RED (WALTER LANIER) BARBER - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 03/12/1971 - HFSID 287126

RED BARBER
ALS explaining to Jim Britt's grandson why Britt wasn't mentioned in his book on broadcast pioneers
Autograph Letter signed: "Red Barber", 2 pages (front and verso), 7x10½. No place, 1971 March 12. to "Dear David" [Britt]. In full: "Your grandfather, and my friend of many years, told me you wondered why 'Jim Britt' wasn't mentioned in The Broadcasters. David, I was writing a book on the pioneers - then on the development of sports broadcasting as it concerned me - finally, a ho- to section at the end. There was no way to name and write about the bulk of our modern announcers. Jim Britt was a fine man at the mike. I recommended him to the station in Buffalo when he was at South Bend. It was always a pleasure to see Jim when he was doing the Braves and I was with the Dodgers. Warmest personal good wishes David - Sincerely". Baseball announcer Walter Lanier "RED" BARBER (1908-1992), "the Ol' Redhead," was play by play man on Major League radio and TV broadcasts for over thirty years, with the Cincinnati Reds (1934-1938), Brooklyn Dodgers (1939-1953) and New York Yankees (1954-1966). He also covered college and pro football in the New York area. Barber announced the first Major League game he attended. He was the first to announce a game on television (1939). Barber introduced several slang phrases to the sport, including "can of corn" (for an easily caught fly ball) and "rhubarb" (for an on-field altercation). A southerner, Allen had initial reservations about the Dodgers' desegregation of the sport, but soon became a big booster of Jackie Robinson and other black players. He was fired by the Yankees one week after talking about the low attendance at a game, and asking the camera crew to pan around the empty seats. He and fellow New York broadcaster Mel Allen were the first recipients (1978) of the Ford C. Frick award, given by the Hall of Fame for outstanding contribution to the sport. He wrote several books about sports and sports coverage, including the one mentioned in this letter. Jim Britt (1910-1980) was baseball announcer for the Boston Braves and Boston Red Sox, doing home games for both teams beginning in 1948. Later he covered the Cleveland Indians. Two horizontal mailing folds. Otherwise, fine condition.