In the grand scheme of things, Paul Edmonds isn't necessarily old. But by Northern League broadcasting standards, he's a dinosaur. Since 1995, Edmonds has been the voice of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, and as a result, is the eldest among his fellow radio brethren across the circuit.

He joined the club for its second year of existence, and admits he is surprised to have stuck around so long.

"I never thought I would last 12 years in Winnipeg," Edmonds said with a laugh. "I honestly thought that I was probably going to try and move on, but it's such a great fit to be able to do baseball at home and have my friends and family be able to follow my career as well."

Born and raised in Winnipeg, he left the Creative Communications program mid-second year to do play-by-play broadcasting for the Western Hockey League in Saskatchewan, among several print journalism jobs.

He got his first baseball job in 1994 with the Pioneer League's Lethbridge Mounties.

"Oh boy, I was awful for awhile there," Edmonds said.

But he grew on the job and came back a year later for the aforementioned Goldeyes opportunity.

He has also called the action for several West Coast Hockey League teams (as far south as Phoenix, Arizona), but now is a full-time member of the Goldeyes staff, spending the "off-season" working as a sales representative for the club.

Edmonds said the quality product the Northern League offers is second-to-none by independent baseball standards.

"We've seen a lot of good ballplayers come through that obviously slipped through the cracks," Edmonds said. "It's an opportunity for guys like that who would probably never have a chance after college to work on their game and hopefully propel them to the next level."

Players using the Northern League as a springboard to the Majors is just one of the many things Edmonds has seen in this league and that's one of the reasons he keeps coming back.

"Part of the attraction for me is knowing that I am going to work and today something different might happen again," he said. "I really enjoy that element of surprise, whether it be on the field or in the stands."

The quirky goings-on in the Northern League are a small part of what helps Edmonds keep the listener interested, something easier said than done, especially since he calls the game entirely on his own.

"Every year that I have done baseball I have been able to draw on those previous years and that's where the experience factor builds in," he said. "I try to relate that to something we might see in the future. That way you always sort of localize it and that's what keeps the listener interested."

There was certainly a time when Edmonds didn't think he would still be calling Goldeyes games in 2007. But he is and plans on doing so for some time.

"It's that good of job where I could see myself doing it for another 10 or 15 years and maybe become one of those Ernie Harwell or Harry Caray types, a long-time voice of one team," he said. "I love and respect the job that I have and do appreciate the opportunity to do it every year."