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Red Barber Turns 100
2008-02-15 08:55
by Jon Weisman

NPR, which was the radio home for the Friday morning chats of late, great Dodger announcer Red Barber with host Bob Edwards, is celebrating what would have been the Ol' Redhead's 100th birthday on Sunday by posting a remembrance and a series of radio clips.

Barber was born just before Spring Training in 1908 and passed away on October 22, 1992, just before the end of the World Series. He called games for the Dodgers from 1938 to 1953, mentoring Vin Scully at the start of the New Redhead's career.

Comments
2008-02-15 09:06:06
1.   Bob Timmermann
Good morning, Colonel Jon.
2008-02-15 09:16:30
2.   old dodger fan
I heard one of the clips on NPR this am. Red was talking about birds dive bombing his dog. I loved the man's perspective. He never seemed to take himself too seriously. It was great to hear his voice again.

It is hard to believe he's been gone that long. I looked forward to hearing him on Fridays on the drive to work.

I would love to hear his thoughts on the state of the game today.

2008-02-15 09:18:24
3.   kinbote
Is it too late to nominate Chan Ho Park as my sleeper NRI to make the team?
2008-02-15 09:24:00
4.   LogikReader
That tribute was a lot of fun!

I also hope one day people see the headline "Dodger Thoughts Turns 100."

2008-02-15 09:34:25
5.   Andrew Shimmin
There's not a lot I'd be willing to live to 120 to see. But maybe if I had a time machine, I'd spend an afternoon checking out DT's hundredth anniversary. It could be a multi-tasking opportunity, too--make that the day I picked up the sports almanac from the future.
2008-02-15 09:41:13
6.   Jon Weisman
I'll be 134 years old on the site's 100th anniversary. If you pass retirement age twice, do you get two Social Security checks? You know, the way they have a 14th-inning stretch at the ballpark?
2008-02-15 10:05:57
7.   Jon Weisman
New post up top.
2008-02-15 10:23:49
8.   ibleedbloo
Happy Birthday Red Barber and Russel Martin.
2008-02-15 15:10:49
9.   dzzrtRatt
I recall hearing Red Barber broadcast Yankee games when I was a kid. Their team was, as I recall, Barber, Joe Garagiola and Mel Allen. But I could be wrong; this was a long time ago, the mid-60s. Anyway, even as a kid I could tell what was different about Red Barber. He made baseball relaxing.

I would've listened to him more, but I was a Mets fan and a Yankee-hater.

2008-02-15 20:13:57
10.   popup
1953 had to be the best year for baseball broadcasting in any one city in this country. Red, Connie Desmond and Vin were the Dodger broadcasters, Ernie Harwell and Russ Hodges worked for the Giants, and Mel Allen and Jim Woods broadcast Yankee games. Connie Desmond was probably the weakest broadcaster in that group and yet he was a very good broadcaster.

The Angels have had some good broadcasters over the years--- Dave Niehaus and Dick Enberg were really good. Add in Vin and LA has had some years of excellent baseball broadcasts. I don't think though that any city has even come close to the quality of the baseball broadcasters in NYC in 1953.

Stan from Tacoma

2008-02-15 23:55:51
11.   Joe Pierre
In rememerance of the "ol Red Head" How many of you remember Connie Desmond? Red called him the mellow-ious voice this side of the Mississippi (Ah the east side) I remember when Scully "da Young Red Head" first started. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RED
2008-02-16 09:16:10
12.   popup
Joe, I don't remember Connie. I have heard him though on some tapes and he was a very good broadcaster. If you are still following this thread I do have a couple of questions for you. When Vin first started in 1950 how good was he? From 1950-53 how many innings of a game would he broadcast?

The earliest broadcast I have heard by Vin was a few innings of TV in the 1955 World Series. I wish I could hear a Dodger radio broadcast from the early 50's with Connie, Vin and Red doing the play by play.

Stan from Tacoma

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