MUScoop Wiki

Harmon, a Salem, Ill. native started his broadcasting career with the minor league Topeka Owls, was perhaps best known in Milwaukee as the last play-by-play voice of the Milwaukee Braves (throught 1965) and the first voice of the Milwaukee Brewers.

When Major League Baseball moved the Seattle Pilots to Milwaukee shortly before the 1970 season, Harmon was hired to do the play-by-play and was joined a year later by a young Bob Uecker.

He also covered Marquette basketball along with Bob Uecker, Tom Collins, and Bob Bach.

Harmon teamed with Uecker and Tom Collins until 1979, when he signed a broadcasting deal with NBC and called the World Series and Summer Olympics in 1980.

Replaced by Bob Costas in 1982, Harmon signed with the Texas Rangers, and broadcast their games until his retirement in 1989.

Harmon also worked as the radio voice of the New York Jets, calling the team's Super Bowl III championship team in 1968. He also served as the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs and baseball's Kansas City A's and Minnesota Twins. Harmon also did play by play for the World Football League telecast on TVS during the 1974 season, the WFL's only complete season.

Merle opened Merle Harmon's Fan Fair in 1977, and saw it grow to 140 stores nationwide before selling the business in 1996 and retiring in Arlington, Texas.

Harmon passed away on April 15, 2009.

Merle's son, Keith Harmon, currently works as a 620WTMJ/Brewers Radio Network marketing executive.