August 30, 2008

Biscuits lose their voice: Jim Tocco leaving team

By Greg Rauch

MONTGOMERY - Montgomery Biscuits broadcaster Jim Tocco will leave the team after the season, the club announced today.

Tocco has been the play-by-play voice of the team since its arrival in Montgomery in 2004. He has also been a full-time employee for the Biscuits, working in marketing, branding, advertising, public relations and media relations. He has been integral in maintaining and shaping the Biscuits' brand.

He is leaving to pursue other opportunities in broadcasting and marketing and has begun his own brand marketing and graphic design company in Montgomery.

"Montgomery has so many great baseball fans and great people," Tocco said. "I have had such a wonderful time working for the Biscuits, and I feel truly lucky to have been a part of something so special to this city.

"When I arrived in Montgomery, Riverwalk Stadium was a dirt hole downtown. To watch it become one of the cultural centers of Montgomery has been incredible."

Throughout his five seasons, Tocco has seen more Biscuits games than anyone. He has broadcast more than 700 Biscuits games, including their two championships. In 2006, he won the Southern League Broadcaster of the Year award.

"For five years, the people of Montgomery have, in a way, invited me into their homes, their back yards, their cars, and anywhere else that they've turned on the radio," he said. "I wish there was a more effective way to say 'thank you' to all of those people."

"Maybe I will wind up broadcasting in the Major Leagues. Maybe I won't. Either way, these five years have been full of experiences and people that I could not replace and will not forget."

In recognition of his eight years of service to Professional Sports Marketing, the Biscuits will commemorate Tocco's service by placing his name permanently on the home radio broadcast booth.

"Throughout my life, I have listened to many baseball games, at many levels, through many different broadcasters," said Biscuits owner Tom Dickson. "As far as I'm concerned, Jim is one of the best, and he will be sadly missed."

The Biscuits have not announced a replacement.

"We'll find someone great to broadcast Biscuits games in the future," said Biscuits President / GM Greg Rauch. "We know that we won't find someone to completely replace Jim Tocco, but hopefully our fans will have the capacity to accept the new 'Voice of the Biscuits' and offer him a new place in their hearts."

Tocco's last Biscuits broadcast will be Monday, when the team ends the regular season against the Jacksonville Suns at 3:05 p.m. Game broadcasts can be heard on NewsRadio 1440 or through biscuitsbaseball.com.

---BISCUITS BASEBALL---