Curt Gowdy, 86, Red Sox/NBC broadcaster: RIP

[Mattingly]

I remember seeing him from ESPN Classic. He was one of the better broadcasters out there, like Ernie Harwell, is all I remember.

May his soul rest quite peacefully.



Former Red Sox Broadcaster Curt Gowdy Dies At 86

(CBS4) BOSTON Former Red Sox and NBC television broadcaster Curt Gowdy died at his home in Florida Monday, after a long battle with leukemia. He was 86 years old.

Gowdy's family was with him at the time of his death.

He was the radio voice of the Red Sox from 1951 to 1965. That time included his famous call of Ted Williams' final home run in his final at-bat at the end of the 1960 season.

Gowdy left the Red Sox to join NBC Sports, where he was the network's lead television broadcaster for it's baseball game of the week. From 1966 to 1975, he called the play-by-play for every World Series and All-Star game for NBC.

In his long career, he also announced Super Bowls, NCAA basketball championships and the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

[VTSoxFan]

I remember seeing him from ESPN Classic. He was one of the better broadcasters out there, like Ernie Harwell, is all I remember.

May his soul rest quite peacefully.



Former Red Sox Broadcaster Curt Gowdy Dies At 86

Oh no............

That voice will live on in my memory forever. His was one of the greatest "baseball voices" I ever heard.

He's got seats at a pretty good ballpark now....

[Mattingly]

I wasn't sure whether to post this here or under the Boston forum. If you'd prefer it there, please feel free to move it.

Here's a pic w/him and fan fave, Johnny Pesky:

[VTSoxFan]

It's fine here... he belonged to all baseball fans.

I remember that voice from when I was a little little kid, back when we watched the few games we could get on a 9" B&W TV. A voice of summer, and my childhood.

[Bluesteve32]

His voice for me is ever connected to NBC's "Game of the Week."

Curt Gowdy, you will be missed. RIP

[efin98]

I wish I was old enough to have heard him, but I am not. He has an imprint on multiple sports and on history that shouldn't be forgotten...

[johnny]

Curt was great

What a voice and what a talent...the only one I can equate that is still alive would be Vin Scully.
In the latest Ted Williams book, there is some wonderful stories of Ted and Curt.

[SoxSon]

I remember that voice from when I was a little little kid, back when we watched the few games we could get on a 9" B&W TV. A voice of summer, and my childhood.

Annie...I feel it, too. His voice carried implications far beyond the boxscore.
I'll never quite lose that sensation.

[Mattingly]

Let's hear of those great Curt Gowdy broadcasts and times, folks. If he made you feel like you were at the game, let's hear how he did it. I'd love to hear all of the details, and please feel free to be as long-winded as possible. The more the merrier in that regard!

[janduscframe]

Lost a good one

I see Curt Gowdy died. I can still hear his voice along with Tony Kubek's on the Saturday game of the week on NBC.

[johnny]

darn

i had forgotten about him and tony kubek. that was a nice combination.

[west coast orange and black]

gowdy did television back when only two cameras were used. before slow motion and extreme close-ups and split-screens. he filled in the blanks, even though it was television.

his gravelly voice is an easy one to recall. one that will not soon be forgotten.

oh, the days before endless, mindless swooshing and bleeping shattering sounds and ever-present, in-the-way graphics and announcers who believe that they are the reason why we watch baseball.

[Redondos]

Let's hear of those great Curt Gowdy broadcasts and times, folks. If he made you feel like you were at the game, let's hear how he did it. I'd love to hear all of the details, and please feel free to be as long-winded as possible. The more the merrier in that regard!

Whenever I heard Curt Gowdy's voice, whether it be a Super Bowl, Baseball Game of the Week, or even an old episode of American Sportsman, it always seem to put me at ease and in the mood to watch the program. He never overhyped or overdramatized the event. He was like your grandfather or favorite uncle, inviting you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the game with him. Perhaps this kind of announcing in now extinct because there are so many competing networks showing sporting events on cable/satellite. Nowadays, announcers use so much hype and adrenalin to captivate audiences, they come across sounding more like carnival hucksters or infomercial salesman rather than your favorite uncle.

[TonyK]

I was a kid and captivated by his work announcing for a team that year after year wasn't going anywhere. He was knowledgable about the players and the game, and knew how to express that knowledge to various generations of fans at the same time. I think his relaxed style and perfect timing contributed to our enjoyment of the game. You could not find anything to dislike about him as a person or an announcer. It was like listening to your favorite uncle do the play by play. I missed him when he went to work for NBC.

[KCGHOST]

In his day he was one of the top broadcasters. R.I.P.