Radio is dying. At least, that’s what the tech bros in SoMa want you to think while they push another subscription streaming service that lags thirty seconds behind the live action. But if you’ve ever sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the 101 or sat on a foggy porch in the Sunset District, you know that’s a lie. For fans in Northern California, San Francisco Giants radio isn't just a way to catch the score. It’s the literal heartbeat of the summer. It’s the sound of Jon Miller’s voice rising over the crack of a bat, a sound that feels as much like San Francisco as the smell of sourdough or the sight of the Sutro Tower peeking through the mist.
Honestly, the connection is visceral. Television is great for seeing the geometry of a shift or the movement on a Logan Webb changeup, but radio is where the storytelling lives. It’s the medium that turns 162 games into a single, cohesive narrative. When you listen to a broadcast on KNBR 680, you aren't just a consumer; you're part of a lineage that stretches back through the Stick, through Seals Stadium, all the way to the team’s arrival in 1958.
The Voices That Live in Your Dashboard
Most teams are lucky to have one "Hall of Fame" caliber voice. The Giants have a surplus. It’s almost unfair. You’ve got Jon Miller, the man whose voice sounds like a warm glass of bourbon. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award circle back in 2010, and he hasn't lost a tick. His ability to mimic Vin Scully or describe a fly ball to right field with Shakespearean gravity is unmatched. Then there’s Dave Flemming. Flemming started as the "young kid" and has grown into one of the most versatile play-by-play men in the country. He handles the big moments with a precision that’s almost clinical but never cold.
But it’s the chemistry that kills. When Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper—Kruk and Kuip—hop over from the TV side to do a few innings on the radio, the vibe changes. It feels like two guys sitting at the end of a bar just talking ball. They don’t just call the game; they live it. They know when a pitcher is nibbling because they’ve been in that dugout. They know when a hitter is "looking for a heater" because they’ve stood in that box.
Sometimes, the radio booth gets a little crowded. That’s a good thing. The rotation often includes former Giants like Javier Lopez or Hunter Pence. It keeps the perspective fresh. You get the tactical breakdown of a lefty specialist combined with the poetic wandering of Miller. It’s a mix that shouldn't work on paper, yet it’s the most consistent thing in Bay Area sports.
How to Listen: The KNBR 680 Dynasty
KNBR 680 AM is "The Sports Leader" for a reason. It’s one of those rare 50,000-watt "clear channel" stations. Back in the day, that meant you could pick up Giants games in Nevada, Oregon, or even parts of Canada on a clear night. Even now, in 2026, with all our digital tools, there is something deeply satisfying about the analog hum of a distant AM signal.
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For the locals, the flagship is the go-to. But the network is huge. The San Francisco Giants radio affiliate list covers almost every corner of Northern and Central California.
- KFIG 1430 AM in Fresno brings the game to the Central Valley.
- KHTK 1140 AM handles the Sacramento market.
- KATA 1340 AM keeps the North Coast connected up in Eureka.
If you’re stuck in a dead zone, the digital shift has finally caught up. You can stream through the MLB app, though you’ll have to pay a few bucks for the "At Bat" subscription. KNBR also streams via their website, but beware: blackout rules and territorial rights are a labyrinth. Usually, if you’re within the local market, the KNBR app or website works, but the minute you cross a state line, the digital door might slam shut. It’s frustrating. It’s the legal reality of sports broadcasting.
The Spanish Broadcast: "¡Sigan con nosotros!"
We can’t talk about the airwaves without talking about Erwin Higueros and Tito Fuentes. The Spanish-language broadcast on KXZM 93.7 FM (and other affiliates) is a masterclass in energy. Tito Fuentes isn't just a former player; he’s a philosopher of the game. His "Tito-isms" are legendary.
The Spanish broadcast captures a different, often more electric, cadence of the game. It reflects the massive Latin American influence on the roster and the fan base. When Camilo Doval is pumping 102 mph heat in the ninth, the Spanish call isn't just descriptive—it’s celebratory. It’s an essential pillar of the Giants’ media empire that often gets overlooked by English-centric media, but if you want to feel the true passion of the park, flip the dial.
