Broadcaster. He was the longtime radio voice of the Oakland A's, and had previously been the longtime radio voice of the Oakland Raiders and the Golden State Warriors. After short broadcasting stints on Armed Forces Radio during World War II and doing play-by-play for a minor league baseball team in Illinois, he moved on to call college basketball at Bradley, then University of Nebraska football and basketball. He joined the broadcast team of the San Francisco Giants in 1958 and was the play-by-play announcer for University of California sports. He became the original voice of the Warriors NBA team in 1962 and remained with them for 21 years. He added the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders to his play-by-play duties in 1966 and called their games for 26 seasons. Among the games he called for the Raiders was the infamous "Heidi" game in November 1968, when the Raiders scored 2 touchdowns in the final minute to beat the New York Jets (and NBC failed to show it). He became the voice of the A's in 1981 and was with them until his passing, including the team's three consecutive American League pennants from 1988-90 and World Series victory in '89 (also known as the Earthquake Series). He was best known to sports fans for his catchphrase "Holy Toledo!" The cause of death was due to complications following hip surgery.
Broadcaster. He was the longtime radio voice of the Oakland A's, and had previously been the longtime radio voice of the Oakland Raiders and the Golden State Warriors. After short broadcasting stints on Armed Forces Radio during World War II and doing play-by-play for a minor league baseball team in Illinois, he moved on to call college basketball at Bradley, then University of Nebraska football and basketball. He joined the broadcast team of the San Francisco Giants in 1958 and was the play-by-play announcer for University of California sports. He became the original voice of the Warriors NBA team in 1962 and remained with them for 21 years. He added the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders to his play-by-play duties in 1966 and called their games for 26 seasons. Among the games he called for the Raiders was the infamous "Heidi" game in November 1968, when the Raiders scored 2 touchdowns in the final minute to beat the New York Jets (and NBC failed to show it). He became the voice of the A's in 1981 and was with them until his passing, including the team's three consecutive American League pennants from 1988-90 and World Series victory in '89 (also known as the Earthquake Series). He was best known to sports fans for his catchphrase "Holy Toledo!" The cause of death was due to complications following hip surgery.
Bio by: MDB
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