Reds public address announcer Joe Zerhusen went on the disabled list Friday to seek treatment for a "health issue," he says.
Zerhusen, the PA announcer since Great American Ball Park opened in 2003, told me Friday he will miss the remaining games this weekend, and most of the 14 games in May.
Doing the announcing Friday was Aaron Sharpe, WNKU-FM acting general manager and music host. Sharpe has worked as the Reds DJ for years, playing the recorded music between innings and each batter's walk-up song.
Zerhusen will continue his duties as supervisor of the Reds Radio Network, a year round position.
Before being hired by the Reds in 2003, Zerhusen's deep voice was familiar on local radio from his 25-year career at WRRM-FM, WOFX-FM, WCKY-AM and WUBE-AM, and as the PA man for University of Cincinnati football and basketball games.
Sharpe started at WNKU-FM (89.7) as a volunteer board operator in 1998. He was hired as development director in 1999, and was named acting general manager last October when Sean O'Mealy resigned. He's on the air 4-6 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.
On Saturday morning he posted a photo on Facebook from the PA booth, located between the press box and the Fox Sports Ohio TV booth. "Had a slightly different view of the field last night as I moved from the DJ chair to the announcer's chair. This weekend, I'm humbled to be filling in for the best Public Address Announcer in the business, Joe Zerhusen. If I can do it half as well as he does it, I'll be happy."
He did fine. I was at the Reds game Friday night, and Sharpe did a very good job at the GABP microphone.
