Hamilton inducted into Iowa Sports Hall of Fame

HOUSTON -- Astros Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton has been inducted into the Des Moines Sunday Register's Iowa Sports Hall of Fame.

Hamilton, who grew up in Fairfield, Iowa, is the 215th inductee into this Hall of Fame as he joins the likes of Major League Baseball great Bob Feller, Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner, former NFL greats Alex Karras, Emlen Tunnell, Roger Craig and Kurt Warner and legendary University of Iowa football coach Hayden Fry.

"Being from your state and being honored, it's very special and very humbling," Hamilton said. "When the state you were born, raised and went to University of Iowa, when that paper puts you in the Hall of Fame, that's special."

This marks the sixth Hall of Fame honor for Hamilton, whose 59 seasons as a Major League broadcaster are second all-time to Vin Scully's record of 65 seasons in the booth. Hamilton served as the radio voice of the Houston Astros from 1985-2012, and in that span, called some of the greatest moments in franchise history.

"Congratulations to Milo on another well-deserved honor," said Astros president of business operations Reid Ryan in a statement. "He truly is a broadcasting icon that has been a part of Astros baseball for decades. This is another fitting honor for one of baseball's broadcasting greats."

Hamilton is best-known for his radio call of Hank Aaron's historic 715th home run on April 8, 1974, while serving as the Atlanta Braves' play-by-play announcer. Hamilton and Aaron have a special bond that remains today. When the Astros honored Hamilton's career with a special night in 2012, Aaron made the trip to Houston to speak at the event.

Other highlights from Hamilton's illustrious career include calling 11 no-hitters, Nolan Ryan's 4,000th career strikeout and Craig Biggio's 3,000th hit. In addition to the Astros and Braves, Hamilton also had stints with the Pirates, including their 1979 World Championship season, and with the White Sox, Cubs and Cardinals.

In 1992, Hamilton received the industry's highest honor, receiving the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2009, in honor of his 25th season in Houston, a street outside Minute Maid Park was renamed Milo Hamilton Way. Later that year, Hamilton was named "King of Baseball" by Minor League Baseball at the annual MLB Winter Meetings.