Posted on 09/06/2018 2:39:08 PM PDT by Eddie01
good question - rod allen may have been the first!
There is a section at Cooperstown for media; the broadcasters in the booth for both radio and TV. It isn’t as big as many of the other exhibits and its kind of out of the way; you have to look for it to go there. But it’s definitely worth it. Yes, Ernie Harwell is there, and deservedly so. He was the voice of the Tigers. I’m sure Vin Scully will join him in enshrinement. Harry Caray is there, too, of course, along with Mel Allen.
But it’s definitely worth it if you go to Cooperstown to go to the media section of the HOF. The truly great broadcasters were very important in making the game an American tradition. Fans grew attached to these guys and lived and died with them. One of my fondest memories as a young man was being the job site gopher on my summer job. In 1980, that meant driving around Kokomo in the afternoon listening to Vince Lloyd and Lou Bourdreau doing Cub games on WGN.
I don’t expect to see either of these clowns there.
For on air broadcasters who hated each other, one has to recall Howard Coselll vs Jeff and Mabels baby boy Dandy Don Meredith.
In the household I grew up in when the tigers game was on national tv and someone else was announcing the tv volume was off and WJR radio was on so we could listen to Ernie and Al, the history lessons I learned from these 2 gentlemen was priceless!
My favorite Dandy Don/Howard moment:
Shortly after Korean boxer Duk Koo Kim died after a bout with Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, MNF broadcast a game between the Cowboys and the Giants at Dallas. On a 4th and 1 at New York’s 20 yard line, Tom Landry elected to bring on the field goal unit and some of the fans in Texas Stadium began booing the decision. Howard Cosell went on a rant about the “bloodthirsty fans” and all they want is “blood blood blood.” He finished his argument with the statement of “and that’s what leads to dead boxers in the ring.”
When he was done, Don Meredith said:
“Oh come on Howard, we’re only talking about kicking a field goal.”
Thanks for posting. (Tiger fan here)
My favorite is still Gibby’s epic walk-off homer for the Dodgers. That was being covered here, of course (World Series), and would have meant even more had the Dodgers wound up winning the series. ;^) But that was the Sistine Chapel of his career in baseball. And that includes the time he caught up with the leading baserunner, and pushed the guy into the catcher, and he was out, but Gib was safe. His last year with the Tigers he taunted the much younger players for not being able to run faster. Heh...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4nwMDZYXTI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5IHTSvGfDI
When I was in Michigan we were knowing that they did not like each other for a few years now . . . and that Rod Allen was trying to move over to FS1 to get away from Mario.
Do they have film on the fight?
My dad and I would listen to the game on AM at the kitchen table with old dial radio in the late 70’s / early 80’s.
That was the best AM baseball commentary!
Great memories.
I graduated HS in ‘84 and we listened throughout the years leading up to the championship.
Not to get off topic, but we were in the living room watching the Disco vs. Rock debacle live. (Bill Veck as in wreck)
No unfortunately (or not yet) and I bet security checked the cell cameras of anyone near.
I’ve heard two wildly different stories. Rod chased him in the tunnel and Rod choked Mario in the booth.
Either way, big shake up.
Mario and Gibby don’t work.
I see Matt Shepard being tapped for 1st chair in the near future.
Ernie was one of the greatest, along with Vin Scully and their mentor, Red Barber.
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