Diamonds For Women

[dodgerblue6]

A historic event occurred on this day in 1939, and from its modest beginnings, who knew that 66 years later it would have expanded into what it has become today.

It was a technological advancement involving "live TV."

Yes, it was on August 26, 1939 that the first televised baseball game was broadcast. Of course the Dodgers were involved, and Hall of Fame announcer Red Barber, already established as the radio voice of the team, was the man who brought it to the nation as the Cincinnati Reds visited Ebbets Field to play a doubleheader. (As for the results, the two teams split.)

Today, with MLB Extra Innings, regional broadcasts, and so many games to choose from, who could have known this exciting and curious new trend would evolve into such a necessary part of so many people's lives?

I think this is an anniversary we can ALL appreciate.
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"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[DianaPrince]

It's something I can't take advantage of very often but I certainly enjoy it. Without tv our bunny moments would be few and far between.

[dodgerblue6]

True, but far more important, without TV many of our BASEBALL moments would not be quite as enhanced.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[DianaPrince]

[dodgerblue6]

[dodgerblue6]

Here are some excerpts from baseballhalloffame.org about this event. Note the comments about the players' looks. Pretty funny!

Who knows how many bunnies were born on 8/26/39?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hall of Famer Larry MacPhail was an innovator. He introduced night baseball to the major leagues in 1935. He brought New York baseball to the radio airwaves. And on August 26, 1939, he put together a marriage that would last until this day - baseball and television.

The 1:30 P.M. game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds was broadcast on NBC's experimental television station W2XBS. The station, which was located in New York's famous Empire State Building, had a fifty mile broadcasting radius. At the time no one really knew what to expect.

Washington Post writer Bob Considine wondered what would happen if the television-baseball connection were to really take flight, "The beauty of players might have to be taken into consideration by bush-beating scouts, and the classic rejection slip, "Good field, no hit", may have to be revised to "Good field, good hit, lousy complexion."

Today there are television sets in every home, but in 1939 they were a little hard to come by. It is estimated that fewer than 1,000 people saw Bucky Walter's two-hit gem on about 400 televisions in the Metro New York area. There were two cameras taking in the action, one was in the second tier box behind home plate, and the second was at ground level near third base. At least one player felt uncomfortable being on TV, Reds' catcher Ernie Lombardi.

"I felt as if someone was looking over my shoulder all afternoon," the "Schnozz" said.

As for the quality of the telecast, the New York Times said it best: "At times it was possible to catch a fleeting glimpse of the ball as it sped from the pitcher to home plate."
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[dodgerblue6]

Bumping this one up for another year, to celebrate the 68th anniversary of this event.

Appropriately, the Dodgers will be on center stage on ESPN's Sunday night game tonight when they face the Mets, as we try to avoid a sweep. I only hope Boomer puts in a decent performance; dare I wish the Bums can actually win the game?
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[dodgerblue6]

Fittingly, the anniversary was celebrated with the Dodgers winning, 6-2.

During the game we saw:

- David Wells making his first start and getting his first win as a Dodger. He also became the oldest starting pitcher ever in L.A. Dodgers history.

- The two starting pitchers, Wells and John Maine, both sparking rallies for their teams with base hits. Especially entertaining was watching Wells lumbering down the line to beat out a perfectly placed bunt.

- Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent leaving the game in the third inning after getting a beanball on the left ear flap of his helmet on a 91 MPH fastball from Maine. It was the fifth HBP for Kent this season.

- Jonathan Broxton and Takashi Saito showing why they are, in the opinion of the Mets' broadcasters, the best set-up/closer combination in the majors.

*Whew.* Now the Dodgers return home having avoided the sweep in Shea.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[dodgerblue6]

Just reading back on the comments from last year on this date...interesting. Especially comments by the Mets announcers...since it seems, a year later, some players can't get the job done beyond their designated roles.

Really just wanted to bump this thread for some of our newer posters. Anyone watching a game on TV tonight should have some perspective from a historical viewpoint of broadcasting and baseball.



If you've never read this thread before, scroll up and check out the comments from baseballhalloffame.org that I posted three years ago.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[dodgerblue6]

During the Dodgers-Rockies broadcast on Wednesday, Vin made his customary mention of the anniversary of the first televised baseball game "on this date in baseball history."

However, this year, there was a little more attention paid to this because of it being the 70th anniversary of the technological milestone.

And it's pretty amazing that even as long as Vin's been around, he can't claim to have been in on this one. However, as he was Barber's immediate replacement behind the mic with the Dodgers, he remains the link to the man who called the first baseball game on that new medium known as "television."

One degree of separation. On the Cardinals' message board, someone posted a prediction that 70 years from now, no team would have fewer than five degrees of separation.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[dodgerblue6]

I thought it was worth the annual bump of this thread to note that the Dodgers did, in fact, win on the 71st anniversary of the first televised baseball game.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[dodgerblue6]

And thankfully, here we are 72 years later; Vin is still with us and the Dodgers are playing at home on this anniversary!
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[GilHodgesFan]

Hooray


Red Barber left because he didn't think he could work with O'Malley but boy did he ever groom his replacement who has put his own stamp on Dodger announcing! Kudoos to both Red Barber and Vin Scully
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"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

[forloveofthegame]

Interesting info! I had never known all that before I read this thread at this time last year but that's because I've been on the board less than 2 years. Thank you for the reminder. Linda, was it you who told me you were in Chicago when they celebrated this anniversary a few years back?
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

[dodgerblue6]

Hey, good memory, almost as good as mine--except I had forgotten about that! LOL. Yes, I was at Wrigley Field on August 26, 2000 watching the Dodgers play the Cubs, and the Fox Game of the Week (which I had taped while on my trip) was very informative in showing how much TV broadcasts had changed over the years. Great to always have the Dodgers associated with that "first" in baseball history, just as they have been with so many other groundbreaking events.

