1961 MLB Season
As originally written by Tim Brulia:
Moving into 1961...
Two new teams enter play in 1961, both in the Junior Circuit, Los Angeles and Washington. The new Senators replace the original Senators, who move to the upper Midwest and become the Minnesota Twins.
Changes from 1960:
ABC is out of the picture after one season. NBC tweaks its crew again.
National Television
APRIL
Saturday 4/15:
Braves-Cubs, 2:20, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Reds-Cardinals, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 4/16:
Twins-Orioles, 1:55, CBS. Chuck Thompson, Bill McColgan
Reds-Cardinals, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 4/22:
Yankees-Orioles, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean. Pee Wee Reese
Sunday 4/23:
Braves-Pirates, 1:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Yankees-Orioles, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Saturday 4/29:
Indians-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Giants-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 4/30:
Pirates-Reds, 2:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Giants-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
MAY
Saturday 5/6:
Dodgers-Pirates, 1:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Tigers-White Sox, 2:25, CBS. Bob Finnegan, Russ Meyer
Sunday 5/7:
Dodgers-Pirates, 1:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Tigers-White Sox, 2:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Saturday 5/13:
Reds-Pirates, 1:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Orioles-Indians, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Sunday 5/14:
Tigers-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Reds-Pirates, 2:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 5/20:
Yankees-Indians, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Tigers-Red Sox, 2:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 5/21:
Orioles-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
White Sox-Red Sox, 2:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 5/27:
Giants-Cubs, 2:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Dodgers-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 5/28:
White Sox-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Dodgers-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
JUNE
Saturday 6/3:
Angels-Indians, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Yankees-White Sox, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 6/4:
Cubs-Reds, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Yankees-White Sox, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 6/10:
Twins-Orioles, 2:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Braves-Cubs, 2:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Sunday 6/11:
Angels-Yankees, 1:15, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
White Sox-Orioles, 2:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 6/17:
Cardinals-Pirates, 1:30, NBC. Jim Simpson, Joe Garagiola
Orioles-Indians, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Sunday 6/18:
Orioles-Indians, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Twins-White Sox, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 6/24:
Dodgers-Reds, 2:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Giants-Cardinals, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 6/25:
Tigers-Indians, 1:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Giants-Cardinals, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
JULY
Saturday 7/1:
Cardinals-Cubs, 2:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Reds-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 7/2:
Dodgers-Phillies, 1:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Reds-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 7/8:
White Sox-Indians, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Pirates-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 7/9:
Red Sox-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Pirates-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Tuesday 7/11:
First Baseball All-Star Game from San Francisco:
American-National, 3:45, NBC. Russ Hodges, Mel Allen
Saturday 7/15:
Yankees-White Sox, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Pirates-Giants, 3:55, CBS. Gene Kirby, Pee Wee Reese
Sunday 7/16:
Twins-Indians, 1:55, CBS. Gene Kirby, Pee Wee Reese
Yankees-Orioles, 2:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 7/22:
Braves-Pirates, 1:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Giants-Reds, 2:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Sunday 7/23:
Yankees-Red Sox, 2:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Orioles-White Sox, 2:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Saturday 7/29:
Dodgers-Pirates, 1:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Orioles-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Sunday 7/30:
Dodgers-Pirates, 1:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Orioles-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Monday 7/31:
Second Baseball All-Star Game from Boston:
National-American, 1:55, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Joe Garagiola
AUGUST
Saturday 8/5:
Pirates-Reds, 2:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Senators-White Sox, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 8/6:
Twins-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Senators-White Sox, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 8/12:
Angels-Indians, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Cubs-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 8/13:
Red Sox-Orioles, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Cubs-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 8/19:
Yankees-Indians, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Phillies-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 8/20:
Yankees-Indians, 1:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Phillies-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 8/26:
Dodgers-Reds, 2:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Giants-Cardinals, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 8/27:
Braves-Phillies, 1:25, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Giants-Cardinals, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
SEPTEMBER
Saturday 9/2:
Tigers-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Dodgers-Braves, 2:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 9/3:
Tigers-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Indians-Orioles, 2:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 9/9:
Indians-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Tigers-Red Sox, 2:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 9/10:
Indians-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Tigers-Red Sox, 2:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 9/16:
Cardinals-Pirates, 1:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Twins-Indians, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
Wednesday 9/20:
Yankees-Orioles, 8:00, ABC. Bob Neal, Hank Greenberg
Saturday 9/23:
Yankees-Red Sox, 2:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Orioles-White Sox, 2:00, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese (Rained out)
Saturday 9/30:
Reds-Pirates, 1:30, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Garagiola
Red Sox-Yankees, 1:55, CBS. Dizzy Dean, Pee Wee Reese
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WORLD SERIES
Wednesday 10/4:
Game 1, Reds-Yankees, 1:00, NBC. Mel Allen, Joe Garagiola
Thursday 10/5:
Game 2, Reds-Yankees, 1:00, NBC. Mel Allen, Joe Garagiola
Saturday 10/7:
Game 3, Yankees-Reds, 2:00, NBC. Mel Allen, Joe Garagiola
Sunday 10/8:
Game 4, Yankees-Reds, 2:00, NBC. Mel Allen, Joe Garagiola
Monday 10/9:
Game 5, Yankees-Reds, 2:00, NBC. Mel Allen, Joe Garagiola
Note: WPIX-New York also provided coverage, using the NBC feed. All World Series games televised by NBC in color.
