Joe Starkey
Joseph K. Starkey (born 1941)
Starkey is most famous for his frenetic call of
Career
Starkey grew up in
He has broadcast for the
Other previous assignments include the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL and basketball games for the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the University of California Golden Bears.
On August 18, 2022, the University of California announced that Starkey would retire after the Golden Bears' 2022 season.[7]
San Francisco 49ers
Prior to assuming play-by-play duties with the 49ers in 1989 he served as color analyst on 49ers radio broadcasts in 1987 and 1988 with the legendary Lon Simmons handling play-by-play. He also called the radio broadcasts of Super Bowl XXIV and Super Bowl XXIX.
He was involved in the radio call of several of the team's most famous moments. In addition to his Super Bowl calls, the most famous of which would prove to be Deion Sanders' out-of-bounds end-zone interception which ended Super Bowl XXIX, Starkey was play-by-play announcer for the 1998 club's two signature moments - Garrison Hearst's 96-yard touchdown in overtime against the New York Jets and Steve Young's game-winning touchdown to Terrell Owens against the Green Bay Packers - The Catch II. Starkey also broadcast San Francisco's 2002 playoff comeback against the New York Giants.
Young almost falls down...throws to the endzone—OWENS! OWENS! OWENS! OWENS! OWENS! He caught it! He caught it! He caught it! A 25-yard touchdown pass! Terrell Owens, he hasn't held on to anything—including his fingers—all day and he makes the winning touchdown catch! I don't believe it! One of the greatest finishes in 49er history! Somehow, someway, Owens, right down the middle! The coverage was there, he had very little room, the ball had to be perfect—IT WAS! And he caught it! Niners will win it! Niners will win it![8]
— Joe Starkey's call of The Catch II on January 3, 1999.
When the 49ers moved their broadcasts from KGO to rival station KNBR in 2005, Starkey had to resign from KGO in order to continue his role with the 49ers.[9] Starkey is still the broadcaster for the Cal Bears on KGO radio indefinitely. [1]
On December 18, 2008, Starkey announced his retirement as the play-by-play announcer of the 49ers, citing difficulties with travel from Saturday Cal football games to Sunday 49ers games.
In December 2010, The National Football Foundation honored him with "The
Personal
Starkey and his wife Diane reside in the Bay Area. They have three sons and six grandchildren.
References
- ^ a b c Crumpacker, John (December 19, 2008). "Starkey to quit 49ers' booth". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ a b Loyolan 1964. Loyola University Chicago. 1964. p. 121.
- ^ "Starkey Set for NFF On-Campus Salute Nov. 27". Calbears.com. September 21, 2010. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ "Transcript of Joe Starkey's call of the Play". San Diego Union Tribune. November 18, 2002. Archived from the original on November 21, 2002. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ a b Knapp, Gwen (December 27, 2008). "20 years of Starkey was a bonanza for 49ers". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ "Class notes". Loyolan Magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ "Legendary Cal football broadcaster Joe Starkey to retire after 48 seasons". www.cbsnews.com. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
- ^ Joe Starkey - Terrell Owens 'The Catch II', archived from the original on 2021-01-22, retrieved 2021-01-02
- ^ Chapin, Dwight (June 23, 2005). "Starkey to stay with 49ers". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 7, 2005. Retrieved August 18, 2022.