Mel Allen was impressed enough with Desmond that he asked him to come to New York City as his sidekick on the home games of the Yankees and Giants in 1942. After one year, he left and joined Red Barber on the Dodgers broadcasts, replacing Al Helfer. During the 1943 season, Barber and Desmond were the only voices of baseball in New York; the Giants and Yankees suspended broadcasts that year for unknown reasons. Desmond remained with the Dodgers until he resigned in August 1956,[2] teaming with Barber (1943–1953), Ernie Harwell (1948–1949), and Vin Scully (1950–1956). In the 1940s Desmond also teamed with Barber to call college football and New York Giants football, and with Marty Glickman to call college basketball and New York Knicks basketball.
Desmond battled alcoholism for many years, and frequently missed games because he was too drunk to go on the air. Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley finally lost patience with him and fired him before the 1955 World Series. Thus, Desmond missed his chance to call the Dodgers' only world title on the East Coast. Desmond asked for and got another chance in 1956, but was fired for good after several more absences. He was succeeded by Jerry Doggett.[3]
Desmond was a fairly accomplished singer. In the early 1940s he hosted several music shows on WOR, with himself as the featured singer.[4]
Desmond died March 10, 1983, in Toledo, Ohio at the age of 75.[1]
References
^ ab"Connie Desmond". The New York Times. March 13, 1983.
^"N. B. C. gives role to Marisa Pavan". The New York Times. August 10, 1956. p. 37. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
connie, desmond, other, people, named, cornelius, desmond, cornelius, desmond, disambiguation, cornelius, connie, desmond, january, 1908, march, 1983, american, sportscaster, most, prominently, brooklyn, dodgers, major, league, baseball, borncornelius, desmond. For other people named Cornelius Desmond see Cornelius Desmond disambiguation Cornelius Connie Desmond January 31 1908 March 10 1983 1 was an American sportscaster most prominently for the Brooklyn Dodgers of Major League Baseball Connie DesmondBornCornelius Desmond 1908 01 31 January 31 1908DiedMarch 10 1983 1983 03 10 aged 75 Toledo Ohio United StatesNationalityAmericanOccupationsports broadcasterYears active1932 1956Known forbroadcaster for New York City sports teamsNotable workBrooklyn Dodgers broadcasterDesmond began his career in 1932 as the voice of the minor league Toledo Mud Hens In 1940 he was promoted to broadcasting the games of the AAA Columbus Red Birds Mel Allen was impressed enough with Desmond that he asked him to come to New York City as his sidekick on the home games of the Yankees and Giants in 1942 After one year he left and joined Red Barber on the Dodgers broadcasts replacing Al Helfer During the 1943 season Barber and Desmond were the only voices of baseball in New York the Giants and Yankees suspended broadcasts that year for unknown reasons Desmond remained with the Dodgers until he resigned in August 1956 2 teaming with Barber 1943 1953 Ernie Harwell 1948 1949 and Vin Scully 1950 1956 In the 1940s Desmond also teamed with Barber to call college football and New York Giants football and with Marty Glickman to call college basketball and New York Knicks basketball Desmond battled alcoholism for many years and frequently missed games because he was too drunk to go on the air Dodgers owner Walter O Malley finally lost patience with him and fired him before the 1955 World Series Thus Desmond missed his chance to call the Dodgers only world title on the East Coast Desmond asked for and got another chance in 1956 but was fired for good after several more absences He was succeeded by Jerry Doggett 3 Desmond was a fairly accomplished singer In the early 1940s he hosted several music shows on WOR with himself as the featured singer 4 Desmond died March 10 1983 in Toledo Ohio at the age of 75 1 References Edit a b Connie Desmond The New York Times March 13 1983 N B C gives role to Marisa Pavan The New York Times August 10 1956 p 37 Retrieved May 4 2022 Smith Curt 2005 Voices of Summer New York City Carroll amp Graf ISBN 0 7867 1446 8 The Baseball Analysts Print Archive External links Edit Golden Voices of Baseball book excerpt obituary Dodgers Encyclopedia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Connie Desmond amp oldid 1134805567, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
