Bill Jensen has been just that voice at Rosenblatt Stadium for a long time. He has been the PA announcer for Omaha Royals games for 20 years and the PA announcer for College World Series games for the past 10 years.
Jensen already works at News Radio 1110 KFAB in Omaha during the day from 4:00 am until noon. So, why, at the age of 63, would he want to spend his evenings at Rosenblatt Stadium?
“I always wanted to be a baseball player,” Jensen said. “It was my secret dream. I was never good enough to get beyond the sandlot. I was a great sandlot player, but beyond that, I wasn’t very good. So being the PA announcer is my way to be part of baseball.”
He says he hopes to go another ten years – or as long as his health and voice will allow. Jensen followed legendary CWS PA announcer Jack Payne, who held that position from 1964 to 2000 and Payne blazed the trail for Jensen in more ways than one.
“When I was a little kid, one of the first people that I started idolizing in broadcasting was Jack Payne,” Jensen said. “So it was kind of ironic that I wound up taking over for him in the College World Series. I always wanted to be a sportscaster, but my career never took me that way – it was always in news.”
Jensen is married and loves to spend time with his four grandchildren. He likes to golf once in a while and he bowls in a league during the winter. Like most of us though, as winter crawls to a close in the heartland, he is anxious for Opening Day at the ballpark.
Since 2010 is the final year for the Omaha Royals and College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium, he has set a goal for himself – something he wants to accomplish before the Omaha Royals conclude their season at home.
“I think there’s a noon game, the last home stand,” Jensen said. “As soon as I get off work at noon, I’m going to come down and I’m going to be a fan. I have not sat in the stands as a fan – I cannot remember the last time. I want to do that one time. I might even have a beer.”
