BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Illinois Wesleyan University 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and former two-sport student-athlete Denny Matthews will broadcast his 8000th game Friday evening, Sept. 25, when the Kansas City Royals take on the Cleveland Guardians. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. CT.
Adding to his illustrious career as the voice of the Royals, the 1966 IWU graduate Matthews will hold the American League record for games called. Matthews' broadcasting career has spanned seven decades with all 58 seasons coming as part of Kansas City. He is one of just four announcers in Major League Baseball history with a 50+ tenure with the same team, joining Vin Scully (Dodgers - 67 seasons), Jamie Jarrin (Dodgers - 64 seasons), and Bob Uecker (Brewers - 54 seasons).
Matthews began calling Royals games when the franchise began in 1969 and has been a mainstay ever since. He has been on the call for seven division championship teams, four AL pennant teams, and two World Series titles (1985 and 2015).Â
In 2007, the "Voice of the Royals" was presented the Ford C. Frick Award by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He is also an inductee of the Royals Hall of Fame and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.Â
At IWU, Matthews lettered in baseball and football and was a member of Sigma Chi. He has been active in the Kansas City community and dedicates his time and resources to several area charities, including the SAFE program, a charity that supports families of fallen police officers, firefighters and emergency workers.
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