Incidentally, the Dodgers WON tonight--again, following form from the last few seasons--so perhaps this will continue to be a trend in August 26 games!
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[GilHodgesFan]

Thank you Linda but I read this recently which is why I remember it better I knew Red Barber left the Dodgers but didn't really know what happened.

It kind of makes me tear up to read Red Barber's and Vin Scully's quote on the first televised game of baseball. How fitting it would be the Dodgers!!!

I have so much to rub in to my brothers: The Dodgers beating the Cubs on the day I was born, Vin Scully coming back for his 63rd year of announcing Dodgers games, and these two great announcers saying the first words ever on a televised game.
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"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

[dodgerblue6]

Okay, GilHodgesFan, I'm not sure we're on the same page about a couple of things...? Not sure what you mean here:

[GilHodgesFan]

Hi Linda,

1st part of confusion: I thought you were commenting on me knowing that Red Barber left the Dodgers because he didn't think he could work with O'Malley. I never knew the reason Red Barber left and for some reason thought he was more forced out than having chosen to leave.

2nd part of confusion: I thought that both Red Barber and Vin Scully announced the first televised Major League game but perhaps it was just Vin Scully??

I am sure I keep everyone guessing on this site now and then about exactly what I mean. Sometimes I am not sure myself

Believe me, I am saving every little tidbit of information I can to relay to my brothers when we are all together at the next family gathering. They love to give me a hard time about Gil Hodges. They are just teasing me then but they aren't quite so nice about Dodgers vs Cubs. That's when I'll bring up all the great things I've learned in favor of the Dodgers
_________________
"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

[dodgerblue6]

1. No, I was not commenting on that; I responded to Cathy's post above mine when she asked about me being in Chicago in August, 2000.

2. I think you are skipping posts again! I know for sure you are not math-challenged, because it's clear you're a reasonably intelligent poster.

However, I did post on Friday that it was the 72nd anniversary of the first televised game. And this is only Vin's 62nd season. Keep in mind Vin was only 11 years old during the 1939 season; no way could he have been calling a televised Major League baseball game.

I also wrote (in a previous post in this thread with the original background):

[GilHodgesFan]

I have no explanation for what I am missing or how I am missing things. <sigh>

I had looked back on here and found a quote by Red Barber and Vin Scully where Red said [/quote] "This is Red Barber speaking. Let me say hello to you all." and Vin Scully said

[dodgerblue6]

Vin didn't start with the Dodgers until 1950, and with the game being played in 1939, I thought it would be interesting to post Red's commentary and how he led into the voice-over for the very first TV game in history. I posted Vin's standard introduction as it has been for several years, to compare the two lead-ins, and how Vin has established his own greeting.

Now, next year when I "bump" this thread on the anniversary, we'll have a few more things to look back and chuckle about. Hopefully the Dodgers will continue their winning streak on August 26, then!
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[sunnyblue]

This is a great thread! Who does not love to watch baseball on TV!

I do not know the background on Barber and O'Malley but would be interested if you have any information.

[GilHodgesFan]

Thanks for your vote of confidence Linda Hopefully next year I will have settled back into some sort of normal existence where everything is more clear and I can concentrate more on baseball.

My boss doesn't like any teams except for the Cubs and every game I've mentioned going to there is a player he doesn't like, except for the Cubs of course. If he knew more about Gil Hodges he would find there is alot to respect about Gil. A business partner said of Gil that he was one person he knew who wouldn't have anything to account for when he got to Heaven. Gil would never have thought of himself in these terms but he was a man who was true to himself, God, his family, and the game of baseball. You can't knock a guy who always blew his wife a kiss whenever he rounded third base after hitting a home run (and meant it )
I would also like to know more about Red Barber and how he and Vin Scully got along.
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"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

[dodgerblue6]

Another bump of this thread for the anniversary! Today was a pretty special day and it offered a great opportunity for some good news--which we got!

Loved today's Dodgers-Marlins broadcast in which Vin once again described the differences between the first televised baseball game in 1939 (with two cameras) and the one he called today (13 cameras on FSPT).

I also wanted to bump it since this is the first year we've had a Reds fan on the board! Not only did Red call Reds games (convenient name there, huh?) before Dodgers games, but the team from Cincinnati was involved in this technological advancement. Vin commented about how not only were the Dodgers and Reds involved in the first TV baseball game, but also the first game ever played at Dodger Stadium--something I mentioned as the 50th anniversary season got underway a few months ago.

So our two teams have tangled a couple of times on historic "first" occasions.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[GilHodgesFan]

I love Vin Scully's history lessons

Thanks for reminding us again about the Dodgers and Reds playing against each other in the first game at Dodger Stadium. It is more significant now that we have a Reds fan onboard
_________________
"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

[forloveofthegame]

[GilHodgesFan]

That is too bad I missed those I would like to get Vin's biography Pull Up A Chair. I saw it at Half Price books months but was waiting til my next payday to get it and then it was gone. At some point I will order it on Amazon.com.

I wish Vin would write his autobiography. Can you imagine how think of a book that would be though
_________________
"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

[dodgerblue6]

For the record: Sadly, the Dodgers did not continue their tradition of winning in August 26 games. This year, they lost to the Marlins at home.

Cathy,

[dodgerblue6]

And this year, the Dodgers did win on August 26, beating the Cubs.

Good article from history.com about this monumental development in technology.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

[forloveofthegame]

Good history there. Did he say anything about it during your broadcast last night?
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg