1969 AFL Season
See also 1969 NFL Season.
As originally written by Jimmy Delach:
National Television
PRESEASON
8/1/69 New York Jets vs. College All-Stars @ Chicago (ABC) 9:30--Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson, Kyle Rote, Bill Flemming
AFL WEEK 1, 1969:
Sunday 9/14:
Dolphins-Bengals, 1:30, NBC, Jim Simpson, Elmer Angsman
Jets-Bills, 1:30, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
Patriots-Broncos, 4, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Oilers-Raiders, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, Al DeRogatis
Chiefs-Chargers, 4, NBC, Jay Randolph, George Ratterman
AFL WEEK 2, 1969:
Saturday 9/20:
Dolphins-Raiders, 11, Not televised
Sunday 9/21:
Oilers-Bills, 1:30, NBC, Jim Simpson, Al DeRogatis
Chiefs-Patriots, 1:30, NBC, Jay Randolph, George Ratterman
Chargers-Bengals, 1:30, NBC, Charlie Jones, Elmer Angsman
Jets-Broncos, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
AFL WEEK 3, 1969:
Sunday 9/28:
Broncos-Bills, 1:30, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Chiefs-Bengals, 1:30, NBC, Charlie Jones, Elmer Angsman
Raiders-Patriots, 1:30, NBC, Jim Simpson, Al DeRogatis
Dolphins-Oilers, 4, NBC, Jay Randolph, George Ratterman
Jets-Chargers, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
AFL WEEK 4, 1969:
Saturday 10/4:
Raiders-Dolphins, 8, KNEW-San Francisco, Johnny Holliday, Dave Kocourek
Bengals-Chargers, 11:15, WLWT-Cincinnati, WLWD-Dayton, WLWC-Columbus, Phil Samp*, Omar Williams*
Sunday 10/5:
Jets-Patriots, 1:30, NBC, Charlie Jones, Al DeRogatis
Bills-Oilers, 4, WGR-Buffalo/NBC. Bill Enis*, Kyle Rote*
Chiefs-Broncos, 4, WDAF-Kansas City, KSTB-Topeka/NBC. Jay Randolph*, George Ratterman*
AFL WEEK 5, 1969:
Saturday 10/11:
Patriots-Bills, 8, Not televised
Chargers-Dolphins, 8, KCST-San Diego, Bob Chandler
Sunday 10/12:
Oilers-Chiefs, 4, NBC, Bill Enis, Elmer Angsman
Jets-Bengals, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, Kyle Rote
Raiders-Broncos, 4, NBC, Jay Randolph, Al DeRogatis
AFL WEEK 6, 1969:
Sunday 10/19:
Broncos-Bengals, 1:30, NBC, Jay Randolph, George Ratterman
Dolphins-Chiefs, 1:30, NBC, Jim Simpson, Al DeRogatis
Chargers-Patriots, 1:30, NBC, Charlie Jones, Elmer Angsman
Bills-Raiders, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
Monday 10/20:
Oilers-Jets, 8, KPRC-Houston, Bill Enis*, analyst unknown
AFL WEEK 7, 1969:
Sunday 10/26:
Patriots-Jets, 1:30, NBC, Jim Simpson, Al DeRogatis
Bills-Dolphins, 1:30, NBC, Charlie Jones, George Ratterman
Bengals-Chiefs, 4, NBC, Jay Randolph, Elmer Angsman
Broncos-Oilers, 4, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Raiders-Chargers, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
AFL WEEK 8, 1969:
Sunday 11/2:
Oilers-Patriots, 1:30, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Chiefs-Bills, 1:30, NBC, Jay Randolph, Elmer Angsman
Dolphins-Jets, 1:30, NBC, Charlie Jones, George Ratterman
Raiders-Bengals, 1:30, NBC, Jim Simpson, Al DeRogatis
Chargers-Broncos, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
AFL WEEK 9, 1969:
Sunday 11/9:
Bills-Jets, 1:30, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Dolphins-Patriots, 1:30, NBC, Jay Randolph, Elmer Angsman
Bengals-Oilers, 4, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Broncos-Raiders, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, George Ratterman
Chargers-Chiefs, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
AFL WEEK 10, 1969:
Sunday 11/16:
Patriots-Bengals, 1:30, NBC, Jim Simpson, Elmer Angsman
Chiefs-Jets, 1:30, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
Dolphins-Bills, 1:30, NBC, Jay Randolph, Dave Kocourek
Oilers-Broncos, 4, NBC, Bill Enis, George Ratterman
Chargers-Raiders, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, Al DeRogatis
AFL WEEK 11, 1969:
Sunday 11/23:
Bills-Patriots, 1:30, NBC, Jay Randolph, Elmer Angsman
Bengals-Jets, 1:30, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Oilers-Dolphins, 1:30, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Broncos-Chargers, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, George Ratterman
Raiders-Chiefs, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
AFL WEEK 12, 1969:
Thursday 11/27:
Broncos-Chiefs, 1:30, NBC, Charlie Jones, Elmer Angsman
Chargers-Oilers, 4, NBC, Jim Simpson, Al DeRogatis
Sunday 11/30:
Bengals-Bills, 1:30, NBC, Jim Simpson, Dave Kocourek
Raiders-Jets, 1:30, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
Dolphins-Patriots (Tampa), 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, Al DeRogatis
AFL WEEK 13, 1969:
Saturday 12/6:
Jets-Oilers, 2, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
Sunday 12/7:
Broncos-Dolphins, 1:30, NBC, Jim Simpson, Al DeRogatis
Bills-Chiefs, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
Patriots-Chargers, 4, NBC, Jay Randolph, Elmer Angsman
Bengals-Raiders, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, George Ratterman
AFL WEEK 14, 1969:
Saturday 12/13:
Chiefs-Raiders, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
Sunday 12/14:
Jets-Dolphins, 1:30, NBC, Charlie Jones, Al DeRogatis
Patriots-Oilers, 4, NBC, Jim Simpson, George Ratteman
Bills-Chargers, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
Bengals-Broncos, 4, NBC, Jay Randolph, Elmer Angsman
AFL Divisional Playoffs:
Saturday 12/20: Chiefs-Jets, 1:30, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote
Sunday 12/21: Oilers-Raiders, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, Al DeRogatis
1969 AFL Championship:
Sunday 1/4: Chiefs-Raiders, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote, Al DeRogatis
SUPER BOWL IV from New Orleans:
Sunday 1/11: Vikings-Chiefs, 3:30, CBS, Jack Buck, Pat Summerall, Frank Gifford, Jack Whitaker
AFL All-Star Game from Houston:
Saturday 1/17: East-West, 2, NBC, Charlie Jones, Al DeRogatis
Local Radio Crews
Originally written by garretta
Let's switch gears briefly and talk about the AFL East in 1969. We begin with radio:
Bills: WBEN-FM will be the head of a twenty-five-station New York State network that will carry all games. Game sponsors are Mobil Oil, Marine Midland Trust Company of Western New York, and the local Ford Dealers. Addiitional sponsors on WBEN-FM are Bisonite Paint and Mason Photo Studio. The pre- and postgame shows have alternate sponsors: Sears, Roebuck and Company and Milk for Health on the Niagra Frontier, Inc. Van Miller, Stan Barron, and Dick Rifenberg will call the action.
Dolphins: WIOD-AM, which has carried Dolphins games since the team's inception in 1966, will be the flagship of a ten-station Florida network that will carry all games. Sponsors on WIOD include Northeast Airlines, the local Buick Dealers, and Household Finance. Bob Gallagher and Henry Barrow are your announcers.
Oilers: Majestic Advertising of Milwaukee has the radio rights to the Oilers for the second straight year. It has put together a nineteen-station network that will carry five preseason games plus all regular season games. Texaco and Schlitz Beer will combine to sponsor just over fifty percent of each game; the rest of the time will be sold to participating advertisers. Pre- and postgame shows will be sold locally; the halftime show will be sponsored by Southwestern Bell. Jim Norton will call play-by-play. while Dickie Maegle provides color.
Jets (New York): WABC-AM is in the fifth year of a six-year contract. It will carry five preseason games plus all regular season games. Sponsors for a quarter of each game are Chevron, Schaefer Beer, the local Buick Dealers, and Manufacturers Hanover Trust. Merle Harmon (referred to in the article as "Merl") and Sam DeLuca will call the action. Pre- and postgame shows will be sponsored by Gimbels.
Jets (Northeast): Trans National Communications, which operates the Giants' Northeast network, is organizing a similar one for the Jets this year. Thirty-five stations have been signed in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Bristol-Myers has been signed as a network sponsor, and one-third of the commercial time will be sold locally. Announcers have not yet been signed.
