Earl Gillespie
Encyclopedia
Earl W. Gillespie was an American
sportscaster
, best known as the radio voice of Major League Baseball
's Milwaukee Braves from 1953
to 1963
.
Gillespie was partnered with Blaine Walsh and known for his dramatic, extroverted style of play-by-play and his use of the phrase "Holy cow!
" during moments of great excitement (an on-air catchphrase he shared with fellow baseball announcers Harry Caray
and Phil Rizzuto
).
Gillespie called both of the Braves' World Series
appearances in Milwaukee (1957
, 1958
) over NBC radio, as well as the 1955 All-Star Game
(played in Milwaukee) over Mutual
radio. He also did radio and television commentary for the Green Bay Packers
, Marquette University
, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. He worked at WITI-TV in Milwaukee from 1963 until his retirement in 1985.
Gillespie was named Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year eight times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association
, and was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
in 2001.
Earl's son John Sr., and grandson John Jr. are also Wisconsin sportscasters, with the younger John Gillespie currently ended his employment with WBAY-TV
in Green Bay in late July 2010.
"The pitch to Henry Aaron. A swing and a drive back into center field! Going back towards the wall! It's back at that fence....and is it gone or not? It's a home run! The Braves are the champions of the National League! Henry Aaron has just hit his forty-third home run of the year!"
On October 10, 1957, Gillespie's description of the Braves' World Series win:
"The outfield around to the left. McDougald is on at third, Coleman is at second. Tommy Byrne the base runner at first. Hank Aaron is pulled around in left-center field. A breeze is blowing across from left to right. Burdette's pitch. Swung on, lined, grabbed by Mathews who steps on third--and the World Series is over and the Milwaukee Braves are the new world champions of baseball!"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
, best known as the radio voice of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's Milwaukee Braves from 1953
1953 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 14 at Crosley Field: National League, 5-1-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce *College World Series: Michigan...
to 1963
1963 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers beat New York Yankees ; Sandy Koufax, MVP*All-Star Game, July 9 at Municipal Stadium: National League, 5–3; Willie Mays, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: USC...
.
Gillespie was partnered with Blaine Walsh and known for his dramatic, extroverted style of play-by-play and his use of the phrase "Holy cow!
Holy cow (expression)
"Holy cow!" is an exclamation of surprise used mostly in American and Canadian English.From the Dictionary of American Slang :...
" during moments of great excitement (an on-air catchphrase he shared with fellow baseball announcers Harry Caray
Harry Caray
Harry Caray, born Harry Christopher Carabina, was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
and Phil Rizzuto
Phil Rizzuto
Philip Francis Rizzuto , nicknamed "The Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He spent his entire 13-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
).
Gillespie called both of the Braves' World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
appearances in Milwaukee (1957
1957 World Series
The 1957 World Series featured the defending champions, the New York Yankees , playing against the Milwaukee Braves . After finishing just one game behind the N.L. Champion Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, the Braves came back in 1957 to win their first pennant since moving from Boston in 1953...
, 1958
1958 World Series
The 1958 World Series was a rematch of the 1957 Series, with the New York Yankees beating the defending champion Milwaukee Braves in seven games for their eighteenth title, and their seventh in ten years...
) over NBC radio, as well as the 1955 All-Star Game
1955 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1955 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 22nd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
(played in Milwaukee) over Mutual
Major League Baseball on Mutual
Major League Baseball on Mutual was the de facto title of the Mutual Broadcasting System's national radio coverage of Major League Baseball games. Mutual's coverage came about during the Golden Age of Radio in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s. During this period, television sports broadcasting was in its...
radio. He also did radio and television commentary for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. He worked at WITI-TV in Milwaukee from 1963 until his retirement in 1985.
Gillespie was named Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year eight times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association
National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association
The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, or NSSA, is an organization of sports media members in the United States. It constitutes the American chapter of the International Sports Press Association ....
, and was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame is a promenade in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dedicated to honoring distinguished members of Wisconsin's sports history. New members are honored at a biennial banquet.-History:...
in 2001.
Earl's son John Sr., and grandson John Jr. are also Wisconsin sportscasters, with the younger John Gillespie currently ended his employment with WBAY-TV
WBAY-TV
WBAY-TV is the ABC television affiliate in Green Bay, Wisconsin, broadcasting on UHF digital channel 23 from a transmitter located in the town of Ledgeview, Wisconsin, and master control based in its building in downtown Green Bay...
in Green Bay in late July 2010.
Play-by-play highlights
On September 23, 1957, Gillespie described the Braves' capture of the National League pennant this way:"The pitch to Henry Aaron. A swing and a drive back into center field! Going back towards the wall! It's back at that fence....and is it gone or not? It's a home run! The Braves are the champions of the National League! Henry Aaron has just hit his forty-third home run of the year!"
On October 10, 1957, Gillespie's description of the Braves' World Series win:
"The outfield around to the left. McDougald is on at third, Coleman is at second. Tommy Byrne the base runner at first. Hank Aaron is pulled around in left-center field. A breeze is blowing across from left to right. Burdette's pitch. Swung on, lined, grabbed by Mathews who steps on third--and the World Series is over and the Milwaukee Braves are the new world champions of baseball!"