Friday, January 26, 2007By Barry Duchan
Surely, there are some fans who read this blog who actually remember listening to Mets' games in 1962. If you are one of them, please help. Here's the story - I wrote a post back in September (which was later picked up by mikesmets.com) based on my own personal recollection of Jackie Robinson doing either or both the pre-and post- game radio shows on WABC-77 Radio with Howard Cosell. I didn't make this up, didn't read it anywhere, I just remembered it. Yet, I got a comment from a reader telling me that I was wrong. It wasn't Robinson, it was Ralph Branca. I certainly recall Branca doing the post-games, too, but I don't remember - did Robinson do the show in 1962, only to be replaced by Branca in 1963 (Or the other way around)?
If anyone remembers or better still has documented evidence to clear this up, PLEASE leave a comment. Certainly I have no doubt that Robinson had a public feud with Stengel, but was Robinson the original host of the Mets' pre or post game shows as I remember ? Thanks to anyone who can offer help with this..
About Barry Duchan: I've been following the Mets since 1962. Have to admit I was a Yankee fan as a kid, but I found it to be so much more interesting to see how a young team could build itself up rather than following a team where the season didn't really begin until October. I remember them all - Casey, Marv, ChooChoo, Don Bosch, The Stork, etc. As the years went on, I became more and more of a Mets fan, and a Yankee hater once Steinbrenner and Billy Martin entered the picture. Read More -->
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Comments (2)
hi barry - this is according to wikipedia for what its worth - "In 1962, WABC became the original radio flagship of the New York Mets, with Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner calling the games with Cosell and his sidekick "Big Numba Thirteen" Ralph Branca handling the pre- and post-game shows, no words minced." and i found this on baseballlibrary.com "Mar 17, 1965 - Jackie Robinson is signed as a member of the ABC-TV baseball broadcast team‚ becoming the first black to receive a network position broadcasting baseball. ABC provides the first-ever nationwide baseball coverage with weekly Saturday broadcasts on a regional basis." hope this helps...joyce
Posted by joyce mandelkern | January 26, 2007 9:53 PM
Sorry - I don't remember Jackie on the radio, but I do remember Branca had a pre-game TV show on Channel 9 back in the Polo Grounds days. I even remember the sponsor - Sweet-Orr Shirts. That graphic of the two men pulling on the sleeves of a shirt has always stayed with me.
Posted by mark | January 27, 2007 9:01 AM