Local TV/Radio Info
Originally written by garretta
Here's the story on 1961 in the National League, at least as of March 6:
Cubs: WGN-TV will carry all home games in color; confirmed sponsors are Hamm's Beer and Camel Cigarettes. WGN-AM will carry all games on radio. The one confirmed sponsor is Oak Park Federal Savings and Loan. CBS will also televise from Wrigley Field.
Cardinals: KMOX Radio is once again the flagship station of a sixty-station network in twelve states. Busch Bavarian Beer is the sponsor. On television, forty games will be carried by KPLR (Channel 11). NBC will also televise from Sportsman's Park.
Reds: On radio, the Reds anticipate more than fifty stations, forty-five of which have already signed up. Burger Brewing Company will sponsor for the twentieth consecutive year. All television sponsors have renewed, thanks in part to the GE pickup tube that debuted last year and made color telecasts possible for both day and night games. Said sponsors are Hudepohl Brewing Company, Sohio, and Colgate-Palmolive. WLWT-TV Cincinnati is the flagship, with other stations including fellow Crosley stations WLWC-TV Columbus and WLWD-TV Dayton, WSAZ-TV Charleston, West Virginia and WLEX-TV Lexington, Kentucky. The first telecast is April 11. CBS will also televise from Crosley Field.
(Still no TV in either Indianapolis or Louisville? Strange, especially since Crosley owned a station in Indy.)
Pirates: KDKA-AM (1020) will carry all games on radio as the flagship of a twenty-six-station network covering Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. KDKA-TV (Channel 2) will carry at least thirty-five games. Sponsors include Iron City Beer, Atlantic Refining, and the Ford Dealers of Allegheny County. Bob Prince, Jim Woods, and Paul Long will be the broadcasters. NBC will also televise from Forbes Field.
(I'm pretty sure that Paul only did TV games, since he was a newsman for Channel 2 at the time.)
Giants: KSFO Radio and the Golden West Radio Network will again broadcast all games on radio. Sponsors are Falstaff Beer, Folgers coffee, and Tareyton cigarettes. They'll also televise for the first time ever, as all eleven road games with the Dodgers will be picked up by KTVU-TV. Falstaff will be the lone sponsor, Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons will be on the call for both radio and TV. CBS will also televise from Candlestick Park.
Braves: All three radio sponsors from 1960 have renewed: Miller Beer, Tareyton Cigarettes, and Clark Oil and Refining. The radio network will be led by WEMP Milwaukee, with duplicate coverage aired by both WTMJ and WMIL-FM. Earl Gillespie and Blaine Walsh will be the announcers, and spring training broadcasts begin March 11. No telecasts are planned. NBC will also televise from County Stadium.
Phillies: WFIL-AM has the radio rights, and WFIL-TV has the television rights. Twenty exhibition games and the entire regular season will be broadcast by the radio network. which consists of over twenty stations in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. TV games will also be seen on WGAL Lancaster and WNEP Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, just like last year. Fifty-five games will be televised: thirty-five away games and twenty home games. Thirty-nine of the telecasts will be day games.
Three of the following advertisers will rotate as sponsors for each game on both radio and television: Atlantic Refining. Ballantine Beer, Phillies Cigars, and Tastykake. (The only difference between this year and the last two years is the rotation.) This is Atlantic Refining's twenty-sixth consecutive year sponsoring the Phillies, The announcers are Byrum Saam, Claude Haring, and Frank Simms. CBS will also televise from Connie Mack Stadium,
Dodgers: The sponsors for this season for all games on radio and television are Union Oil, Tareyton Cigarettes, and Roi-Tan Cigars (also made by American Tobacco, but not mentioned in last year's article). All games will be broadcast on KFI-AM (640) and a nineteen-station radio network. The only games televised this year will be the eleven road games against the Giants, the same as last year. KTTV (Channel 11) will not only show these games, but produce the Giants' games in Los Angeles for showing by KTVU.
