Dec. 17, 1964 - Joe Garagiola (pictured with Joe DiMaggio last year), a former baseball player known as “good wit, no hit,” will replace Mel Allen as a member of the four‐man team of television and radio announcers for the New York Yankees. The three whose contracts have been renewed by the baseball club for next season are Red Barber, Jerry Coleman and Phil Rizzuto.
The announcement was made by the Yankees today at a press conference in Toots Shor’s restaurant. There had been reports for weeks that Allen was to be replaced but not until today did the Yankees issue official confirmation.
In its formal announcement, the Yankees referred to “Garagiola’s replacement of Mel Allen,” but the reason for the change was not stated. When a spokesman for the club was questioned, he said the sponsor and the Yankees had decided it was time for a change. The primary sponsor of the Yankees’ T.V. and radio broadcasts is P. Ballantine and Sons.
Allen, who had been with the Yankees for 25 years, much longer than the others on the announcing staff, could not be reached for comment. It was reported that he was among several being considered for a baseball announcer’s job on the Saturday afternoon “Game of the Week” that ABC will televise in 1965.
For many years, Allen was known as the “voice of the Yankees” and was their No. 1 play‐by‐play reporter on the air. More recently, however, the Yankees have said there no longer is a No. 1 man on the broadcasting team and that each member of the quartet has equal status.
Allen, it was said, had a close personal relationship with George Weiss, who for many years was general manager of the Yankees. Weiss left the Yankees three years ago and is now president of the New York Mets. The general manager of the Yankees now, and also a vice president, is Ralph Houk.
Commenting on the change, Houk said:
“We are very happy to add Joe Garagiola to our top‐notch team of broadcasters. Joe has developed into an outstanding sports personality in New York and around the country, and we are confident that Yankee fans will enjoy his warm, personal interpretation of the game.”
Garagiola, who was one of the broadcasters for the World Series last October, was asked today if he planned to continue as a wit in reporting Yankees games.
“I’m going to be myself,” he replied.
Until now, Garagiola, who retired from a baseball playing career in 1954 with a lifetime batting average of .257, has been a “Game of the Week” baseball announcer for the NBC. But next year, NBC will not have a “Game of the Week,” a development that made Garagiola available for the job with the Yankees. However, he still has a five‐minute radio program on NBC at 8:55 a.m., Monday through Friday, and will be available for other NBC appearances, so far as the Yankees are concerned.
Garagiola, who was a catcher for the Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs, and Giants, also is in demand as an after‐dinner speaker and toastmaster. This demand, it was said, is contingent upon the 38-year‐old Garagiola’s maintaining an active association with baseball, which is the reason he was delighted to accept the job with the Yankees.
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