Arch McDonald | |
|---|---|
 McDonald atWJSV | |
| Born | (1901-05-23)May 23, 1901 Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | October 16, 1960(1960-10-16) (aged 59) |
| Resting place | Suitland, Maryland |
| Occupation | Sports announcer |
| Spouse | Cynthia Handley[1] |
| Children | 3[2] |
| Awards | Ford C. Frick Award (1999) |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Team(s) | Washington Senators (1934–38, 1940–56) New York Yankees &New York Giants (1939) |
| Genre | Play-by-play |
| Sport | Major League Baseball |
Arch Linn McDonald Sr. (May 23, 1901 – October 16, 1960) was an American radiosportscaster who served as theplay-by-play voice ofMajor League Baseball'sWashington Senators from 1934 to 1956, with the exception of 1939, when he broadcast theNew York Yankees andNew York Giants.
McDonald was born inHot Springs, Arkansas, and grew up inChattanooga, Tennessee.[3] During the early 1930s, he broadcast for theChattanooga Lookouts, aMinor League Baseball team. In 1932, he won a national contest sponsored byThe Sporting News for "the most popular sports broadcaster", garnering 57,960 votes[4]—a remarkable achievement, considering that the Lookouts were aClass A team.Washington Senators ownerClark Griffith jumped McDonald straight to broadcasting for the major league team in 1934, and he immediately became a hit.
McDonald was one of the first to use "ducks on the pond" as a term for players on base,[5] and was notable for quoting an old country tune, "They Cut Down the Old Pine Tree", after a Senators win.[3] He also gaveJoe DiMaggio the nickname "the Yankee Clipper".[5][6] McDonald was best known, however, for his studio re-creations of road games,[3] a common practice in the 1930s, when line charges were too expensive for live road coverage. The radio listeners would hear the click of aticker tape machine, and the announcer would convey the play; "It's a long fly ball to deep center, going, going... gone. It's a home run." For many years, it was common for Senators fans to crowd around McDonald's studio at a drug store on G Street, near theWhite House, for his recreations.[3]
In 1939, McDonald became the first full-time voice of the Yankees and Giants,[3] working the second half of the season alongside a youngMel Allen.[7] In June that year, he helped broadcast activities at the opening of theBaseball Hall of Fame inCooperstown, New York, forCBS.[8] However, his homespun style didn't play well in New York, and he was back in Washington for the 1940 season.
For the most part, McDonald called losing baseball; the Senators only finished higher than fifth four times during his tenure. Despite the team's losing efforts, McDonald was again named outstanding baseball broadcaster in 1942[9] and 1945.[3] During the 1940s, he began callingWashington Redskins andcollege football games. McDonald was forced off Senators broadcasts by a sponsor change following their1956 season,[5] but remained behind the microphone for the Redskins.
McDonald was theDemocratic candidate forMaryland's 6th congressional district in the1946 House of Representatives election,[3] losing to incumbentJames Glenn Beall, 58.1% to 41.9%.
McDonald died in 1960, of aheart attack at age 59, while returning to Washington, D.C., via train from a Redskins game in New York City.[5][10] He was buried inCedar Hill Cemetery inSuitland, Maryland.[3] In 1999, McDonald was posthumously honored with theFord C. Frick Award, given annually to one baseball broadcaster.[11]
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