Better Know A Broadcaster: Nick Flammia

With baseball paused for the foreseeable future, Baseball America has decided to introduce you to some of the men and women who work as broadcasters for each club.

What Is Your Name?

Nick Flammia

Which Team Do You Work For?

Tampa Tarpons (high Class A Affiliate of the New York Yankees)

Which Other Baseball Teams Have You Broadcasted For?

Tampa is the one and only, so far. I started soon after college in 2012, when they were the Tampa Yankees.

What Other Sports Have You Broadcasted?

Basketball, football, soccer, volleyball.

Who Is Your Favorite MLB Broadcaster Of All Time?

That’s a tough one, but I’ll go with Jon Miller. Growing up in the 90s, I watched a lot of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, enjoying the call by Miller and Joe Morgan. On my drive home, I still occasionally tune in to the West Coast games, catching Miller on the call for the San Francisco Giants.

Where Is Your Favorite Road City?  

Daytona Beach. I’ve had the opportunity to join the team a few times when they visit the Daytona Tortugas at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Not only is the ballpark a must-see, the trip is also highlighted by a hotel stay on the beach! As long as the weather cooperates, Daytona Beach is fantastic.

What Is Your Career Highlight?

As a born-and-raised Yankees fan, getting to work for this organization has been thrilling. I’d say my career is highlighted by the fact that I get to witness first-hand the upbringing of the Baby Bombers.

I joined Tampa back in 2012, when a 19-year-old kid named Gary Sanchez was playing catcher. 2014 was by far my favorite year, with Greg Bird and Aaron Judge crushing the ball, and Luis Severino pitching so well that he was promoted after just four starts. I saw 20-year-old Miguel Andujar in 2015, and 19-year-old Gleyber Torres in 2016. Seeing all these would-be major leaguers come through Tampa has been amazing.

What Unseen Parts Of The Job Do You Feel People Should Know About?

People tend to be surprised when I tell them how many hats I wear. Besides calling the game, my job also includes: announcing roster adjustments, writing/posting press releases, compiling/printing stat packs, approving/fulfilling credential requests for writers and photographers, coordinating player/coach interview requests, relaying player walk-up song requests to the booth, writing feature articles for the team program, and posting game updates on the team’s social media platforms. Oh, and occasionally pulling tarp.

What’s Your Best Story From The Road?  

When the team plays in Dunedin (a 45-minute ride from Tampa), most of us take the bus to-and-from the game. I usually am among those who do so, but I decided to drive myself to a game back in 2018. After the game, I packed up my stuff and headed back to the parking lot. I looked to my right and saw one of our players standing outside the visiting clubhouse.

“Are you okay?,” I asked. “Did the bus leave?,” he replied. There was no bus in sight. I called up our manager Pat Osborn to let him know that a player was left behind, but that I could drive him back. So we start our drive back to Tampa and, 10 minutes later, we spy the team bus up ahead. I called Osborn back up and we agreed to have the player get on the bus at the next red light. That’s the story of how I reunited Ben Ruta with his teammates.