Guckian the Voice of Threshers Baseball

Players and coaches come and go each season at Bright House Field.

It is home of the Clearwater Threshers and the High-Class A Florida State League affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.

But there is more of a fixture at the stadium than the cheesesteaks sold behind home plate. It's the voice of Don Guckian.

A native of the Rochester, NY area and a local resident since 1962, Guckian has been the public address voice of the Phillies’ Clearwater farm team since 1989.

And it started thanks to basketball.

Guckian coached two sons of then-Clearwater Central Catholic basketball coach Nick Cavallaro, who, on a whim, asked Guckian to keep the basketball book at home games. That gradually turned to announcing the starting lineups. Then serving as public address announcer for the school's basketball and football games.

Cavallaro also served as the assistant general manager of the Clearwater Phillies at old Jack Russell Stadium. When then-public address announcer Paul Porter began missing games due to scheduling conflicts, Guckian began pinch-hitting for him. Porter gave the job up after the 1988 season.

Phillies director of Florida operations John Timberlake, on a tip from Cavallaro, asked Guckian to be Porter's successor.

"I didn't know if I wanted to do it, I was already working fulltime," Guckian said. "So I told (Timberlake) after talking it over with my wife, that I would do it for one year and then see how it goes. And I'm still here."

"Never in my life did I think keeping a basketball scorebook would lead to this."

Guckian has even moved into working Phillies spring training games. He called 10 of the 17 home games this spring. Philadelphia TV personality Chris Wheeler used to be the voice of Phillies spring training games but is gradually doing less and less games.

"He has TV commitments and can't do all the games," Guckian said.

Guckian has a blast even though he emotes virtually no personality. He cringes discussing what he calls "homer" announcers and is also ashamed to confess he calls the team "your Clearwater Threshers" once before each game.

"That's about as homer as I get," Guckian said. "I hate the rah-rah stuff. If things changed here and they wanted me to ham it up, I wouldn't do it."

Guckian sounds like an old pro. Doesn't swallow his words in an effort to enunciate yet speaks clearly. Guckian swears he has had no formal training in public speaking in any way, nor was any member of his family an English professor.  

In other words, Guckian is a natural.

"Apparently, I have a voice that works for this," Guckian said with a shrug of his shoulders and a smile. "I guess this is the best way of putting it."

Guckian has heard stories from ushers of people who went to those basketball games five decades ago. They step into the stadium, hear the loudspeaker and turn to an usher and ask, "I know that voice from CCC. Is that Don Guckian?"

Fish report: In his first rehab game Wednesday after hand surgery, top Phillies outfield prospect and Tampa Bay area native Dominic Brown put any fears to rest. He's ready. Brown belted a towering two-run home run in an 8-6 win over Lakeland. ... RHP Jonathan Pettibone was named Pitcher of the Week last week in the Florida State League. Pettibone gave up one run in two starts, both wins. In 13 innings pitched Pettibone fanned 10, walked one and gave up nine hits. ... DH Joe Savery leads the FSL in hitting with a .444 average through 19 games. ... Pettibone is third in the FSL in ERA at 0.38. ... The Threshers as of Wednesday night are 1 1/2 games behind Daytona in second place in the FSL North Division. 

On deck: Five of the next six games for the Threshers are home games. Two against Lakeland and three against Tampa.