Oct. 6, 1964 - Mel Allen (pictured), who has broadcast 20 World Series, will not be in the lineup tomorrow when the Yankees and the Cardinals open the 1964 series in St. Louis. The Yankee representative on the four-member radio and television team will be Phil Rizzuto, who will make his debut as a World Series reporter on a domestic network.
Allen, sometimes billed as the “Voice of the Yankees,” has been on the team’s broadcasting staff since 1939 and was an announcer each time the Yanks competed in the World Series. Usually, each team provides one announcer from its own staff. The other two are selected by consultation of the network, sponsor, and others.
The Yankee management’s decision to use Rizzuto in the series was reported today, but no details were available at the Yankees’ office in New York as to why the change was made.
Allen said, however, it was his understanding that the selection of announcers was up to the baseball commissioner, Ford Frick. When asked if he was surprised not to be selected, he replied:
“I’ve been in this business long enough not to be surprised at anything. I had hoped for a continuation of doing the World Series, but I was not shocked by not getting it because things like this have happened before. The decision was made, so far as I know, by the commissioner. Having worked for the two sponsors of the World Series [Gillette and Chrysler], I assume that they would have nominated me along with others.”
The other series announcers are Joe Garagiola, baseball commentator for NBC, Harry Carey, who broadcasts Cardinal games, and Curt Gowdy, a Boston sports announcer.
In the last few years, Rizzuto, 46, has worked with Red Barber in broadcasting the World Series overseas on the Armed Forces Radio Network. A former shortstop for the Yankees, he joined the broadcasting staff in 1959.
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