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Baseball on the (Philadelphia) radio

R

rich610

Even though I have a 52" HD TV, I still miss those summer nights listening to Phillies' games on a portable radio. The voices of By Saam ("plenty of seats under a Lehigh Ave. moon"), Whitey, Bill Campbell, and later Harry and Andy were the soundtracks of my summers for years. I started listening to games in the 1960s, and until the late 1980s, when cable was finally made available in Philadelphia, that was the primary outlet for the Phils (except when they were televised, or I went to the game, of course).

It was so simpler back then-the sponsors were Ballantine, Tastykake, and Atlantic Richfield. I was such a baseball junkie(still am for that matter) that I used to tape the highlights off the post game show. I wish I still had those tapes.

Does anyone else have fond memories of the Phillies on radio?
 
Whenever anyone on this board brings up 'What do you miss on the radio' I have to say Rich Ashburn calling a Phils game. He didn't feel the need to fill the air with crap. It just wasn't his style. When he had something to say, he said it. When he didn't, you were able to hear the sound of the ballpark.
Awesome theater of the mind. Just like radio is supposed to be. Please analysts, color commentators, and play by play guys... you do not need to chatter constantly.
If I felt the need to know everything about a game, I'd watch the TV and see the endless replays and hear the constant barrage there.
I prefer my baseball on the radio. It's my passtime and less is usually more.
Thanks Richie (and Harry too). I miss you guys.
 
Whitey and Harry knew how to call a game uncluttered, yet so detailed that you felt you were watching it. My grandfather and I used to sit in the living room at our house in Avalon with Channel 17 on the TV with the sound down and WCAU on the radio on top of it.
 
It was so simpler back then-the sponsors were Ballantine, Tastykake, and Atlantic Richfield.>>

Simpler is understated. When you listen to the games now, they come out of spot, and Franzke is recapping at least 1, and often 2 pitches. I guess that's progress, huh? I don't know how many sponsors we have fighting for time now, but it's a lot. And the tendency is so often to react that they must be late coming out of commercial, but it's a constant thing. I'm not complaining, just kind of taken aback by it.

One thing that was particularly cool back in the day was the time when it seemed like many or all clubs had a broadcaster that was a face of the franchise. And you'd dx the dial, hoping you could hear Harry Caray and Jack Buck in St. Louis, or The Gunner in Pittsburgh, Chuck Thompson in Baltimore. With several or more of the great ones passing on, we're maybe at an inbetween stage on legendary play by play guys. The availability of the games on satellite is terrific, but it takes the drama out of needing the right recption factors to connect with a favorite out of town team or broadcaster. It was a relief when that drama went your way on the sometimes in, sometimes out reception factors.

But no matter what, it's hard to envision a time ever coming when basbeall and radio aren't as meant for each other as any 2 things.
 
Rich, add Philco and Muntz to that list of local jobs generating sponsor list.
 
<Rich, add Philco and Muntz to that list of local jobs generating sponsor list. >

Yes, the Philco sign was on the left field roof at Connie Mack Stadium.

Remember when the game on radio was in sync with the action on the field and TV? I used to love bringing the radio to the ballpark. Now with the time delay it is impossible. Another simple pleasure has been taken away from us.
 
KBland said:
One thing that was particularly cool back in the day was the time when it seemed like many or all clubs had a broadcaster that was a face of the franchise. And you'd dx the dial, hoping you could hear Harry Caray and Jack Buck in St. Louis, or The Gunner in Pittsburgh, Chuck Thompson in Baltimore. With several or more of the great ones passing on, we're maybe at an inbetween stage on legendary play by play guys.
Click to expand...

One summer night in 1975 this then-about-to-be-14 yo stayed up in my (divorced) dad's cottage in Dewey Beach, DE listening to Bob Prince on KDKA from IIRC San Diego - because the Phils and Bucs were in a division duel that year. :) I remember Bucs network ID breaks were 20 secs. long, which I thought and think is pretty long. Another time I heard Thompson on WBAL at that same Dewey Beach cottage (and in my apartment in Boothwyn, PA, where I also heard Buck on KMOX once or twice, and Marty Brennaman on WLW a few times [at night, of course. I could get WBAL in Boothwyn by day or night; same with WNEW 1130, where I caught Nelson/Murphy/Kiner a few times in the 1977 season; WNEW dropped the Mets after '77]).

ixnay
 
By Saam was priceless... He ALWAYS said fas-KADE when a ball hit the left field fascade. And the Ballantine jingle was great in the late 60s......High tech crowd sounds too.............hanging a microphone from the booth to the upper deck behind home plate.
 
