Interview with Walter L. "Red" Barber, June 27, 1987

Interview Summary

Walter Barber, from Mississippi, grew up in Florida. He was a play-by-play radio broadcaster for Major League baseball from 1934-1966. In this interview, he talks about television's influence on baseball, his getting permission for a television broadcast at Ebbets Field (the first broadcast of a Major League baseball game), his being a sportscaster for that historic game, the growth of television after World War II, the beginning of radio broadcasting of baseball games, how radio and television contributed to the decline of the Minor Leagues, his philosophy of sportscasting, the importance of neutrality and fairness in broadcasts, travelling radio broadcasts, and the innovations of Branch Rickey and Larry MacPhail. Other topics include Branch Rickey's signing of Jackie Robinson, Robinson's breaking of the "color line", Rickey's personality, the Mexican League, Joe DiMaggio's retirement, Barber's professional relationship with Robinson, the suspension of Leo Durocher, mistakes Barber feels Chandler made as baseball commissioner, Dan Topping, Barber's business dealings with him, and Del Webb.

Interview Keyword

Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler Baseball Baseball Commissioner Red Barber

Interview LC Subject

Barber, Red, 1908-1992 Barber, Red, 1908-1992--Interviews Baseball Baseball--United States Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.