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The Sounds of Baseball

The Charleston Riverdogs minor league baseball team recently hosted South Carolina Public Radio at a game against the Columbia Fireflies. SC Public Radio’s Kate McKinney threw out the first ball, and staffers Alexandra Olgin and Tut Underwoodalso were in attendance, as was Osei Chandler, host of SC Public Radio’s Roots Musik Karamu, which he calls the longest-running reggae music program on radio.

Baseball fans experienced not only the traditional sights of the game, however. This story also listens to the sounds so familiar at ball games that help make the sport what it is, sounds like the crack of the bat, the call of the beer vendor, the music and sound effects played over the public address system, and, of course, fans heckling opposing players. We also learn what draws fans to the game, and what their favorite aspects of baseball are.

Tut Underwood is producer of South Carolina Focus, a weekly news feature. A native of Alabama, Tut graduated from Auburn University with a BA in Speech Communication. He worked in radio in his hometown before moving to Columbia where he received a Master of Mass Communications degree from the University of South Carolina, and worked for local radio while pursuing his degree. He also worked in television. He was employed as a public information specialist for USC, and became Director of Public Information and Marketing for the South Carolina State Museum. His hobbies include reading, listening to music in a variety of styles and collecting movies and old time radio programs.