Tony Wakeman

Charles Anthony Wakeman (October 22, 1909 – November 17, 1953) was an American sportscaster in Washington D.C. from 1936 to 1952.

Early life

Wakeman attended high school in Pittsburgh. He worked his way through Duquesne University by working as a radio announcer. His first radio job came when he was 16 years old when he worked as the announcer for a teenage dance band show. After three years at Duquesne, Wakeman moved to Pennsylvania State University, where he played on the school's football team during their 1929 season.^[1]

Broadcasting career

Pittsburgh

After Penn State, Wakeman resumed his broadcasting career in Pittsburgh. In 1935, he won the H. P. Davis Memorial Announcers Award, which was awarded to the Pittsburgh announcer considered to have outstanding “personality, adaptability, diction, voice and versatility”.^[2] In 1936 he called Pittsburgh Pirates games for KDKA.^[3]

Washington D.C.

In 1936, Wakeman joined WOL in Washington D.C.^[1] He became first the play by play announcer for the Washington Redskins, when the franchise relocated to the city in 1937.^[4] That same year he began announcing boxing and wrestling matches from Turner's Arena.^[5] During his time as a wrestling announcer, Wakeman feuded with Laverne Baxter, which led to the two coming to blows.^[6] In 1942, Wakeman moved to WINX. On August 21, 1944, he was assaulted on-air by fellow WINX personality Sam Brown. Brown hit Wakeman with a leg of a piano bench during a dispute over who should announce the results of a horse race. Brown alleged that he only hit Wakeman in self defense after Wakeman slapped him. Both men were let go by the station and Wakeman moved over to WWDC. Brown, who was indicted on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of simple assault and was given probation.^[7] Wakeman hosted the Tony Wakeman All Sports Parade on WWDC until 1950, when he returned to WOL.^[1] His return to WOL was short lived as he left that summer to host a television version of the All Sports Parade on WTTG.^[8]

National work

Wakeman called the 1935 Major League Baseball All-Star Game for CBS Radio. He also Games 1 & 5 of the 1936 World Series and the 1937 Major League Baseball All-Star Game for Mutual Broadcasting System.^[9] He also served as a congressional correspondent for Mutual and Capitol Broadcasting Company.^[10][11][12]

Death

In 1952, Wakeman moved to Miami, where he worked as a sports announcer at a radio station. On November 17, 1953, Wakeman died in Miami after a 7-month illness. He was 44 years old.^[1]

References

1. "'Tony' Wakeman, Radio and TV Sports Announcer, Dies at 44". Evening Star. November 18, 1953. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
2. "SICKLES OF WWSW WINS DAVIS MEDAL" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 15, 1940. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
3. "Broadcasters". PittsburghPirates.com. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
4. "Wakeman, Irvin To Again Serve Redskins". The Washington Star. June 6, 1939. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
5. "Will Broadcast Bouts". Evening Start. January 31, 1937. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
6. Hawkins, Burton (April 11, 1937). "Matman's Attack on D.C. Radio Man Brings Riot at Bout Here". Evening Star. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
7. "Brown Pleads Guilty in Fight at WINX". Evening Star. September 7, 1944. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
8. "Vox Jox". Billboard. August 19, 1950. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
9. Silvia, Tony (2007). Baseball Over the Air: The National Pastime on the Radio and in the Imagination. McFarland, Incorporated.
10. Official Congressional Directory. 1940. p. 714. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
11. Official Congressional Directory. 1941. p. 733. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
12. "RADIO CORRESPONDENTS GALLERIES OF CONGRESS" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1950. Retrieved 28 March 2021.