Lindsey Nelson | |
|---|---|
 Nelson (foreground) withRed Grange in 1955 | |
| Born | (1919-05-25)May 25, 1919 |
| Died | June 10, 1995(1995-06-10) (aged 76) |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Known for | Covering the New York Mets, Cotton Bowls, Sugar Bowls, announcing Notre Dame games, and founder of the University of Tennessee's Vol Network |
Lindsey Nelson (May 25, 1919 – June 10, 1995) was an American sportscaster best known for his long career callingplay-by-play ofcollege football andNew York Metsbaseball.
Nelson spent 17 years with the Mets and three years with theSan Francisco Giants. For 33 years Nelson covered college football, including 26Cotton Bowls, fiveSugar Bowls, fourRose Bowls, and 14 years announcing syndicatedNotre Dame games. He is in or honored by 13 separate Halls of Fame. Fans remember a talented broadcaster, an expert storyteller, and a true sports enthusiast. From his colorful jackets to his equally colorful broadcasts and enthusiastic manner of speaking, Nelson established himself as one of the industry's leading sportscasters.
Nelson was born on May 25, 1919, inPulaski, Tennessee,[1] the third child of Jon and Asie Nelson.[2] He graduated fromColumbia Central High School inColumbia.[3] He graduated from theUniversity of Tennessee in 1941, taught English, and then served in theU.S. Army,[1] where he was a captain in North Africa and Europe duringWorld War II. He also served as a war correspondent and public relations specialist, and played on an Army baseball team managed byHarry Walker.[1]
Nelson broke into broadcasting in 1948 following a short career as areporter inColumbia, Tennessee, for theColumbia Daily Heraldnewspaper. Nelson then returned to his alma mater inKnoxville, Tennessee to create and become the firstplay-by-play announcer for theVol Network, broadcasting the college football games of theTennessee Volunteers.
Affectionately known as "Mr. New Year's Day," Nelson subsequently did the play-by-play of theCotton Bowl Classic for 26 seasons onCBS television, where he earned widespread recognition for his Tennessee drawl and signature opening greeting:"Happy New Year; this is Lindsey Nelson in theCotton Bowl inDallas." He also called manyArmy–Navy Games for CBS, including the 1963 contest in whichinstant replay was first introduced. (After the initial replay, it fell to Nelson to reassure viewers that Army had not scored again.[4]) For 14 years Nelson was the syndicated television voice ofNotre Dame football, and he also called theMutual Broadcasting System'sMonday night radio broadcasts ofNFL games from1974 to1977, in addition to NFL games for CBS television for many years. He is remembered for being the announcer during the firstNFL game on CBS to use "instant replay", which he had to explain repeatedly during the game, reminding viewers that "this is not live."
Nelson began his national baseball broadcast career as one ofGordon McLendon's radio announcers for theLiberty Broadcasting System, which primarily did recreations of games. After a stretch as an administrator withNBC Sports, he began doing the network's baseball broadcasts in1957. He also worked withCBS Radio broadcasts of Major League Baseball in1985. Nelson broadcast college football,NBA and college basketball, and professional golf and tennis during his NBC tenure.
In1962, he was hired as the lead broadcaster by the expansion New York Mets, and for the next 17 seasons did both radio andtelevision withRalph Kiner andBob Murphy. Nelson and Murphy were eventually honored with theFord C. Frick Award, presented annually to an announcer for "major contributions to baseball" during a ceremony at the Baseball Hall of Fame. While with the Mets, Nelson made the first (and only) radio broadcast of a baseball game from directly above the field. On April 28, 1965, Nelson accompanied the team to theHouston Astrodome for their game against the Astros, and his producer noticed that there was a gondola suspended from the ceiling; Nelson and a broadcast executive agreed to be hoisted in the gondola to a point 208 feet above second base, and called the play-by-play, though as Nelson described it, "At first, I couldn't see anything except a lot of tiny figures. Everybody looked the same height... You couldn't tell a line drive from a pop fly." The Mets lost, 12–9, and Nelson declined to repeat the stunt.[5]WhenChicago White Sox pitcher and former Mets aceTom Seaver went for his 300th victory in August 1985 against the hostNew York Yankees, the Yankees TV flagship stationWPIX had Nelson call the final half-inning of Seaver's history-making win.
In1979, Nelson moved on to theSan Francisco Giants, for whom he worked three seasons.
Nelson's honors and awards include induction into theNational Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame inSalisbury, North Carolina in 1979; theNew York Mets Hall of Fame in1984; theAmerican Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 1986; the Tuss McLaughry Service Award for sports broadcasting in 1988; theFord C. Frick Award from theBaseball Hall of Fame in 1988; thePete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from thePro Football Hall of Fame in 1990; and many more. He was awarded anEmmy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1991. Nelson was inducted into theUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville Army ROTC Hall of Fame in 2021. He is a member of the 2020 Class.
TheTennessee Volunteers baseball team's home field was namedLindsey Nelson Stadium after him. Likewise, his high school alma mater ofColumbia Central High School's Stadium is also named in honor of Nelson.
Television broadcasts featuring Nelson were notable for his multi-coloredplaidsports jackets. He reportedly owned 335 of them at one time. During a broadcast, his jackets often clashed with the set and produced ascintillation effect in the broadcast image. But he figured that if fans could see rather than just hear broadcasts, he might as well give them something interesting to talk about. Nelson's television fashion sense was an inspiration forJim Brockmire, thetitle character played byHank Azaria in theIFC series.[6]
After hisretirement from active broadcasting, he moved toKnoxville, Tennessee, to an apartment across theTennessee River from theUniversity of Tennessee campus from which he had a view ofNeyland Stadium, the Vols' home football field. He wrote anautobiographical memoir entitledHello Everybody, I'm Lindsey Nelson, his landmark opening phrase.
Nelson died ofParkinson's disease at age 76 on June 10, 1995, inAtlanta, Georgia.[1] He is buried in Polk Memorial Gardens in Columbia. His wife, Mickie, died in 1973. They had two daughters, Nancy and Sharon.[1]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by First (official) | Lead play-by-play announcer,Major League Baseball on NBC 1957–1961 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Monday Night Football national radio play-by-play announcer 1974-1977 | Succeeded by |