NHL broadcaster 'Doc' Emrick to call Pirates game

One of the most famous voices in hockey is taking his talents to the diamond, albeit temporarily.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike "Doc" Emrick will work in the Pittsburgh Pirates booth Thursday to call part of their spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Emrick is scheduled to call one or two innings on the radio before joining Pirates play-by-play voice Greg Brown on the television broadcast for a few innings.

"I've known Brownie for a long time, because he's a hockey guy and he likes the sport. So we'd talk about it. He knew I liked the team," Emrick told Adam Berry of MLB.com last month. "I thought, 'Gee, if there was ever a case when I could be on with Brownie, that would be fun for me.' I don't know if it would be for the audience.

"But if it was a harmless Spring Training game, maybe people would be sympathetic and say, 'Well that's just Doc. Let him go for a little bit.'"

Making the day more special for Emrick is the fact that he's been a loyal Pirates fan for 57 years.