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Tom Hamilton is a legend.
Hamilton, who is in his 36th year of broadcasting Cleveland baseball games on the radio, will be inducted into the broadcasters’ wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday as the 2025 winner of the Ford C. Frick Award. He has called close to 6,000 regular season and 111 postseason games for the Guardians.
Fans laud his passionate, high-energy calls — and the moments he pauses to let listeners hear the crowd and the fireworks of a home run. He makes fans feel like they’re at the ballpark. And like Hamilton is their friend.
As one fan said, “Every time you hear ‘We’re under way at the Corner of Carnegie and Ontario,’ it’s goosebumps.’”
-Laura
Overnight Scores and Weather
Guardians vs. Baltimore Orioles: Check out the latest Guardians news and game story.
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Check out the latest forecast for Northeast Ohio
Top Stories
Tom Hamilton: At least 80 family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers in the Tom Hamilton cheering section at the Clark Sports Center, just south of the Hall of Fame, on Saturday. Paul Hoynes tells his story, from dairy farm to MLB announcer’s box.
SNAP access: President Trump’s tax bill will cut benefits for approximately 4,000 legal immigrants in Cuyahoga County, removing access to Medicaid and SNAP for refugees and immigrants without green cards, reports Kaitlin Durbin.
MetroHealth: MetroHealth System is laying off about 125 employees, mostly administrative positions, to deal with a large operating loss and uncertainty about future government funding in 2025, reports Julie Washington. MetroHealth CEO Dr. Christine Alexander-Rager also will ask the board of trustees to suspend part of the compensation package usually given to more than 200 top leaders, and extend a freeze on non-clinical hiring and non-essential travel this year.
Lorain shooting: A fundraiser to support the family of Phillip Wagner, one of three Lorain police officers shot in an ambush Wednesday, reached its $20,000 goal within just three hours of launching Thursday, reports Hannah Drown. Wagner died, reports Lucas Daprile. The man who shot the three officers Wednesday was killed when officers returned fire.
Today in Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine thinks Ohio has enough gambling — and doesn’t need casino games on their phones. We’re talking about the future of gambling on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
Statehouse and Politics
HB6: After years of delays, weeks of witness testimony, and thousands of pages of arguments, state utility regulators are getting close to deciding what penalties FirstEnergy should pay for improperly spent customer fees and other issues connected to the House Bill 6 corruption scandal. But Jeremy Pelzer reports there’s an enormous gap between what the Akron-based electric utility says its punishment should be and much harsher consequences recommended by critics.
School vouchers: Attorney General Dave Yost has appealed a Franklin County judge’s ruling that declared the state’s EdChoice school voucher programs are unconstitutional. Mary Frances McGowan reports the filing represents the next step in a legal battle that could reshape education funding across the state.
Dem mayors: More than 50 mayors from across the country are converging on Cleveland to compare notes on challenges in their cities and how to tackle the chaos in Washington as it hits home, reports Mary Frances McGowan.
E-check: Sen. Jon Husted questions the effectiveness of Greater Cleveland’s E-Check vehicle emissions testing program, highlighting its $14 million annual cost. Sabrina Eaton reports that Husted raised concerns during a Senate confirmation hearing about the program’s continued relevance given newer, cleaner vehicle technologies.
Post office: U.S. Representative Shontel Brown introduced legislation to rename a Cleveland post office after Tech. Sgt. Alma Gladys Minter, a trailblazing member of the all-Black Women’s Army Corps unit that cleared massive World War II mail backlogs, reports Sabrina Eaton.
Immigration: A Cleveland immigration court ruling denies asylum to women facing gender-based violence, sparking outrage. Today in Ohio podcast host Chris Quinn highlights the decision as emblematic of a growing lack of empathy in U.S. immigration policy.
Northeast Ohio News
Smart buoys: Lake Erie now features smart buoys that allow anyone to text a specific number and receive real-time water conditions, including temperature, wind speed, and more. Ryan Cohick reports that Cleveland Water Alliance has deployed 13 buoys across Ohio’s Lake Erie counties.
Water ski show: The Chippewa Lake Water Ski Show Team’s weekly performances at Emerald Lake in Norton features a “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” themed show with spectacular water skiing tricks. See photos by Dave Petkiewicz.
Street resurfacing: Cleveland will spend $20 million on street resurfacing this summer, significantly increasing its typical annual budget of $12 million, reports Sean McDonnell.
Gate access: Akron-Canton Airport also allows non-travelers to go beyond TSA checkpoints, like the new Cleveland Hopkins program, reports Joey Morona.
Business and Health
Summa sale: There is a public hearing set for July 30 regarding a new $30 million health foundation created from Summa Health’s $485 million sale to a for-profit company, reports Julie Washington. The hearing will allow community members to provide input on the foundation’s future.
Reserve Square: Downtown Cleveland’s largest mixed-use building, Reserve Square, will be foreclosed on due to policy changes affecting international student tenants. Adam Ferrise reports that the building’s owner blames the Trump administration’s immigration policies for the massive drop in occupancy.
Crime and Courts
Euclid Beach: A Cleveland man has been indicted on multiple charges, including aggravated murder, for a deadly shooting at Euclid Beach Park in July. David Gambino reports that Christopher Manning, 25, is accused of killing 20-year-old Jarvis Perryman and injuring a teenager during the incident.
Arts and Entertainment
Gin Blossoms: Gin Blossoms, the ’90s alt-rock band known for hits like “Hey Jealousy,” continue their nostalgic summer tour, highlighting their musical journey and the lasting impact of their late founding guitarist Doug Hopkins. Peter Chakerian writes about the band’s enduring appeal and emotional connection to their music.
Fantastic Four: Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” reimagines the superhero team in a retro-futuristic 1960s setting, featuring an all-star cast and a compelling storyline about family, sacrifice, and cosmic stakes. Joey Morona writes about the film’s innovative approach to the beloved comic book characters.
Luchita’s: The Galindo family is reviving Luchita’s Mexican Restaurant in Shaker Square, opening La Casa de Luchita’s on July 31. Paris Wolfe reports that the restaurant will feature rotating regional Mexican cuisine, starting with Oaxacan dishes and changing menus every three months.
Christmas in July: CentroVilla25 is hosting a three-day Christmas in July celebration in Cleveland’s Clark Fulton neighborhood. Alex Darus reports that the event will feature Latin American holiday cuisine, live music, and festive activities from July 25-27.
Ask Yadi: A reader seeks guidance on visiting a friend who has repeatedly offered an open invitation during a stressful time. Yadi Rodriguez writes about navigating the delicate balance of being a houseguest while respecting the friend’s schedule and boundaries.
Ohio City Farm: Ohio City Farm added its first permanent infrastructure after 15 years, including the Roundstone Pavilion, Glick Farm Store, and Cuyahoga Kitchen. Alex Darus highlights how the new space will support immigrant entrepreneurs and create economic opportunities.
Pantera: Pantera returned to Northeast Ohio with a tribute lineup featuring Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown, honoring the late Abbott brothers. Malcolm X Abram writes about the band’s 95-minute performance at Blossom Music Center, blending nostalgia with musical respect.
You’re all caught up
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— Curated by content director Laura Johnston with contributions by Zach Mentz.
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