Liberty Broadcasting System facts for kids

The Liberty Broadcasting System was a radio network in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It was started by Gordon McLendon. This network was famous for broadcasting live recreations of Major League Baseball games. They would follow the game action using reports from Western Union ticker machines. The sound effects were so good that many listeners didn't realize the announcers weren't actually at the game! Back then, some major league teams and most minor league teams used these recreated broadcasts to save money.

Where could you listen to Liberty?

The network began in 1948. It was mostly heard in Texas and the Southwest. But it also had nine stations in Oregon, one in Los Angeles, and one in Seattle. By 1950, it even reached WHAV in Haverhill, Massachusetts. At one point, about 500 radio stations carried Liberty's programs. This made it the second-largest network, right after the Mutual Broadcasting System.

Major League Baseball on Liberty

Liberty Broadcasting System offered different kinds of shows, like late-night music programs. But Gordon McLendon, known as the "Old Scotchman," made the most money with his daily baseball game recreations. He got the play-by-play details from Western Union ticker reports. McLendon himself, along with future sportscasting stars like Lindsey Nelson and Jerry Doggett, would announce these games.

Liberty's most famous moment came from a live game, not a recreated one. McLendon was broadcasting from the Polo Grounds in New York on October 3, 1951. This was for the final game of a three-game play-off series in the National League. It was between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers.

At that time, radio was still the most popular way to hear news and sports across the country. Russ Hodges' famous radio call of the game was only available on the Giants' own network. So, most Americans heard McLendon's broadcast of the National League championship. This included the exciting moment when Giants player Bobby Thomson hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning to win the game for New York. Parts of McLendon's broadcast were even featured in a 2001 HBO documentary called Shot Heard 'Round the World.

Why did Liberty stop broadcasting baseball?

According to Time magazine, McLendon used to pay Major League Baseball only $1,000 each year to broadcast the games. But in 1951, the leagues greatly increased the price to $250,000 per year. They also made new rules. Liberty was not allowed to broadcast games in any city that had a minor league team. They also couldn't broadcast in the Northeast and Midwest.

Liberty baseball commentators

• Bud Blattner (1950–1951)
• Jerry Doggett (1950–1951)
• Gordon McLendon (1949–1952)
• Lindsey Nelson (1950–1951)
• Don Wells
• Wes Wise

The end of Liberty Broadcasting

Sports were super important to Liberty's success. The new rules about Major League Baseball broadcasts, along with bans on National Football League broadcasts near league cities, were a huge problem. Since baseball games were a major reason listeners and stations tuned in, these broadcast blackouts were a disaster. The company had only made small profits in its first few years. More than 100 stations left the network. Facing a lot of debt, the Liberty Broadcasting System stopped broadcasting on May 16, 1952.

National Basketball Association

Liberty also broadcast NBA games. This was roughly from the 1950-51 through the 1951-52 seasons.

NBA commentators

• Hilliard Gates
• Marty Glickman
• Johnny Most

Is Liberty Broadcasting System still around?

In the mid-2000s, a different broadcasting company in Spokane, Washington started using the names "Mutual" and "Liberty." This company is not connected to the original Liberty Broadcasting System. They used these names for two of their stations, KTRW AM 970 Spokane and KTAC FM 93.9 Ephrata, Washington. These stations play older music, nostalgia programs, and some Christian shows. They use the old names as part of their nostalgic brand.