Top 10 New York sports calls of all time

Nowhere produces more local and national sports play-by-play announcers than the New York area, and nowhere has produced more memorable calls — most made by announcers who grew up around here.

Here are our top 10 New York sports calls from a list that easily could be 10 times this long:

10 – Howie Rose, Johan Santana’s no-hitter in 2012

Gary Cohen and Rose provide Mets fans with a historical perspective as lifelong fans themselves. That was evident in Rose’s radio call of Santana’s no-hitter in 2012. “He’s done it! Johan Santana has pitched a no-hitter! In the 8,020th game in the history of the New York Mets, they finally have a no-hitter!” On TV, Cohen said, “It has happened! In their 51st season, Johan Santana has thrown the first no-hitter in New York Mets history!”

9 – Dan Kelly, Islanders win the 1980 Stanley Cup

The Islanders’ relatively rapid rise from expansion team to NHL greatness culminated with Game 6 of the 1980 Stanley Cup Final at Nassau Coliseum, when Bob Nystrom scored in overtime to beat the Flyers, 5-4. Dan Kelly did what he could to make his call heard over the noise of the ecstatic crowd. “Islanders’ No. 10, Henning, to Tonelli. Here’s Tonelli with Nystrom. The pass to Nystrom. He scooores!!”

8 – Phil Rizzuto, Roger Maris’ 61st home run in 1961

Yankees fans heard Phil Rizzuto say “Holy cow!” countless times during his 40 years doing their games on radio and TV. But the most memorable came early in his career, when Roger Maris hit a home run at Yankee Stadium against Boston’s Tracy Stallard for his 61st tater of 1961, surpassing Babe Ruth’s single-season record. “Fastball hit deep to right. This could be it. Way back there. Holy cow, he did it, 61 for Maris!”

7 – Michael Kay, Derek Jeter’s last home game in 2014

Jeter provided plenty of material for radio and TV announcers, and Kay took full advantage with many memorable calls about him, including, “He is Mr. November!” in 2001 and, “History, with an exclamation mark!” when his 3,000th hit was a home run in 2011. Then came Jeter’s last home game in 2014, in which he beat the Orioles, 6-5, with a walk-off single. “Derek Jeter, where fantasy becomes reality! Did you have any doubt?”

6 – Chic Anderson, 1973 Belmont Stakes

Secretariat did not wear the uniform of a New York team, but he provided one of the best performances in New York sports history at Belmont Park in Elmont in 1973. Anderson rose to the occasion for what would be a 31-length victory to secure the Triple Crown. “Secretariat is widening now. He is moving like a tremendous machine!” And later, “Here comes Secretariat to the wire, an unbelievable, an amazing performance.”

5 – Vin Scully, Game 6 of the 1986 World Series

Scully grew up a Giants fan in Manhattan, making him an apt pick to call an iconic National League triumph in New York. It was Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. The Mets trailed the Red Sox 3-2 in games and were tied at 5-5 in the 10th inning at Shea Stadium. Mookie Wilson was at bat, Ray Knight at second base. “Little roller up along first. Behind the bag. It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight, and the Mets win it!” The Mets won Game 7 two nights later.

4 – Marv Albert, Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals

Albert had already informed radio listeners the injured Willis Reed would start Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Lakers. But most fans at Madison Square Garden did not know it until Reed walked through the tunnel onto the court for warmups. Albert documented the excitement from the radio booth high atop the Garden, nearly drowned out by the crowd. “Now the crowd rising. Here comes Willis Reed!” The Knicks won, 113-99, for their first NBA title.

3 – Sam Rosen, Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Final

Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Final was the last Cup Final game ever televised by a local outlet, which gifted Rangers fans a familiar voice in MSG’s Rosen to document a 3-2 victory over the Canucks at Madison Square Garden and their first Cup since 1940. They have not won one since, making Rosen’s call unintentionally prescient. “The waiting is over! The New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup champions! And this one will last a lifetime!”

2 – Howie Rose, Game 7 of 1994 NHL Eastern Conference final

Before the Rangers could win the Stanley Cup they had to get past the formidable Devils. Their epic Eastern Conference final went to a double overtime in Game 7, when Stephane Matteau scored from behind the net to win it, 2-1, at Madison Square Garden. Rose’s radio call: “He scores! Matteau! Matteau! Matteau! Stephane Matteau! And the Rangers have one more hill to climb, baby, but it’s Mount Vancouver. The Rangers are headed to the Finals!”

1 – Russ Hodges, 1951 National League playoff

No one under 80 recalls hearing this live, but even after all these decades, Hodges’ call of “The Shot Heard 'Round the World” remains the standard by which all other baseball calls are judged. When Bobby Thomson of the New York Giants hit a three-run home run at the Polo Grounds to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers, 5-4, in Game 3 of a best-of-three National League playoff, Hodges screamed, “The Giants win the pennant” five times. The unforgettable repetition continues to echo.

By Neil Best

neil.best@newsday.com@sportswatch

Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.