Red Barber

1977 Inductee

A native of Columbus, Mississippi, Walter Lanier "Red" Barber was born February 17, 1908. He launched his colorful and distinguished broad casting career in Cincinnati in 1934. Barber was highly regarded by his peers and his broadcasts were noted for their fairness and accuracy. He was best known by his nickname "Red."

Barber was a student at the University of Florida during the 1920’s. It was here that he found his calling as a radio broadcaster. After reading a scholarly paper over the University’s radio station, he found that he enjoyed working in front of a microphone. He dropped out of school to become an announcer and was later hired by Larry McPhail of the Cincinnati Reds. He remained with the Reds through 1938.

Barber followed McPhail to Brooklyn, where he pioneered baseball on radio in New York. He became known as the "Voice of the Brooklyn Dodgers." Barber was at his microphone on August 26, 1939 when the first major league baseball game was telecast from Ebbets Field. The game was a doubleheader between the Dodgers and the Reds. He was with the Dodgers when Jackie Robinson came to Brooklyn in 1947 and he had a major role in shaping the baseball world’s reaction to Robinson’s breaking the color barrier in major league baseball.

Red Barber left the Dodgers in 1953 and took a job with the rival New York Yankees. He remained there until 1966. The "ol’ Redhead" as he was affectionately known, compiled an impressive record, covering 13 World Series and other major sports broadcasts. His career as a broadcaster lasted 38 years. During his career, Barber received numerous honors and awards, including the Ford C. Frick Award for Broadcasting Excellence, induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Peabody Award for radio commentary, and other awards.

Along with Red Barber’s career as a broadcaster, he also wrote books. His first book was When All Hell Broke Loose in Baseball. After retiring, he continued to write and also began a second career on National Public Radio’s "Morning Edition" which was hosted by Bob Edwards. For 12 years the two of them entertained and delighted millions of listeners with a wide range of topics.

Red Barber died in 1992 in Tallahassee, Florida. He remains a legend in the unique world of baseball broadcasters.

Page research and presentation by Doris Tucker, Infoage Virtual Volunteer
Page updated July 1, 2004 page created July 1, 2004

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