Patriots: WBZ-AM leads a five-station network in Massachusetts and Maine. Negotiations are ongoing with eight more stations. The network will carry all scheduled games. Sponsors signed so far are Liberty Mutual Insurance and the local Dodge Dealers. Bob Starr and Gil Santos are your announcers.
Now let's look at radio for the AFL West in 1969:
Chargers: KDEO-AM El Cajon (California) has signed a five-year contract to carry all scheduled games. It will head a eighteen-station network in California and Arizona. Stu Nahan will call play-by-play, while Emil Karas and Johnny Parker provide color. There will be two pregame shows: the fifteen-minute Charger Warmup and a show hosted by Chargers coach Sid Gillman that will run either ten or fifteen minutes. Both of these shows will be fed to the network and sponsored by Sears Roebuck. There will also be a fifteen-minute postgame show called Charger Report. Texaco will sponsor a quarter of each game; Karl's Shoes will sponsor half a quarter.
Broncos: KTLK-AM is the flagship of a fifty-three-station network on Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming that will air all scheduled games. Sponsoring a quarter of each game will be Schlitz Beer, Humble Oil, Public Service Company of Colorado, and Empire Savings and Loan. The pregame and postgame shows will be sponsored on KTLK by Roger Mauro Chevrolet. Joe McConnell and Bob McCullough will call the action,
Raiders: KNEW-AM is the head of a seventeen-station network that will carry five preseason games plus all fourteen regular season games. Sixteen of the network stations are in California, with the other one in Reno, Nevada. The twenty-minute pregame show will be sponsored by Foremost Dairies, Yami's Yogurt, and Kilpatrick's Bread. Game sponsors for a quarter apiece are Smiths Clothiers, Central Valley National Bank, United Vintners, and Union Oil. Bill King and Scotty Stirling will describe the action. The postgame show will be sponsored by Lincoln-Mercury and Treesweet Products. After the postgame show comes the twenty-minute Locker Room, which will air on the network and be co-sponsored by Volvo and Canadian Pacific Airlines.
On Monday evenings during the season, KNEW will air a half-hour program called Ask the Raiders, which will be sponsored by E.C Wenger Electronics, S&K Auto, and Wiseman's Home Furniture.
Chiefs: KCMO-AM is in the second year of a three-year contract. It will head a forty-five-station network that will carry six preseason games plus all regular season games. KCMO will also broadcast the Chiefs' rookie game on July 26. Network sponsors totaling seventy percent of advertising time include Interstate Securities, Vickers Oil Company, Country Club Dairy, and Schlitz Beer and its Kansas City Wholesalers. The other thirty percent will be taken by local sponsors. Other sponsors on KCMO are U.S. Supermarkets and Southwestern Bell. Tom Hedrick and Bill Grigsby will call the games.
The pregame show, Scouting the Chiefs, will be sponsored by City National Bank, The postgame Scoreboard will be sponsored by Aamco Transmissions, and the postgame locker room show after home games will be sponsored by Swift Dodge.
Bengals: WLW-AM is in the second year of a three-year contract. It will air five preseason games and all regular season games as the flagship of a network that numbers approximately forty stations, a modest increase over last year. Game sponsors for a quarter each are Burger Brewing, Tresler-Comet Gasoline, and the local Chrysler-Plymouth Dealers. The other quarter will be split between Ohio Appliance Company and Union Central Life Insurance. Phil Samp and Jimmy Crum will describe the action.
There will be three pregame features on WLW: The preview show, sponsored by Cinderella Cleaners; the warmup show, sponsored by Partridge Meats; and Coach's Corner. sponsored by First National Bank of Cincinnati. The two halftime features on WLW will be sponsored by Shillito's Men Stores and Central Trust Bank. The postgame highlights show will be sponsored by Carter's Restaurants, and the postgame Star of the Game show will be sponsored by First National Bank of Covington, Kentucky. WLW is also airing The Paul Brown Show daily for twenty-six weeks beginning June 30 and will feed it to a ten-station network. Sponsors will be local.
Local TV Crews
Originally written by garretta
Bills: WKBW-TV will televise six preseason games. four of them in color. The September 6 game against the Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will be aired live and replayed the next day due to the late starting time. Rick Azar will call the play-by play. Sponsors were unknown at press time.
The Buffalo NBC station is WGR-TV. It will televise the Bills' Week 4 game against the Oilers at the Astrodome. Kickoff is at 4PM Eastern; our present research shows that Bill Enis and Kyle Rote called the action, but that is unconfirmed.
Patriots: No preseason telecasts are planned. The Boston NBC station is WBZ-TV.
