Van Patrick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Van Patrick
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Van Patrick in the Detroit Tigers broadcast booth (1957)
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| Born | August 15, 1916 |
| Died | September 29, 1974 (aged 58) |
| Other names | The Ole Announcer |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Team(s) | Cleveland Indians (1948) Detroit Tigers (1949, 1952–59) Detroit Lions (1950–74) |
| Genre(s) | Play-by-play |
| Sports | Major League Baseball National Football League |
Van Patrick (born August 15, 1916 – died September 29, 1974) was an American sportscaster. He was famous for his exciting play-by-play announcing. He mainly worked for the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers sports teams.
Van Patrick called himself "The Ole Announcer." He was the voice for the Lions' games from 1950 until he passed away in 1974. He also worked for the Tigers in 1949. Then he returned to broadcast for them from 1952 to 1959.
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Early Life and College Sports
Van Patrick went to Texas Christian University (TCU). While there, he was a talented athlete. He played football with Sammy Baugh, who later became a famous quarterback. Sammy Baugh is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Van Patrick also played baseball and basketball for TCU.
Starting His Broadcasting Career
After college, Van Patrick began his career as a baseball announcer. He worked for several minor league teams. These included the International League and the Texas League.
His first big chance came in 1948. He became a play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Indians. That year, the Indians won the World Series! Van Patrick even called Game 2 of the 1948 World Series. He worked alongside another famous sportscaster, Red Barber.
Making TV History
Game 2 of the 1948 World Series was special. It was shown live on a train! This was a big deal for television at the time. The game was broadcast from Boston. Passengers on the Marylander train could watch it. This train traveled between Washington, D.C., and New York City.
Working in Detroit and Beyond
From 1949 to 1953, Van Patrick was the sports director at Detroit's WJR radio station. In the 1960s and 1970s, he became the sports director for the Mutual Broadcasting System. For this network, he broadcast Notre Dame football games. He also worked on Monday Night Football. He was very well-liked for his radio skills.
On March 8, 1971, Van Patrick helped cover a huge boxing match. It was the "Fight of the Century" between Frazier and Ali. He gave round-by-round updates as the news came in. At the time of his death in 1974, he owned four radio stations. He passed away from cancer while getting ready to announce a Notre Dame football game.
Legacy and Awards
Van Patrick is remembered for his contributions to sports broadcasting. The Notre Dame Club of Chicago created an award in his honor. It is called the Van Patrick Award. He was also a Past President of the Detroit Sports Media Association.