The "Radio Only" Magic of the Tenth Inning
There is a specific phenomenon that happens during West Coast night games. It’s 10:45 PM. The game is tied in the tenth. The TV audience has started to drop off because people have work in the morning. But the radio audience? That’s when it peaks.
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People are listening under their covers with an earbud in. They’re driving home from a late shift. They’re sitting in the garage because they can't bring themselves to turn off the car until the inning ends. This is where the radio guys shine. The pace slows down. The crowd noise becomes more prominent in the mix. You can hear the vendors. You can hear the seagulls starting to circle Oracle Park.
Miller or Flemming will start telling stories. Not just about the game, but about the history of the league, or a meal they had in Philadelphia, or the way the wind is whipping off the Cove. It’s intimate. It’s the kind of content that would be edited out of a snappy TikTok highlight reel, but it’s exactly why people stay tuned in.
Technical Hurdles and the "Sync" Struggle
Let's get real for a second. The biggest gripe fans have is the delay. You want to watch the TV on mute and listen to Jon Miller, right? Everyone does. But the digital TV signal is usually 5 to 15 seconds behind the "live" radio broadcast.
If you’re listening on an actual AM/FM transistor radio, you hear the "crack" of the bat before the pitcher even throws the ball on your 4K television. It ruins the tension. Some people use apps like "Radio Delay" or specialized hardware to pause the radio feed to match the TV. It’s a lot of work. But for many, it’s a non-negotiable part of the experience. The TV announcers on the national broadcasts (looking at you, ESPN and FOX) usually don’t know the Giants’ roster half as well as the local radio crew. Fans would rather jump through hoops to hear their own guys than endure a three-hour broadcast of national talking points.
Why the Giants Radio Crew is Different
Most teams have "homers." These are announcers who act like cheerleaders. If the home team loses, they act like it’s a funeral. If the umpire makes a call against them, they complain for three innings.
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The Giants' booth is different. They’re fair. If a Giants player makes a lazy play, Jon Miller will call it out. If the opposing pitcher is throwing a masterpiece, they give him his flowers. This honesty builds trust. When Dave Flemming says a ball is "gone," you know it’s gone. There’s no artificial hype. This credibility is why Giants fans are so fiercely protective of their broadcasters. We’ve been spoiled by decades of elite talent, from Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons to the current "Big Four."
Your Game Day Radio Checklist
If you're planning to rely on the radio this season, don't just wing it.
- Buy a high-quality portable radio. Yes, a real one. Sangean or Sony make great ones. Digital signals fail when the cell towers are overloaded at the ballpark. A physical antenna won't let you down.
- Download the KNBR App. It’s the easiest way to get pre-game and post-game talk, which is often just as entertaining as the game itself. "Post-game wrap" with the guys is peak relaxation.
- Check the Affiliate Map. If you’re driving from SF to Tahoe, you’ll need to know when to switch from 680 AM to 1320 AM in Sacramento. Don't lose the game during a crucial rally in the 7th.
- Embrace the Podcasts. If you miss a game, the "Giants Tool Box" or the condensed radio highlights are available as podcasts. It’s not the same as live, but it’s better than just reading a box score.
The landscape of sports media is shifting toward gambling-heavy, high-velocity content. But San Francisco Giants radio remains a stubborn, beautiful outlier. It’s a slow-burn medium in a fast-paced world. It’s the sound of summer. As long as there are people driving across the Golden Gate Bridge at twilight, there will be someone leaning in toward their dashboard, waiting to hear the words: "Adios, Pelota!"
To get the most out of your listening experience, start by tuning into KNBR 680 about thirty minutes before first pitch. This allows you to catch the "Leadoff Man" segment where the broadcasters break down the pitching matchups and the lineup changes that rarely make it into the quick TV previews. If you're out of the area, verify your MLB At Bat subscription status before the season starts to avoid opening-day login headaches. Finally, if you're at the stadium, bring a single earbud; listening to the radio call while watching the play develop in front of you at Oracle Park is the ultimate way to experience Giants baseball.