ESPN becomes the first network to ask players, coaches, and umpires to wear a microphone during a game. The innovative concept begins when A’s catcher Ramon Hernandez is wired during the nationally televised Sunday night contest, a 6-5 Oakland victory over Seattle at Safeco Field.
The American Sportscasters Association names Dodgers legend Vin Scully as the No. 1 sportscaster of the 20th century. Howard Cosell finishes 2nd, followed by Mel Allen and Red Barber. The Dodgers veteran broadcaster’s 51-year career has included play-by-play of 25 Fall Classics and 12 All-Star Games.
Nike’s ‘Chicks Dig the Long Ball’ commercial, starring Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, airs for the first time. The television ad depicts the Braves hurlers, both who have won multiple Cy Young Awards, as pitchers-who-want-to-become-worshipped-home-run-heroes after becoming frustrated over the attention being shown to Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire by Heather Locklear and a friend.
New York Mets games this season will be broadcast by WPIX, Channel 11, after being aired on WOR, Channel 9, since the club’s inception in 1962. The New York Yankees’ games, which had been aired for nearly 50 years on Channel 11, will now be seen on Channel 5, a FOX affiliate.
On February 18 1998 — Chicago Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray dies four days after collapsing at a Valentine’s Day supper. Caray, age 84, after suffering a heart attack four days earlier while having Valentine’s Day dinner with his wife, Dutchie. The colorful “Mayor of Rush Street” started his career in 1945 with the Cardinals and…
1996 – Legendary broadcaster Mel Allen dies at the age of 83. In 1939, Allen started doing play-by-play for both the New York Yankees and New York Giants, and later narrated the long-running television show, This Week in Baseball. In 1978, Allen received the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence.
For a bit less money paid by CBS for the rights to televise the 1990-1993 seasons of big league games, Major League Baseball comes to an agreement with the Fox Broadcasting Company to air regular season contests on Saturday afternoons. Similar to the format used by The Baseball Network, Fox will offer weekly regionalized telecasts based solely on a viewer’s geography.
During a WGN pregame radio broadcast at Wrigley Field, Cubs announcer Harry Caray remarks to the team’s skipper Jim Riggleman, “Well, my eyes are slanty enough, how ’bout yours?”, referring to Hideo Nomo, the Japanese rookie hurler scheduled to start for the Dodgers. The veteran announcer, known for not backing off for his on-the-air off-handed comments, does issue an apology, calling the incident “unfortunate.”
On June 10, 1995, colorful broadcaster Lindsey Nelson dies at the age of 76. A member of the New York Mets’ original broadcast team in 1962, Nelson served as the team’s play-by-play man for 17 seasons. Known for his loud sportscoats, Nelson received the Hall of Fame’s Ford Frick Award in 1988.
Mets P Bret Saberhagen admits to having sprayed bleach at three reporters on July 27th. He agrees to donate one day’s pay – $15,384.61 – to the Eye Research Foundation.