Now for the American League in 1961:
Orioles: WJZ-TV will telecast fifty games (eleven home, thirty-nine away) and serve as the flagship station of the team's television network. Hamm's Beer and P. Lorillard Tobacco Company will be co-sponsors. WBAL Radio will broadcast all games on radio. starting March 11 with the first of twelve exhibition games. Hamm's will sponsor three innings of each game; the other six will be sponsored by a combination of twelve local businesses. Joe Crogan will call the games on radio, while Herb Carneal and Bob Murphy will do the honors on TV. CBS, NBC, and ABC will all televise from Memorial Stadium.
Minnesota Twins: WCCO Radio Minneapolis will broadcast all games and be the flagship station of a radio network that will span seven states. WTCN-TV Minneapolis-St, Paul will televise fifty games (thirty-three on weekdays. seventeen on weekends). Some spring training games will be broadcast on radio, while telecasts will begin April 11. Bob Wolff, Ray Scott, and Halsey Hall will be the broadcasters.
Indians: WERE AM/FM are the flagship stations of a thirty-five-station radio network. Black Label Beer is the only conformed sponsor. Jimmy Didley and Bob Neal are the announcers. On television, WJW-TV will televise fifty-six games, with Ken Coleman and Harry Jones calling the action, Sponsors are Black Label Beer, Sohio, and American Tobacco. CBS will also televise from Municipal Stadium.
Tigers: Pretty much the same as last year. Stroh's Beer and Speedway Petroleum are confirmed sponsors on both radio and TV. with Lucky Strike Cigarettes rumored to be a third sponsor. WKMH Dearborn will once again serve as the flagship radio station, with Detroit coverage split between WWJ (day games) and WJR (night games). On television, WJBK-TV will be the flagship of a seven-station network. Approximately fifty-four games will be televised between April 11 and October 2.
Athletics: As of now, Schlitz Beer is a full sponsor on radio and a half-sponsor on television, but may sell all or part of their radio sponsorship before the season. WDAF Radio will broadcast all regular season games plus a dozen exhibition games starting March 27, WDAF-TV will televise about thirty games, bur their schedule hasn't been finalized yet. Merle Harmon and Bill Grigsby are the announcers.
Washington Senators; The expansion Sens will have all of their games broadcast on radio by WTOP AM/FM, Ballantine Beer will sponsor four innings of every game, with the other five split among twelve local businesses, Four of them are conformed: Briggs Meats, Sears, Bruce Hunt Clothing, and Washington Gaslight Company. WTOP-TV will be the flagship station of a network spanning several states that will telecast thirty games, an increase of six from last year. Ballantine and R.J. Reynolds will be two sponsors, with the third yet to be determined. Dan Daniels and John P. MacLean will call the action.
White Sox: For the second consecutive year, WGN-TV will televise all daytime home games in color and fifteen road games in black and white. Hamm's Beer and Camel Cigarettes are two of the sponsors. Jack Brickhouse will call play-by-play for the fourteenth consecutive year, with Vince Lloyd on color. On radio, WCFL is the flagship station, heading a network of sixty stations covering several states and approximately 1,200 miles. Sponsors are General Tire and Rubber, General Finance Company, Budweiser Beer, and American Tobacco Company (replacing White Owl Cigars). Bob Elson and Ralph Kiner will call the games. Both CBS and NBC will televise from Comiskey Park.
Red Sox: As was the case last year, WHDH will broadcast the entire schedule on radio as the flagship of a forty-station network throughout New England. WHDH-TV will broadcast fifty-six games (forty-six on weekends and holidays, ten on weeknights. Stations in Hartford, Providence, Portland (Maine) and Bangor (Maine) will also pick up the telecasts. Sponsors on both media will be Atlantic Refining, Narragansett Beer, and American Tobacco. Curt Gowdy, Ned Martin, and Art Gleeson will call the action. NBC will also televise from Fenway Park.
(Does anybody know what happened to WMTW? I would think that the Red Sox would do all they could to keep a station as powerful as that one in the fold. It was a superstation years before Ted Turner coined the term.)
Los Angeles Angels: KMPC-AM (710) will broadcast the entire regular season schedule plus fifteen exhibition games as the flagship of a twenty-two station network that will cover southern California, Arizona, and Nevada. Sponsors will be Falstaff Beer, Folgers Coffee, and Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company. KHJ-TV (Channel 9) Los Angeles will televise twenty-six games (six exhibition, ten home. and ten away) with Falstaff, Brown and Williamson, and the Southern California Chevrolet Dealers sponsoring. Bob Kelley, Jim Bailey, and Don Wells are the announcers.
