Connie Desmond | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cornelius Desmond (1908-01-31)January 31, 1908 |
| Died | March 10, 1983(1983-03-10) (aged 75) Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | sports broadcaster |
| Years active | 1932–1956 |
| Known for | broadcaster for New York City sports teams |
| Notable work | Brooklyn Dodgers broadcaster |
Cornelius "Connie"Desmond (January 31, 1908 – March 10, 1983) was an Americansportscaster, most prominently for theBrooklyn Dodgers ofMajor League Baseball.
Desmond began hiscareer in 1932 as the voice of theminor leagueToledo Mud Hens. In 1940, he was promoted to broadcasting the games of theAAAColumbus Red Birds.
Mel Allen was impressed enough with Desmond that he asked him to come to New York City as his sidekick on the home games of theYankees andGiants in 1942. After one year, he left and joinedRed Barber on the Dodgers broadcasts, replacingAl Helfer. During the 1943 season, Barber and Desmond were the only voices of baseball in New York; the Giants and Yankees suspended broadcasts that year for unknown reasons. Desmond remained with the Dodgers until he resigned in August 1956,[1] teaming with Barber (1943–1953),Ernie Harwell (1948–1949), andVin Scully (1950–1956). In the 1940s Desmond also teamed with Barber to callcollege football andNew York Giants football, and withMarty Glickman to callcollege basketball andNew York Knicks basketball.
Desmond battledalcoholism for many years, and frequently missed games because he was too drunk to go on the air.[2] Dodgers ownerWalter O'Malley finally lost patience with him and fired him prior to the1955 World Series. Thus, Desmond missed his chance to call the Dodgers' only world title on the East Coast. Desmond asked for and got another chance in 1956, but was fired for good after several more absences. He was succeeded byJerry Doggett.[3]
Desmond was a fairly accomplished singer. In the early 1940s he hosted several music shows onWOR, with himself as the featured singer.[4]
Desmond briefly returned to baseball broadcasting with his hometown Toledo Mud Hens of the International League in 1967.
Desmond died March 10, 1983, in Toledo, Ohio at the age of 75.[5]
Desmond and his wife had two children, whom they raised inFlower Hill, New York.[2]