Writing a book is an impressive achievement.
Writing one of over 300 pages on the story of baseball, through interviews with nearly 2 dozen broadcasters — including Huge Names like Bob Costas, Chip Caray and Suzyn Waldman — is very impressive.
And to do it while just a junior at Weston High School — well, that’s the equivalent of throwing a perfect game and winning the World Series with a walk-off grand slam.
But it’s what Micah Soloshatz has just done.
“Beyond the Mic: Behind the Scenes Stories from America’s Best and Brightest Broadcasters” was published earlier this month.
Micah Soloshatz, and his book.
Icons of the broadcasting world — many of them Ford C. Frick Award winners (their equivalent of a Cy Young) — shared never-before-told stories with Micah. They offer advice for aspiring baseball broadcasters.
As a new season begins, the book is a perfect companion to watching your favorite team.
So what’s “Beyond the Mic” — or, more appropriately, beyond Micah?
The book began in 2023 with an 8th grade “Launch Class” project at Indian Hill Middle School in Cincinnati, where he lived then. (His family moved from Westport, when he was in 1st grade.)
Students picked a subject they were passionate about, and created a research-based project.
Baseball is Micah’s passion. He lived just 20 minutes from the Reds’ Great American Ball Park. During COVID — when he couldn’t go to games — he became an avid radio listener.
Cincinnati has a rich baseball history. It’s where the professional sport was born (the 1869 Red Stockings were the first “openly salaried” team). So Micah contacted Reds play-by-play voice John Sadak public address announcer Joe Zerhusen.
Micah Soloshatz with (from left) John Sadak and former Reds star Barry Larkin. In 2021 he joined their TV broadcast team.
Both were generous with their time. Micah realized this could become bigger than just a school project
With the confidence of a star athlete, he approached Reds’ legend (and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee) Marty Brennaman. Slowly, the book idea took shape.
For the next couple of years — continuing after a move to Weston — Micah pursued the top broadcasters in baseball.
He met Dave Sims — now the Yankees’ play-by-play commentator — when he worked with the Seattle Mariners, at the team’s hotel.
Micah and Dave Sims.
Again like an athlete, the more Micah worked at his craft — in this case, interviewing — the better he got. He honed his questions — different for each subject — and grew more comfortable asking them.
His young age was not a deterrent.
“People were so open and generous with their time,” he reports. “They saw me as someone who wanted to learn about what they do. I hope I lived up to it.”
Micah Soloshatz with Marty Brennaman. The legendary broadcaster called Cincinnati Reds games from 1974 to 2019.
Costas — the 29-time Emmy Award winner with MLB Network and NBC Sports (and the host of 12 Olympic Games) — was the biggest get.
Micah sent him a letter. The broadcaster called back. They spoke via Zoom for well over an hour.
There were in-person moments too. Philadelphia Phillies PA announcer Dan Baker invited Micah to Citizens Bank Park. He toured the media room, and watched on the field as Baker worked the game.
The 21 interviews include those who not yet in the majors, like Nick Curran of the AAA Louisville Bats and Jeff Dooley of the AA Hartford Yard Goats. Micah wanted to share their stories too.
New York Yankees broadcasters John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. (Photo courtesy of Suzyn Waldman)
To prepare for interviews Micah used SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) archives, the Baseball Hall of Fame, ESPN, MLB.com, YouTube — anything he could find.
At the end of each session Micah asked advice, for himself and other aspiring broadcasters.
Many said something like: It doesn’t matter what sport. You may not know anything about boxing or lacrosse. But say yes to every opportunity — and then learn everything there is to know.
The bulk of “Beyond the Mic” is transcriptions of the interviews. But Micah includes a fascinating, in-depth history of baseball broadcasting (it began in 1921, at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field), along with a glossary and very extensive bibliography.
It’s a home run. Micah’s 8th grade teacher should be very, very proud.
(“Beyond the Mic” is available on Amazon. Click here to purchase.)
(“06880” regularly covers sports, the media, the accomplishments of teenagers — and, like today, their intersection. If you enjoy stories like these, please click here to support our work.)
This June 2, all 30 Major League Baseball teams will inaugurate an annual tribute to Gehrig, and recognize the fatal illness. All players and managers will wear a patch with his #4. “4-ALS” logos will be displayed around stadiums.
