WALTER RED BARBER
1908 -
FROM HIS BELOVED PERCH IN THE "CATBIRD SEAT," HE ESTABLISHED HALLMARKS OF EXCELLENCE IN BASEBALL BROADCASTING. A NATIVE OF COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI, HE LAUNCHED HIS DISTINGUISHED MAJOR LEAGUE ANNOUNCING CAREER IN CINCINNATI IN 1934, WHERE HE REMAINED THROUGH 1938. BROUGHT TO BROOKLYN BY LARRY MACPHAIL IN 1939, HE SERVED AS THE "VOICE OF THE DODGERS" FOR 15 YEARS BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO THE NEW YORK YANKEES FOR AN ADDITIONAL 13 SEASONS. HIS 33 CONSECUTIVE YEARS AS A MAJOR LEAGUE ANNOUNCER INCLUDED NUMEROUS WORLD SERIES AS WELL AS OTHER MAJOR SPORTS BROADCASTS.
COLORFUL AND INNOVATIVE, HE WAS HIGHLY RESPECTED AND ADMIRED BY HIS PEERS AS AN OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL IN HIS FIELD. A WRITER, LECTURER, AND LAY PREACHER, HE - ALONG WITH MEL ALLEN - BECOMES THE FIRST BROADCASTER TO RECEIVER THIS AWARD.
NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM, INC.
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.
AUGUST 7, 1978
Red Barber
Broadcaster
1978
Hall of Fame: 1978
The iconic broadcaster was the original radio voice of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1939 to 1953. Barber described the action at Ebbets Field from his "catbird seat," including Jackie Robinson's historic rookie season in 1947. Barber later became a mentor to a No. 3 announcer from Fordham University hired by the Dodgers in 1950 - Vin Scully.