Jets: WOR-TV will air five preseason games. Sponsors include Mobil Oil, Bankers Trust, Canada Dry, Rheingold Beer, Miles Labs, Wilkinson Blades, and the local Chrysler-Plymouth Dealers. Charlie Jones and George Ratterman will call the games.
The New York NBC station is WNBC-TV.
Dolphins: WTVJ-TV will televise three preseason games, two in color. Bob Gallagher and Bob Halloran will describe the action. Nissan Motors and Johnny and Mack will each sponsor a quarter of each game, and Burdine's Department Store will sponsor another quarter of one game, The rest of the time has been sold to spot advertisers.
The Miami NBC station is WCKT-TV.
Oilers: In light of a ruling by the NFL that makes it illegal for two or more teams to share the same preseason TV package, Majestic Advertising of Milwaukee has sold its rights to Oilers preseason games to KPRC-TV, the local NBC station. KPRC will show four home preseason games on tape delay and cover a fifth road preseason game (September 6 against the Saints in New Orleans) live. Bill Enis will call play-by-play; no analyst was mentioned in the article. Advertising is being sold on a participating basis.
KPRC will also televise the Oilers' Week 8 game against the Jets at Shea Stadium on Monday, October 20. Kickoff is at 8PM Eastern. According to our research, Enis called the play-by-play, with the analyst unknown.
Now for television in the AFL West for 1969:
Chargers: KCST-TV. which carried the Chargers' preseason games last year, is doing so again this year. All of the games will be broadcast in color and on a tape-delayed basis. Spots will be sold to participating advertisers. Bob Chandler will call the play-by-play. KCST will also carry weekly Chargers highlights and a show featuring head coach Sid Gillman.
KCST will also televise the Chargers' Week 5 regular season contest against the Dolphins in Miami on Saturday, October 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 5PM Pacific, with Chandler calling the play-by-play.
The San Diego NBC station is KOGO-TV.
Broncos: KOA-TV, the Denver NBC station, will carry one preseason game, which has been sold to multiple sponsors. Bob Martin will call the action.
Bengals: WLWT-TV. the Cincinnati NBC station, and its three sister stations (WLWC-TV Columbus, WLWD-TV Dayton, and WLWI-TV Indianapolis) will air three preseason games. Half of each game will be sponsored locally, with one of the remaining quarters sponsored by Burger Brewing and the other by Marathon Oil. Phil Samp and Omar Williams are your announcers.
WLWT will also produce a local telecast of the Bengals' Week 4 game against the Chargers on Saturday, October 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:15 PM Eastern. Our research so far says that Samp and Williams were on the call. but that hasn't been confirmed. (If he called this game or any of the preseason games on television, who replaced him on radio?) There's more than a good chance that this game was also seen in Dayton, Columbus, and Indianapolis; when one of the Avco stations showed a Reds or Bengals game, the other three almost always did as well,
Chiefs: KMBC-TV will air all six preseason games. Even though rules no longer permit a station to organize networks for more than one team as KMBC did last year with the Chiefs and the Oilers, games can still be fed to stations less than seventy-five miles away. This means that the Auguust 2 game against the Raiders in Birmingham, Alabama will also be seen on WIBW-TV Topeka (Kansas) and the August 16 game against the Bengals in Jackson, Mississippi will be seen on KTSB-TV Topeka (Kansas). Sponsors on KMBC for a quarter apiece include Wilson and Company, Sears, Roebuck and Company, Bankmark Credit Card, and Falstaff Beer. Charlie Jones and John Sanders will split the play-by-play, with Galin Fiss providing color.
WDAF, the Kansas City NBC station, will also air a local telecast of the Chiefs' Week 4 game in Denver; the game will also be seen on KTSB. Kickiff is scheduled for 3PM Central. Our research shows that Jay Randolph and George Ratterman called the game, but that hasn't been confirmed.
Raiders: The Bay Area NBC station is KRON-TV.
Apparently, there's not much interest in Raiders' preseason games. If the article is to be believed. the only station broadcasting the full games is KTXL-TV Sacramento, which is also airing a weekly highlights show. The highlights show was also picked up by KTVW-TV Seattle-Tacoma. Announcers have not been named for the preseason telecasts.
KNEW-TV will air the Raiders' Week 4 game in Miami against the Dolphins on Saturday, October 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 5PM Pacific, with Johnny Holiday and Dave Kocourek calling the action. (Might they have been the Raiders' preseason announcers in '69?)