Courtesy St. Louis Globe-Democrat

(May 13, 2010) Jeff Levering graduated from Chapman University in southern California. He played baseball throughout his college years and was the designated hitter for the Division III College World Series champs in 2005.

His first job out of college was with Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket in Los Angeles. He was an associate producer for the Angels telecasts. He also was an associate producer for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dodgers and the local universities. That helped him make a lot of contacts within the baseball and television industries.

“I had a friend who was working at Rancho Cucamonga (LA Angels, Class A) in 2006. He was doing the P.A. They needed a fill-in guy for the radio. I filled in and worked six games in 2006 and got the full-time job in 2007,” Levering said.

It was fun for him. Like a lot of guys who played at some level, if they couldn’t be playing the game at least they could talk about it.

“I am in my fourth year now and can talk about baseball until I am blue in the face,” he said.

Levering grew up following the San Francisco Giants and their broadcaster Jon Miller (this years Ford C. Frick award winner from the Hall of Fame). But it was Steve Physioc (former Angels announcer who was fired last November along with Rex Hudler) who became his mentor.

“I would send stuff to him and find out what he thought. He would send it back with a critique of what he thought.

"He would offer tips on how I was describing plays. What kinds of things am I saying in between lines? Some people might not understand it. If they were sitting in their car, how would they take that certain phrase? He has really helped me. I know baseball and can describe it in my sleep. The key is to make the listener understand it,” said Levering.

Although he has not been broadcasting as long as Steve Selby, he has still encountered the ups and downs that are a fact of life in the broadcasting business.

“I was working with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes for three years. Our team was bought by George Brett and the Brett brothers. By the end of the season they decided to clean house. Of the 19 front office staff members they had only three come back. They made my position seasonal. They knew that I would look into Double A and Triple A for something. They said ‘good luck’ and if there is anything we can do, let us know."

Well, the announcer at Springfield (Mike Lindskog) sent out an announcement that he was going to be working for the Brett’s. That’s how Jeff found out he was not going back. So he applied for the Springfield Cardinals job and got it.

In addition to doing play-by-play, like most broadcasters in the minors, Levering does double-duty with regard to handling public relations for the club as well. The Brett’s were interested in moving in another direction completely.

As far as the talent in Springfield, he likes what the Cardinals have in Double A.

“On the team, Scott Gorgen is probably one of the hottest pitchers in Double-A right now. He’s 5-1 with an ERA of 1.51. He’s a former fourth-round pick out of UC-Irvine. He has been dominating in the strike zone. His off-speed stuff has been great. He’s the kind of guy you want to look to if you have a losing streak. If he is going on the mound the next day, you know you will be getting a ‘w’.

"Our relief has been very good this year. Eduardo Sanchez just got his seventh save. He’s given up one earned run, a fluke home run in Tulsa. If I had to pick anybody who could be in the big leagues right now, Sanchez would be my guy. He could probably step into the Cardinals’ bullpen and have a 3.00 ERA right now,” Levering said.

If you are heading to either spot for part of your summer vacation, the web sites are listed below.

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