In 1964, I guess early September, Ballentine came up with a new spot that was used on radio broadcasts.
It was to the usual music, but the words changed. It started out "The Series is on it's way, the Phillies are set to play, and then a couple other lines before it went into the regular Baseball and Balletine, Baseball and Ballentine, its the combination can't be beat. Am I jarring any memories?
 
To be good, a beer must be Ici-ly bright
Cold and refreshing, precise-ly right
Frosty,delicious, crystal-ly clear
The crisp refresher
Cold, brewed Ballentine beer.

Talk about an oldie but goodie. I cheated and looked that up on the web. The original poster had ? after 3 or so words, and I changed them to what I thought they were. My bad if I missed it, but I know those lyrics bring back a melody that was as fresh in your mind as the words to any number one hit.
 
In the summer of1964 Ballantine had an advertising slogan-"To'em Home Plenty," featuring a totem pole. It was changed in September 1964 for the Phillies to "Tot'em Home Pennant." That slogan was placed on the scoreboard at Connie Mack Stadium in September(replacing "You Get a Smile Everytime") and was there during the terrible 10-game losing streak.
 
Bonus night on the commercial front...

Clap Clap Clap and put it in your tummy Tastykake cakes and pies
so much fun to put in your tummy tastykake Cakes and...PIE
 
In the summer of1964 Ballantine had an advertising slogan-"To'em Home Plenty," featuring a totem pole. It was changed in September 1964 for the Phillies to "Tot'em Home Pennant." That slogan was placed on the scoreboard at Connie Mack Stadium in September(replacing "You Get a Smile Everytime") and was there during the terrible 10-game losing streak. >>

I don't recall that at all, which is probably an endorsement for radio advertising since I remember the song, which probably was part of the same ad campaign. But I remember the 10 game losing streak :(.
 
My family was at a picnic on Sunday June 21, 1964 when Jim Bunning pitched his perfect game. The game was on the radio at the picnic and everyone crowded around to listen to the last inning. I have the complete radio broadcast of the game from the Mets' network, but the Phillies' version is nowhere to be found. Does it still exist?
 
I have the complete radio broadcast of the game from the Mets' network, but the Phillies' version is nowhere to be found. Does it still exist?>>

Don't know. And it's a different subject, but I grew up in Abington, and pretty uniquely, but not totally, we picked up NY TV channels, and I remember watching the Mets telecast. Having zero recollection of ever hearing By, Bill, or Richie's voices attached to that game, I can't recall at all that the game was televised on what would have been channel 6 at that time (I think). But I can vividly recall Bob Murphy's voice on the 1-2 curve to John Stephenson. I know it was a curve. The count might have been different. Great work by the Senator. Seems strange that a Sunday road game same time zone wouldn't have been televised. Didn't they maybe sometimes just do 2nd games? I can't recall. But I just cannot remember that game being on Philly TV.
 
Jim Bunning had an autobiography done in 65 or thereabouts. In between chapters, there is a transcription of the play by play. Can't recall if it was the whole game or just highlgihts. I do remember hearing part of the game on the radio though. And seeing #14 on Ed Sullivan that night.
 
<It was so simpler back then-the sponsors were Ballantine, Tastykake, and Atlantic Richfield.>

<<Simpler is understated. When you listen to the games now, they come out of spot, and Franzke is recapping at least 1, and often 2 pitches. I guess that's progress, huh? I don't know how many sponsors we have fighting for time now, but it's a lot. And the tendency is so often to react that they must be late coming out of commercial, but it's a constant thing. I'm not complaining, just kind of taken aback by it.>>

Welcome to baseball broadcasting in 2010. Hell, I don't think the Phillies can hold a candle to the Yankees as far as sponsors. In fact, it is difficult to sit through Yankees games on the radio because every other minute, they work in a plug for another sponsor. And if I have to hear, "There's been fifteen outs in this game, and remember, you can save 15% or more on your car insurance" one more time...
 
<<Seems strange that a Sunday road game same time zone wouldn't have been televised. Didn't they maybe sometimes just do 2nd games? I can't recall. But I just cannot remember that game being on Philly TV.>>

IIRC, all Phillies' Sunday games, both home and away (and most Saturday afternoon games) were televised in the 1960s on Channel 6. Bunning's perfect game was televised here, with By Saam doing the TV. Richie Ashburn had the radio (WFIL) that day.
 
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