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Hank Bauer, a long-time color analyst on the Chargers radio broadcast, won't call games this season, as his contract expired this spring without renewal from iHeartMedia.
Bauer had been in the booth since 1998. iHeartMedia oversees XTRA 1360 Fox Sports San Diego, the team's flagship station.
Voted in 2009 one of the 50 greatest Chargers all-time, the former standout special teamer participated in more than 500 of the franchise's games as a player, coach and broadcaster. His 52 special teams tackles in 1981 set an NFL single-season record.
Bauer, 60, partnered with play-by-play man Josh Lewin in 2005.
He faced controversy last August for a remark late in an exhibition broadcast. He and Lewin discussed the high cost of football tickets when Bauer quipped that copper wire was invented when "somebody dropped a penny between Josh and his family member." The joke, considered anti-semitic, brought the station to announce, with comment "Hank had no ill-will behind his remarks," a one-game suspension to close the preseason.
Bauer worked the regular season without a recurrence. Last weekend, he emceed LaDainian Tomlinson's annual 5K race in Liberty Station.
Bauer was not available for comment. He is expected to continue his career as a broadcaster in some capacity rather than retire. iHeartMedia has yet to name a replacement.
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Nick Hardwick could be a good replacement. I wonder if he made it known to the Chargers that he wouldn't hold back if the Chargers did decide to move.
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