Joe Starkey
Joseph K. Starkey | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1941 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Years active | 1975–2022 |
| Known for | Radio play-by-play announcer for California Golden Bears football; play-by-play voice for San Francisco 49ers (1989–2008) |
Joseph K. Starkey (born 1941) is a renowned American sportscaster who held the position of radio play-by-play announcer for California Golden Bears football from 1975 through 2022. Prior to that, he was the sports director at KGO radio in San Francisco and served as the play-by-play voice for the San Francisco 49ers over two decades (1989–2008).
Starkey gained widespread recognition for his legendary narration of The Play during the 1982 Big Game between Cal and Stanford, famously exclaiming, "Oh, the band is out on the field!" He regarded this moment as "the most amazing, sensational, dramatic, heartrending, exciting, thrilling finish in the history of college football!"
Career
Raised in Chicago, Starkey briefly played football at Thornton Junior College before earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago in 1964 and a Master of Science in international relations in 1965.
His broadcasting portfolio includes NFL assignments with the Minnesota Vikings (1977) and Denver Broncos, as well as USFL coverage of the Oakland Invaders. Starkey was also the first television announcer for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. Additionally, he was both the radio and television voice for the NHL’s Oakland/California Seals and Colorado Rockies (now New Jersey Devils), where his distinctive goal call, "What a bonanza!" became a hallmark. This phrase later transitioned into his football broadcasts to highlight exceptional plays by athletes such as Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens.
Starkey’s experience extends to NHL broadcasts for the Pittsburgh Penguins and NBA commentary for both the Golden State Warriors and University of California Golden Bears basketball.
On August 18, 2022, it was announced by the University of California that Starkey would retire following the conclusion of the Golden Bears’ 2022 football season.
San Francisco 49ers
Prior to assuming play-by-play duties for the 49ers starting in 1989, Starkey worked as a color analyst on their radio broadcasts during 1987 and 1988 alongside Lon Simmons. During those years, he also handled play-by-play for select games when Simmons was engaged with San Francisco Giants coverage. His memorable calls include radio broadcasts of Super Bowl XXIV and Super Bowl XXIX.
He narrated numerous iconic moments in 49ers history, including Deion Sanders’ pivotal interception in the end zone that sealed Super Bowl XXIX. In the 1998 season, Starkey called two hallmark plays: Garrison Hearst’s 96-yard overtime touchdown against the New York Jets and Steve Young’s game-winning touchdown pass to Terrell Owens, famously dubbed The Catch II. He also covered San Francisco’s dramatic playoff comeback versus the New York Giants in 2002.
When broadcast rights shifted from KGO to competitor station KNBR in 2005, Starkey chose to resign from KGO in order to continue his role with the team. He maintained his broadcasting duties for the Cal Bears on KGO without interruption.
Starkey stepped down as the 49ers’ play-by-play announcer on December 18, 2008, citing logistical difficulties managing travel between Saturday Cal games and Sunday 49ers contests.
In December 2010, he received "The Chris Schenkel Award" from The National Football Foundation, honoring his distinguished career covering college football at the University of California. Throughout his career, Starkey was named Best California play-by-play broadcaster by the Associated Press nine times and earned induction into both the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in 2009 and the University of California Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
Personal
Starkey resides in the Bay Area with his wife, Diane. Together, they are parents to three sons and grandparents to six grandchildren.