PA announcer:
A’s name Amelia Schimmel full-time voice at the Coliseum.
MESA, Ariz. — Amelia Schimmel is the A’s fulltime publicaddress announcer for home games at the Coliseum, the team announced Tuesday.
Schimmel, who grew up in Oakland, subbed last year for PA voice Dick Callahan, becoming the first woman to handle publicaddress duties at the Coliseum. Callahan, who announced games at the Coliseum for 15 seasons, died in January at age 80.
Schimmel joined the A’s in 2017 as executive producer of ballpark entertainment after working eight years at MLB Network as an editor and segment producer. In a statement, Schimmel said taking up the A’s publicaddress role is “the greatest honor of my career.”
“As an Oakland native, I spent many nights at the Coliseum with my family,” Schimmel said. “I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would become the PA announcer for my favorite team. I am truly thankful for this opportunity and cannot wait for Opening Day.
“I’m also eternally grateful to the late Dick Callahan, who was a great mentor to me over the last three years. Nobody will replace Dick, but I hope to make him proud as I sit behind the mic each night.”
Callahan worked more than 1,000 A’s home games, spent 19 seasons as the Warriors’ PA voice, and announced games for St. Mary’s and other Bay Area colleges.
With Callahan absent last season because of health reasons, Schimmel announced A’s games in an unusual setting, with no fans amid the coronavirus pandemic. That is expected to change this season, with California announcing that limited fans will be allowed back into MLB stadiums when the 2021 season begins. The A’s are set to host the Houston Astros on Opening Night, April 1.
“We were fortunate to have the warm and welcoming voice of Dick Callahan echo throughout the Coliseum for 15 years,” A’s President Dave Kaval said in a statement. “Dick was a friend to everyone he crossed paths with and beloved by A’s fans. Dick was also a great mentor and teacher to those who worked alongside him on a nightly basis, including Amelia. We know that she will continue his legacy, and we are excited for her to become the first female voice of the Athletics.”