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This is Red Barber with something few have ever seen…

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Eyes Of A Generation.com

INCREDIBLY RARE PHOTO!

This is Red Barber with something few have ever seen before. Of Red’s own invention, this panel is connected to the WOR-TV remote truck and shows the director areas of the field Red wants to comment on. This gives the director a heads up so he can get a camera on the position in advance and gives Red’s ‘color commentary’ video support. He’s not trying to direct the play by play action, but as a single announcer, wanted a bit of extra help when he told stories about the Brooklyn Dodgers or noticed things the guys in the truck could not see.

For instance, home plate has 3 lights, operated by toggle switches. If a left handed batter is up, Red would let him know by flipping the left switch so the director can get the best shot. If he wanted to tell the director to watch the catcher, he would use the center light. There were also combinations of lights that signaled that he wanted a shot of people in the stands. Very Cool!

FYI, in 1939, Red was the announcer on the first ever television broadcast of a major league baseball game. Here is Mr. Barber’s baseball announcer affiliations…Cincinnati Reds 1934-1939, Brooklyn Dodgers 1939-1953, New York Yankees 1954-1966.

Source

13 responses to “This is Red Barber with something few have ever seen…”

  1. Joe Tymecki

    Amazing!

  2. John Doodigian

    Look at who is sitting in tall cotton.

  3. Achilles R. Schiano

    I am not a rabid baseball fan anymore but when you mention the sanctity of the game imagine Red”s reaction to interviewing the mgrs. half-way through the game. They should be taking care of their business, not letting TV dictate an “entertainment.”

  4. Christopher Riley

    Katz, you need this in graphics, so you can tell everyone what fonts to use during the game..

  5. Mike McCann Tauss

    This elevates Red into Les Paul territory.

  6. Doris Jones

    Very cool system!

  7. Pj Connolly

    I’ve worked the booth for the last four Reno Aces baseball games. Baseball is a tough shoot…

  8. Gary Walters

    I believe that Red Barber did not want a camera inside the dugout, because he felt it would ruin the sacity of the game.

  9. Chuck Pharis

    Directors would HATE this today!!!

  10. Achilles R. Schiano

    And what about the early Red Barber on radio when an away game came in by ticker tape and Mr. Barber would announce it as if he was actually there, giving current, live play by play. ” And there’s a high fly to centerfield….” He was amazing!!!!

  11. Jose Rojas

    American ingenuity!

  12. Eyes Of A Generation.com

    good question!

  13. Carrie Stevens Christoffersen

    Wow! Wonder what ever happened to that board.

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