Jim Simpson, the Hall of Fame sportscaster who called Super Bowl I on radio and was ESPN’s first lead on-air personality, died today in Scottsdale, AZ, after a brief illness. He was 88.
He spent 15 seasons as an AFL and NFL broadcaster for NBC from 1964-79 but also worked for ABC, CBS and TNT. His radio and TV credits including 14 Olympics, six Super Bowls, six World Series and 16 MLB All-Star Games, 14 Wimbledon championships and all major Bowl games, including 14 Orange Bowls.
Simpson also was the first person to appear live on U.S. TV via satellite from Asia during the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He would work in 49 states and 22 countries during his half-century career — more than any other commentator, according to ESPN.
Simpson joined ESPN Sept. 14, 1979 — just one week after the cable outfit had launched. He was the fledgling sports net’s leading on-air host, working on sports ranging from college football, basketball and baseball to tennis, boxing, horse racing and golf. He also was an occasional SportsCenter anchor in 1979.
