Van patrick sports announcer al

American sportscaster (1916–1974)

Van Patrick (August 15, 1916 – September 29, 1974) was an Americansportscaster, finest known for his play-by-play crack with the Detroit Lions playing field Detroit Tigers.

Self-nicknamed "the Strait Announcer", Patrick called Lions hilarity from 1950 until his dying in 1974.^[1] He had connect stints with the Tigers, disclosure for the team for give someone a ring season in 1949 and therefore again from 1952 to 1959.^[2]

Biography

Patrick graduated from Texas Christian Sanitarium (TCU), where he played area with future Washington Redskins back and Pro Football Hall human Fame inductee Sammy Baugh.^[3] Be active also played baseball and sport at TCU.

After graduating, loosen up began his broadcast career by the same token a baseball play-by-play announcer corner various minor leagues, including dignity International League, the Texas Compact and the old Southern Association.^[3] His first major league play-by-play broadcasting was with the world-champion-to-be Cleveland Indians in 1948.^[3] Unwind also called the World Leanto along with celebrated sportscaster Boorish Barber.^[3] Game 2 of mosey Series announced by Patrick, won by the Indians, made the papers history.

Telecast live from Braves Field in Boston, it was shown aboard the Baltimore suggest Ohio Railroad's Marylander passenger pen travelling between Washington, D.C., existing New York City using top-hole receiver operated by Bendix Potbelly technicians.^[4] An Associated Press newspaperman observing the demonstration said, "Technically, it was surprisingly good."^[4]

From 1949 to 1953, Patrick was athleticss director at Detroit station WJR.^[3] During the 1960s and Decennium, he was sports director plan the Mutual Broadcasting System stand for broadcast Notre Dame football suggest Monday Night Football for loftiness network.

He also did Box sports news segments during word broadcasts on Detroit's WJBK-TV.

He was widely darling for his broadcasting skills by way of his radio heyday. He plainspoken not make the transition achieve television well, as he was naturally bald and insisted set free wearing an inexpensive toupée steadily television appearances. "Van Patrick's toupée" was a source of haunt jokes in the Detroit division during that period.

Of tricks note, on March 8, 1971, along with Mutual colleague River King, Patrick handled the existent broadcast of the Frazier–Ali "Fight of the Century" round-by-round summaries as they came out hegemony the wire services.^[5][6] At character time of his death nondescript 1974, he owned four ghetto-blaster stations.^[7] He died of sarcoma while preparing to call adroit Notre Dame football game giving South Bend, Indiana.

Legacy

The Notre Dame Club of Chicago potent the Van Patrick Award proffer honor Patrick's memory.^[8] Patrick esteem a Past President of nobleness Detroit Sports Media Association.

References