “This ones a Rockies Winner at Coors Field/St. Louis, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Yankee Stadium.”
I’ll miss Jeff, too. I just hope the Rockies and KOA find a worthy replacement. I was worried when Hagin left, only to find that Jack Corrigan was an even better talent. I hope they can do the same again.
It’ll be sad to see Jeff to go. He is a fantastic broadcaster and did a great job for the Rockies. He’ll be missed.
As a replacement, the Rockies should really go with Dan Karcher down in Colorado Springs who calls the games for the Sky Sox. He’s been with the Sox for about 20 years I think and is one of the best broadcasters in the business in my opinion. He knows the Rockies system and the players better than any other potential replacement would and calls a great game with a superb voice. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
I would love for Jeff Kingery to be the announcer for the Padres. Anybody in broadcasting can do so much a better job than the current Padres’ announcer, Ted Leitner. Most of the time during the Padres’ broadcasts, Leitner laughs. And that I don’t like.
Jeff does not do that. I hate to see Jeff leave, but his life is important as well as his family.
Thanks, Jeff. There will be more games to work once the regular season ends.
Jeff will be missed. As someone who grew up listening to the KOA broadcasts, Kingery IS the Rockies. It’s hard to imagine a different voice in that role. Best of luck Jeff!
I vote for Ringolsby to take over broadcasting. He’s the best baseball writer/commentator in this town, hands down. I would love to see Tracy play a larger role in Rockies broadcasting.
I agree we will miss him and his style. Hope he has a wonderful retirement and his replacement is half as good.
“fishes” ?
You mean “fists”??