On August 5, 1921 the Pittsburgh Pirates hosted the Philadelphia Phillies in a baseball game at Forbes field in Pennsylvania. The Pirates won the game 8-5; the historic importance of this game came from what that took place off the baseball field.

25-year old Harold Arlin was viewing the game from field-level box seat behind home plate. Arlin took his place in baseball history when he described the game play-by-play, into a converted telephone, giving America its first ever baseball radio broadcast.

America’s first commercial radio station KDKA was skeptic of the experimental broadcast, thinking baseball was too “boring” and would never be commercially viable on the radio. Little did they know by sending the broadcast over the airwaves they had started a revolution and changed the way sports were received in America forever.

Over the past 90 years baseball broadcasts have evolved from one man in front of a rigged telephone to many people combining to produce a multi-media production. Or in the case of Tucson Padres’ Tim Hagerty, a one man, multi-media production.

Hagerty has broadcasted professional baseball in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Mobile, Alabama, Portland Oregon and most recently Tucson Arizona where he currently works as the voice of the Tucson Padres.

Hagerty was born in Canton, Massachusetts, where he got an early start in his career as a broadcaster.

“I was lucky, the high school I went to houses the town's public access TV station, and has a program allowing students to produce shows and broadcast games,” Hagerty said. “When I was in high school I was able to start doing play-by-play at a young age.”

Growing up in a Boston suburb, Hagerty found inspiration listening to the strong voice of former Red Sox, and current ESPN television broadcaster Sean McDonough. He also admires the preparation of current Red Sox play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo.

In spring training Hagerty was able to meet with the San Diego Padres radio announcers which included eating lunch with broadcasting legend Jerry Coleman.

“On the air, Ted's enthusiasm and Andy's descriptions combine to make one of the best radio broadcasts in the game, in my opinion,” Hagerty said, referring to the San Diego Padre’s play-by-play team of Ted Leitner and Andy Masur.

While baseball has many broadcasters, all with different styles and techniques, all of the greats have one thing in common, knowledge of the game.

“You can never stop learning more about the game,” he said. “It's the same reason I'm always reading a baseball book, you never know when something you read can be relevant in a game you're broadcasting.”

Hagerty is working hard to prove that he is ready if a major league club ever needs a fill in. While his goal is to broadcast major league baseball, Hagerty is content in Tucson.

“I already have a dream job. There are thousands of people who would love to go to a professional ballpark every day. I've been very lucky,” Hagerty said.

With all of Hagerty’s experience and education, it is now a matter of refining and perfecting his technique as a broadcaster. Description, knowledge, energy, passion and sense of humor are key components to a successful broadcast but according to Hagerty all those components take a back seat to giving the score and describing the field at that moment.

For all aspiring baseball broadcasters, Hagerty shares a mental tool that he uses every game.

“I think the most important thing is to keep the five-minute listener in mind,” he says. “We can tell a fascinating story about a player, but if the story lasts so long that you haven't updated listeners on the score and where the ball is, than it is useless.”

The actual in-game broadcast is merely one of Hagerty’s many daily duties for the Tucson Padres. Hagerty also produces game notes and stat packs for the clubhouses and press box. He coordinates interviews between players and local media and deals with public relations. On top of that he works on the team website and with the team’s monthly magazine.

Hagerty can be heard during every Tucson Padres home game, you can link to his broadcast via the internet at www.tucsonpadres.com.

A baseball broadcast is produced solely for the fans. From Harold Arlin in 1921 to Tim Hagerty and many others in 2011, America’s past time is simply better with a great broadcaster describing the action.