Mel Allen

From SoSH

Mel Allen, born Melvin Israel (February 14, 1913 - June 16, 1966), was best known as a broadcaster for the New York Yankees and host of This Week in Baseball. During his peak years with the Yankees, he was probably the most prominent member of his profession.

Broadcasting Biography

Allen was born in Birmingham, Alabama and attended college at the University of Alabama, getting both his undergraduate degree and his law degree there. Despite his preparation for a career in law, his childhood love of baseball drew him to become a broadcaster. At Alabama, he served as a public address announcer for the football team and later became their play-by-play announcer for WBRC radio at the suggestion of Alabama football coach Frank Thomas.

After graduating from Alabama in 1937, Allen went to New York, intending to spend a week's vacation there. A week ended up turning into 60 years, as Allen would live in the city and surrounding metropolitan area for the rest of his life. He auditioned for CBS Rdadio and was hired for $45 per week, often to do non-sports work, including working for Truth or Consequences. He also announced the news of the Hindenburg crash on CBS and gained fame when he had to ad-lib a half hour's worth of material on an airplane during the rain-delayed Vanderbilt Cup.

Allen's first MLB assignment was as a color commentator for the 1938 World Series. He was tabbed to become the voice of the Washington Senators in 1939, but Senators owner Clark Griffith insisted that Walter Johnson replace Arch McDonald, headed for New York at the time, as the announcer. McDonald ended up returning to Washington after the 1939 season.

Allen got his big break in June 1939 when McDonald's partner, Garnett Marks, twice mispronounced the name of Yankees sponsor "Ivory soap" as "ovary soap" (scandalous!) on the air. He was fired, and Allen replaced him. When McDonald returned to Washington, Allen became the Yankees' lead announcer. Allen worked for the Yankees until 1943, when he was in the military and broadcasting for Armed Forces Radio. After the war, he was the exclusive voice of the Yankees for eighteen seasons.

Allen's contract was not renewed after the 1964 season. He was replaced by Joe Garagiola. The Yankees never gave an explanation for the move; Allen later told Curt Smith that he was fired due to pressure from Yankees sponsor Ballantine Beer in an effort to cut costs. He would do work for the Milwaukee Braves and Cleveland Indians, but never on a full-time basis. Eventually, the Yankees allowed him to return for Old Timers' Day, number-retirement ceremonies, and the actual Yankees game that took place on Old Timers' Day. He stayed with the Yankees' play-by-play crew until 1985. He also called a game on WPIX in 1990 to make him baseball's first seven-decade announcer.

Allen was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988 and, along with Red Barber, received the inaugural Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978. A plaque at Monument Park was dedicated to him on July 25, 1998.

Trivia

• Allen's body of work included 22 World Series and 24 All-Star Games, as well as 14 Rose Bowls, 2 Orange Bowls, and 2 Sugar Bowls.
• Boston Red Sox broadcaster Curt Gowdy worked with Allen in 1949 and 1950 after Russ Hodges went to the Giants. Gowdy credited Allen with much of his personal success in broadcasting.
• Allen lost his voice on the air during the 1963 World Series when the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Yankees.
• Allen was the voice of two baseball video games (Tony La Russa Baseball and Old Time Baseball) and had a cameo appearance in The Naked Gun.

Further Reading

• Mel Allen's biography at the Baseball Hall of Fame website
• Mel Allen - Courtesy of Wikipedia