Yankees: There's a dispute over the radio rights between WMGM and WCBS-AM, As of now, the plan is for WCBS-AM to broadcast 142 games. WCBS-FM will be the main broadcaster for the other twenty (all on weekday afternoons) and simulcast the rest. WCBS-FM will also carry the entire exhibition season. The Home of Champions Radio Network returns, encompassing forty stations in New York, Connecticut, and western Pennsylvania, A total of 133 games will be telecast on WPIX-TV (Channel 11): four exhibitions (starting March 11), all eighty-one home games, and forty-eight road games. Telecasts begin March 12. Sponsors on both media are Ballantine Beer and R,J, Reynolds. Mel Allen, Red Barber, and Phil Rizzuto will describe the action. Telecasts will begin March 12. CBS will also televise from Yankee Stadium.
(Two questions: 1) WMGM claimed that they had the Yankees' radio rights for the year, as I mentioned above. Which station eventually broadcast the games?
2) Yankees games in Western Pennsylvania? Certainly not in Pittsburgh. Maybe a station up toward Erie, which is closer to the Yankees' broadcast area.)
National TV Info
Originally written by garretta
CBS: Games will be shown Saturdays and Sundays from the parks indicated on approximately two hundred stations outside Major League markets (160 American, 40 Canadian). The package is fifty games, of which Canada will show twelve. The only sponsor signed at press time is Falstaff, which will sponsor games in parts of the Midwest. Even though games will be shown on back-to-back days, they will be at different parks more often than not.
Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese will be the primary commentators. Gene Kirby filled in for Dean the weekend of July 15 (Pirates-Giants) and 16 (Twins-Indians). Other teams who called games were Chuck Thompson/Bill McColgan (Twins-Orioles April 16) and Bob Finnegan/Russ Meyer (Tigers-White Sox May 6). Sunday coverage ends September 10 due to NFL football coverage.
NBC: Games will be televised from the parks indicated on approximately 150 stations in non-Major League markets starting April 15-16. Lindsey Nelson and Joe Garagiola are the announcers, with Jim Simpson filling in for Nelson on Cardinals-Pirates June 17. Both games in a weekend will usually (but not always) be televised from the same park. Busch Bavarian Beer will be a sponsor in the Midwest on both Saturdays and Sundays, while General Insurance Company (GEICO) will be a partial sponsor on alternate Sundays. NBC also has the All-Star Game and World Series, as they would every year until 1975. No color telecasts are planned. Sunday coverage will end September 10 due to NFL football coverage.
The firat All-Star Game will take place on Tuesday, July 11 from Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Airtime is 3:45 PM Eastern, with Russ Hodges and Mel Allen calling the action. The second All-Star Game will be played at Fenway Park in Boston on Monday, July 31. Airtime is 1:55 PM, with Curt Gowdy and Joe Garagiola on the call. Jimmy Dudley and Jerry Doggett will call the first All-Star Game for NBC Radio; Blaine Walsh and Ernie Harwell will call the second.
The World Series will begin on Wednesday, October 4 from Yankee Stadium in New York, as the American League champion Yankees host the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. First pitch is scheduled for 1PM Eastern. The same holds true for Game 2 on Thursday, October 5. The series shifts to Crosley Field in Cincinnati for Games 3, 4, and 5 on October 7 (Saturday), 8 (Sunday), and 9 (Monday). First pitch is scheduled for 2PM Eastern. Mel Allen (voice of the Yankees) and Joe Garagiola will call the action. Bob Wolff and Waite Hoyt will call the Series for NBC Radio. Allen, as the voice of the victorious Yankees, will host the trophy presentation.
ABC: ABC will air a special prime time telecast on Wednesday, September 20, as the Orioles host Roger Maris and the Yankees at Memorial Stadium with Maris chasing Babe Ruth's all-time record of sixty home runs in a season. First pitch is at 8PM Eastern, with Bob Neal and Hank Greenberg calling the action.
National Radio Info
Originally written by garretta
Mutual is dropping its "Game of the Day" for two reasons: 1) Expansion is eating into the number of stations eligible to receive it and 2) They want to keep the network open for breaking news. (This turned out to be a good decision, considering some of the stories that would break in the years ahead.)
SNI (Sports Networks Inc.) was expected to take up the slack, with over 450 TV games and three thousand radio games available. I know they did a package for the Browns in football around this time, but I don't recall them having anything to do with broadcasting baseball on either radio or television,
Fun fact: The Twins' rights fees would have gone up ten percent to each of their flagship stations had the team finished first, second, or third. Nether WTCN nor WCCO had anything to worry about; the Twinkies finished seventh.
Fun fact 2: Commissioner Ford Frick said in an interview before the season that he wouldn't consider putting the World Series on pay (cable) TV until it was available in twenty-five percent of American homes. Sixty years later, with cable available to almost everyone who could possibly want it, the World Series remains completely on free OTA TV.