Hey White Sox nation, this is Matt Hoeppner. I just wanted to use this space to introduce myself as the newest member of Grab Some Bench! And tell you a little bit about myself. I will be helping out Zach and Luke with some additional content here at GSB! I hope to contribute a little bit of everything White Sox related for the stretch run of this season and hopefully well into October!
I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago and like Zach graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School where I was also the Sports Director at WHFH 88.5 FM as a junior and went on to the position of Administrative Manager for WHFH and Viking Television. I also served as the play by play voice of Vikings baseball and football for 3 years.
Go Vikings!
After graduating from HF in 2000 I went on to Michigan State University where I received a degree in Broadcast Journalism with an emphasis in Sports Broadcasting.
In 2006 I began working as a Pitch F/X Operator for MLB Advanced Media, spending part of the ’06 season working at US Cellular Field. After the season I moved back to Lansing, MI where I worked in the production department of WILX-TV and transferred to Comerica Park for MLB.com for the 2007 season and have been working Tigers games ever since (don’t worry, my loyalties remain untainted).
Last year I began working as a play by play announcer for the Michigan Regional Sports Network and have announced Michigan High School Football, NAHL Hockey and NJCAA Basketball and Baseball.
As a Chicagoan living in Detroit it has been a tough road being at odds with everyone around me when it comes to sports and that is one of the reasons that I can’t wait to contribute to GSB! and interact with White Sox fans all across the country.
As for my White Sox background, my first White Sox game was at Old Comiskey Park against the Orioles in the late 80’s. Ironically our seats were behind a pole down the left field line and I didn’t see very much of the game. I remember my last game at Old Comiskey in 1990; Bobby Thigpen blew a save and wasted a great outing by Black Jack McDowell. Since then I have been to every Crosstown Series at the Cell, the 2000 ALDS, 2005 ALCS and World Series, the Tiebreaker game in 2008, and every opening day since 2003. To me the sound of summer was Hawk and Wimpy on the TV and Rooney and Farmer on the radio.
I look forward to interacting with White Sox nation and having an outlet for my passion other than complaining to my wife, who quite frankly doesn’t care. Go Go Sox!