The Red Barber Baseball Box
On January 9, 2015
- TV History
Picture Parade #4…The Red Barber Baseball Box
Red Barber was the first announcer to broadcast baseball on television. He knew a lot about how to help get the best out of a game and developed this box to “talk” to the director in the truck.
When he thought play action was going to be in a certain area, or there was some player or position he wanted to talk about, he would flip one of the switches to alert them to have a camera ready. Red’s position requests were solid red lights. When the truck wanted him to talk about a position or player, they flipped a switch on their board and Red’s board light there blinked. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Just the “textbook professional” on the way baseball ought to be broadcast! Big time “buck mongering hucksters” have ruined it!
I wanna know where the box is now! Would love to see that!
love those mikes
I, too, loved those Friday morning chats with “the Colnel”.
That’s very interesting!
wonderful!
I always looked forward to Friday mornings on Morning Edition when Colonel Bob Edwards had his weekly conversation with Red. Bob’s book “Fridays With Red” is a joy to read. Check out some of the weekly conversations on NPR’s website:
http://www.npr.org/about/specials/bedwards/red_barber.html
I wonder what kind of a cable that required between that box and the truck.
Working with Red on Morning Edition at NPR was a joyous experience. A great man and a great broadcaster.
Thanks cuz !
That is a good solution. I always thought interns with writing pads did all that.
Very fascinating, Bobby…It’s always interesting to see the customized technology that you in the TV biz come up with 🙂