Russ Langer Named 2012 Nevada Sportscaster of the Year
It also marks the fourth Las Vegas Stars/51s broadcaster to win the award. Langer joins the late Bob Blum, Ken Korach (Oakland A's) and Tim Neverett (Pittsburgh Pirates) as past recipients.
The award also marks the ninth time overall in his career that he has been honored. He won the same honor in 1999 in the state of New Mexico, as the play-by-play voice of the PCL's Albuquerque Dukes. The awards are determined by a poll of state sportswriters and sportscasters.
"My heartiest and deepest thanks to the members of the NSSA for this amazing honor," Langer said. "I am humbled by their continued support."
The 54th Annual NSSA Awards Banquet will be held on June 10 in Salisbury, North Carolina, where the organization's Hall of Fame is located. This year's national winners include Dan Patrick of Dan Patrick Show/Football Night in America, Premiere Radio/NBC (Sportscaster) and Peter King of Sports Illustrated (Sportswriter), along with 106 State Sportscaster and Sportswriter of the Year Awards from throughout the United States.
Dick Vitale of ESPN and Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press/Author have been elected to the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association's Hall of Fame, according to NSSA Executive Director Dave Goren.
Langer enters his 26th year in the business and the 2013 season will mark his 14th season calling the play-by-play for the 51s. The 144-game season will once again be broadcast on FOX Sports Radio 920-AM and live audio available on the 51s website (LV51.com).
In 2012, Langer also completed his first season as the radio "play-by-play voice" for the UNLV Football team.
Langer's Major League Baseball broadcasting experience includes 30 games for the Montreal Expos during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, and nine Baltimore Orioles games in 2006. He has also broadcast selected Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training games from Florida. In 2009 & 2010, Langer broadcast selected Spring Training games for the Toronto Blue Jays from Dunedin, Fla. and the Chicago White Sox in 2012.
The veteran broadcaster reached the PCL in 1992 with the Phoenix Firebirds. He enjoyed a four-year stint with Albuquerque before moving to Las Vegas. Over his career, he has received numerous awards including: Minor League Broadcaster of the Year by the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues in 1993; broadcast the 1995 Triple-A All-Star Game; Minor League Broadcaster of the Year by Minor League News.com in 2002.
The 51s, under manager Wally Backman, will open their 31st season in the Silver State on Thursday, April 4 against division-rival, the Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A's, at Sacramento, Calif. Las Vegas' home opener is against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, on Friday, April 12 at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field.
Season tickets and mini-plan packages (10 & 10-Games You Pick'em, 20, 33-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825. Individual game tickets for the 72-game home schedule will go on sale in March.
Official licensed 51s team merchandise is available on the "Team Shop" section of the website.