Red Barber

Walter Lanier "Red" Barber (February 17, 1908 - October 22, 1992) was an American sportscaster. He was born in Columbus, Mississippi.

Professional career

On Opening Day in 1934, Barber broadcast his first play-by-play for a major league game, as the Reds lost to the Chicago Cubs 0-6. It was also the first major league game Barber had ever seen in person. He called games from the stands of Cincinatti's newly-named Crosley Field for the next four seasons.

Related Topics:
Play-by-play - Chicago Cubs - Cincinatti - Crosley Field

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At Brooklyn, Barber became an institution, widely admired for his folksy style of play-by-play and his signature expressions. One of these, "(Sittin' in) the catbird seat" -- used when a player or team was performing exceptionally well -- became the title of a well-known story by James Thurber. In 1939, Barber broadcast the first major-league game on television. He later added to his Brooklyn duties a job as sports director of the CBS Radio Network, succeeding Ted Husing, and called college football and other events. He also called professional football games in the New York City area.

Related Topics:
Brooklyn - James Thurber - Television - CBS - Ted Husing - College football - Football - New York City

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While running CBS Sports, he became the mentor of another red-headed announcer -- a young Vin Scully -- recruiting the Fordham University graduate for CBS's football coverage, and eventually inviting him into the Dodgers' broadcast booth.

Related Topics:
CBS Sports - Vin Scully - Fordham University

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After his dimissal by the Yankees in 1966, Barber retired from baseball broadcasting. He wrote several books, including his autobiography, Rhubarb in the Catbird Seat; contributed to occasional sports documentary programs on radio and television; and from 1981 until his death made weekly contributions to National Public Radio's Morning Edition program. He would talk to host Bob Edwards about sports or other topics, including the flora at Barber's home in Tallahassee, Florida. Barber would call Edwards "Colonel Bob", referring to Edwards' Kentucky Colonel award from his native state. In 1993, Edwards' book Fridays with Red: A Radio Friendship (ISBN 0671870130) was published, based on his Morning Edition segments with Red Barber.

Related Topics:
Autobiography - Documentary - National Public Radio - Morning Edition - Bob Edwards - Flora - Tallahassee, Florida - Kentucky Colonel - 1993

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