Blaine Walsh | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1925-04-17)April 17, 1925 Oconto, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | September 5, 1985(1985-09-05) (aged 60) Sandy Springs, Georgia, U.S. |
Blaine Luke Walsh (April 17, 1925 – September 5, 1985) was an Americansportscaster, best known as aplay-by-play announcer for theMilwaukee Braves baseball team in theNational League from 1953 to 1961.[1]
Walsh was born April 17, 1925, inOconto, Wisconsin.[2] He was described as "a big, funloving guy with a booming bass voice that was tailor-made for radio... He teamed withEarl Gillespie to give Milwaukee a radio broadcasting team that ranked with the best ever."[1] He also worked with Gillespie atGreen Bay, broadcastingGreen Bay Packers andWisconsin Badgers football games, and hosted a weekly program with legendary Packers coachVince Lombardi.[3]
After Walsh was forced out asWTMJ announcer in 1961, he stayed with the Braves as a television announcer, then returned to WTMJ as their radio announcer in 1964.Bud Selig, owner of theMilwaukee Brewers and eventualCommissioner of Baseball, commented on Walsh, "When we were struggling to bring baseball back to Milwaukee after the Braves went to Atlanta, there wasn't anything in the world he wouldn't do for us. You couldn't meet a finer man."[1]
Blaine Walsh's grandson, Dave Garner, was previously the sports director for ETC3 television inEllijay, Georgia. He is currently the sports director for Carriage Radio stations 101.1 The Pulse and WPGY The Sports Pig in North Georgia and is a member of the broadcast team for Valdosta State Football serving as play-by-play announcer on FloSports.
Blaine’s father wasSamuel P. Walsh who served in theWisconsin State Assembly. Walsh served in theUnited States Army inEurope duringWorld War II.[4] Walsh died September 5, 1985, inSandy Springs, Georgia.[1]
