Bob Wolff
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Wolff in New York City
, New York
is an American
sportscaster. He was the radio and TV voice of the Washington Senators
from 1947
to 1960
, continuing with the team when they relocated and became the Minnesota Twins in 1961
. In 1962, he joined NBC-TV. Wolff began his professional career in 1939 on CBS in Durham, North Carolina while attending Duke University. He is a graduate of Duke University with Phi Beta Kappa
and Omicron Delta Kappa
honors. Wolff is currently seen and heard on News 12 Long Island, on Madison Square Garden Network programming and doing sports interviews on the Steiner Sports' Memories of the Game show on the YES Network.
He is a long time resident of South Nyack, New York
.
are the only two broadcasters to be honored by both the Baseball and Basketball Halls of Fame. Wolff has also been honored with induction into Madison Square Garden’s Walk of Fame, the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame, Sigma Nu
Fraternity Hall of Fame and many others.
Wolff has been a professional broadcaster in nine decades and is still going strong. Seen and heard on two ESPN TV specials in 2008, he’s been on the Madison Square Garden Network since 1954 and on Cablevision’s News 12 Long Island
since 1986.
Wolff became the pioneer TV voice of the Washington Senators Baseball Club in 1947, moved with the team to Minnesota in 1961 and then joined NBC as the play-by-play man on the TV Baseball Game-of-the-Week in 1962.
Also heard on Mutual's Game-of-the-Day, Wolff was selected to be a World Series broadcaster in 1956 and that year called the Don Larsen
perfect game
across the country on the Mutual Broadcast System and around the world on the Armed Forces radio. He also was on NBC Radio for the World Series in 1958 and 1961.
Wolff has been seen and heard doing play-by-play on all the major TV networks. Another of his classic broadcasts was the NY Giants / Baltimore Colts 1958 NFL Championship Game called, “The Greatest Game Ever Played”. On the collegiate scene, he's broadcast the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Gator Bowl and many others.
Wolff was also the 33-year play-by-play announcer of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
, and the National Horse Show, the Garden's college and pro basketball and hockey games, men and women's tennis, track and boxing events as well as gymnastics and bowling. He did soccer games for the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
and Detroit Pistons
of the NBA
as well as the New York Rangers
of the NHL
, the Washington Senators
, and Minnesota Twins
of MLB
, the Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins
, and Cleveland Browns
of the NFL
, and soccer’s Tampa Bay Rowdies. For many years he was the play-by-play telecaster for all events originating from Madison Square Garden
.
His broadcast partner with the Knicks for many years was Cal Ramsey
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sportscaster. He was the radio and TV voice of the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
from 1947
1947 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 8 at Wrigley Field: American League, 2-1-Other champions:*First College World Series: California...
to 1960
1960 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over New York Yankees ; Bobby Richardson, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Municipal Stadium: National League, 5-3*All-Star Game , July 13 at Yankee Stadium: National League, 6-0...
, continuing with the team when they relocated and became the Minnesota Twins in 1961
1961 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Cincinnati Reds ; Whitey Ford, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Candlestick Park: National League, 5-4 *All-Star Game , July 31 at Fenway Park: 1–1 tie...
. In 1962, he joined NBC-TV. Wolff began his professional career in 1939 on CBS in Durham, North Carolina while attending Duke University. He is a graduate of Duke University with Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
and Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
honors. Wolff is currently seen and heard on News 12 Long Island, on Madison Square Garden Network programming and doing sports interviews on the Steiner Sports' Memories of the Game show on the YES Network.
He is a long time resident of South Nyack, New York
South Nyack, New York
South Nyack is a village in the town of Orangetown in Rockland County, New York, located north of Grand View-on-Hudson; northeast of Orangeburg; east of Blauvelt State Park; south of the village of Nyack and west of the Hudson River...
.
National broadcasting work
Bob Wolff is the longest running broadcaster in television and radio history. He and Curt GowdyCurt Gowdy
Curtis Edward "Curt" Gowdy was an American sportscaster, well known as the longtime "voice" of the Boston Red Sox and for his coverage of many nationally-televised sporting events, primarily for NBC Sports in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:The son of a manager for the Union Pacific railroad,...
are the only two broadcasters to be honored by both the Baseball and Basketball Halls of Fame. Wolff has also been honored with induction into Madison Square Garden’s Walk of Fame, the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame, Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
Fraternity Hall of Fame and many others.
Wolff has been a professional broadcaster in nine decades and is still going strong. Seen and heard on two ESPN TV specials in 2008, he’s been on the Madison Square Garden Network since 1954 and on Cablevision’s News 12 Long Island
News 12 Long Island
News 12 Long Island is a regional 24-hour cable news television channel reaching more than 800,000 television homes on Long Island, New York. The channel is the flagship of the News 12 Networks, which is touted by owner Cablevision as the "first, largest and most watched regional news network" in...
since 1986.
Wolff became the pioneer TV voice of the Washington Senators Baseball Club in 1947, moved with the team to Minnesota in 1961 and then joined NBC as the play-by-play man on the TV Baseball Game-of-the-Week in 1962.
Also heard on Mutual's Game-of-the-Day, Wolff was selected to be a World Series broadcaster in 1956 and that year called the Don Larsen
Don Larsen
Donald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
across the country on the Mutual Broadcast System and around the world on the Armed Forces radio. He also was on NBC Radio for the World Series in 1958 and 1961.
Wolff has been seen and heard doing play-by-play on all the major TV networks. Another of his classic broadcasts was the NY Giants / Baltimore Colts 1958 NFL Championship Game called, “The Greatest Game Ever Played”. On the collegiate scene, he's broadcast the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Gator Bowl and many others.
Wolff was also the 33-year play-by-play announcer of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a two-day, all-breed benched conformation show that takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City every year. The first Westminster show was held in 1877....
, and the National Horse Show, the Garden's college and pro basketball and hockey games, men and women's tennis, track and boxing events as well as gymnastics and bowling. He did soccer games for the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
New York Knicks and New York Rangers
Wolff became known regionally as television's play-by-play voice for eight teams in five different sports – the New York KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
as well as the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
of the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, and Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
of MLB
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, the Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, and Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, and soccer’s Tampa Bay Rowdies. For many years he was the play-by-play telecaster for all events originating from Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
His broadcast partner with the Knicks for many years was Cal Ramsey
Cal Ramsey
Calvin Ramsey is a retired American basketball player whose NBA career consisted of thirteen games over the 1959-1960 and 1960-1961 seasons for the St. Louis Hawks, New York Knicks, and Syracuse Nationals...
.