Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 11, 1993 TAG: 9303110175
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SAN FRANCISCO LENGTH: Medium
WOMAN IS VOICE OF GIANTS
The San Francisco Giants made baseball history Wednesday by picking a woman public-address announcer, ending a search for a new voice to go with the team's new face.Sherry Davis, a legal secretary from Walnut Creek, will be the first full-time woman public-address announcer in major-league history, team officials said.
"I was surprised, but I hope that other women will try out now," said Davis, who beat out two finalists in auditions at Candlestick Park.
She was the only woman among the nine competitors called back for the second round of auditions. Almost 500 people showed up earlier this month to try out for the job. Eight were women.
Most making the first cut had announcing experience.
The two other finalists were Rory Miller of Chico, who has a broadcasting degree, and Dan Harrington, who announced football games for San Francisco State.
The other candidates included Tom Geren, announcer for the Sacramento Surge football team, and Joe Hallisy, announcer for the University of San Francisco basketball games since 1987.
Davis, who said she was in her early 40s, has a theater and voice background that goes back nearly 25 years. A graduate in drama from the College of Notre Dame in Maryland, she has performed voice-over work for various commercials and public service announcements since 1981. She has also appeared as an extra in the movies "The Last Detail" and "On the Edge."
The public address announcer must also keep score. Davis was prepared to prove her ability, carrying a scorebook that dated to 1987.
"I'm going to be in the warm Arizona sun," Davis said when she was asked how she would celebrate. "I'm going to spring training."
She will announce part of Saturday's spring training game against Oakland at Scottsdale.
"We wanted someone with special qualities and a distinctive voice who could make the place feel special," Giants executive Pat Gallagher said.