Ross Porter
Encyclopedia
Ross Porter is an American sportscaster
,
, November 29, 1938 to Elizabeth and Ross Porter, Sr. He graduated from Shawnee High School in 1955 then went on to earn a journalism degree at the University of Oklahoma
. His broadcasting career begin at age 15 when he broadcast a few innings in several games involving Shawnee's Class D baseball team, the Hawks, over KGFF, his father's radio station. Before finishing high school Porter was elevated to play-by-play man of the Shawnee Wolves' football broadcasts when the regular announcer resigned. After earning his college degree he was hired by WKY
radio in Oklahoma City. At age 24 he became the youngest recipient of the Oklahoma Sportscaster of the year. In 1966 he left for Los Angeles and subsequently spent 10 years as a sportscaster for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. Porter also called play-by-play of NFL
football and NCAA
basketball for NBC Sports
from 1970–1976, and just over a decade later he replaced Chick Hearn
as the voice of UNLV Rebels
athletics.
of Major League Baseball
. The Dodgers replaced him with former New York Yankees
broadcaster Charley Steiner
following the 2004 season, after denying him a contract extension.
He is the only broadcaster to have been the voice of a World Series
champion (with the 1981
and 1988
Dodger teams) and a college basketball
champion (with UNLV), albeit not in the same season.
.
On the June 4, 2008 broadcast of the Kansas City Royals
versus Chicago White Sox
game, Royals' television announcer Ryan Lefebvre, son of long-time Dodger player Jim Lefebvre, confirms the 22 inning radio broadcast by Ross Porter occurred on June 3, 1989 in the Houston Astrodome versus the Astros. The game was heard over KABC Radio; former KABC newsman Greg Hardison worked the news desk that same night, and also confirms Ross Porter's 22 inning broadcast marathon, which was simulcast over KABC and KTTV in Los Angeles.
, Jerry Doggett
, Don Drysdale
, and Rick Monday
.
Porter broadcast the 1977
and 1978
World Series
for the CBS Radio
network, and did Game of the Week
broadcasts in the 1980s and '90s. His most famous national call is from the sixth and final game of the 1977 Series, during which Reggie Jackson
smacked three home runs on three consecutive pitches. The capper:
radio in Los Angeles. The vignettes and Porter's web site are currently sponsored by American Airlines
.
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
,
Broadcasting career prior to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Porter was born in Shawnee, OklahomaShawnee, Oklahoma
Shawnee is a city in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 29,857 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Oklahoma City-Shawnee Combined Statistical Area; it is also the county seat of Pottawatomie County and the principal city of the Shawnee Micropolitan Statistical...
, November 29, 1938 to Elizabeth and Ross Porter, Sr. He graduated from Shawnee High School in 1955 then went on to earn a journalism degree at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. His broadcasting career begin at age 15 when he broadcast a few innings in several games involving Shawnee's Class D baseball team, the Hawks, over KGFF, his father's radio station. Before finishing high school Porter was elevated to play-by-play man of the Shawnee Wolves' football broadcasts when the regular announcer resigned. After earning his college degree he was hired by WKY
WKY
WKY is a radio station located in Oklahoma City and is under ownership of Cumulus Media.WKY is the oldest radio station in Oklahoma, the 28th-oldest in the nation and the third-oldest west of the Mississippi River...
radio in Oklahoma City. At age 24 he became the youngest recipient of the Oklahoma Sportscaster of the year. In 1966 he left for Los Angeles and subsequently spent 10 years as a sportscaster for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. Porter also called play-by-play of NFL
NFL on NBC
NFL on NBC is the brand given to NBC Sports coverage of National Football League games until 1998, when NBC lost the NFL American Football Conference rights to CBS...
football and NCAA
College Basketball on NBC
College Basketball on NBC is a former television program created and produced by NBC Sports that broadcast NCAA Division I men's basketball games. The program existed in some shape or form from 1969–1998. From 1969–1981, NBC covered the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
basketball for NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
from 1970–1976, and just over a decade later he replaced Chick Hearn
Chick Hearn
Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn was an American sportscaster. Known primarily as the long-time play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, the legendary Hearn is remembered for his rapid fire, staccato broadcasting style, inventing colorful phrases such...
as the voice of UNLV Rebels
UNLV Rebels
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas' sports teams are called the Rebels. The Rebels participate in NCAA Division I and in the Mountain West Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The school's colors are Scarlet and Grey. The Rebels' main rival is the Wolf Pack of the University...
athletics.
Los Angeles Dodgers career
In 1977, Porter began his first of 28 seasons broadcasting for the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
of Major League Baseball
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 Dodgers replaced him with former New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
broadcaster Charley Steiner
Charley Steiner
Charles Harris "Charley" Steiner is an American sportscaster and broadcast journalist. He is currently the main play-by-play voice for the Los Angeles Dodgers Radio Network, paired with Rick Monday.-Early career:...
following the 2004 season, after denying him a contract extension.
He is the only broadcaster to have been the voice of a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
champion (with the 1981
1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers season got off to a strong start when rookie pitcher Fernando Valenzuela pitched a shutout on opening day, starting the craze that came to be known as "Fernandomania." Fernando went on to win both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards.The season was divided into two...
and 1988
1988 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1988 season was a memorable one for the Dodgers as a squad that was picked to finish fourth wound up winning the World Series, beating the heavily favored New York Mets and Oakland Athletics on the way. Kirk Gibson carried the Dodger offense, winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award...
Dodger teams) and a college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
champion (with UNLV), albeit not in the same season.
DodgerTalk
Porter was known for providing fans with in-depth statistical analyses on ballplayers when games were in session. He was also the host of a pregame and postgame show known as DodgerTalk before and after each ballgame, where he would answer people's phone calls about questions pertaining to the ballgame.June 3, 1989 broadcast
On June 3, 1989, Porter set a record for broadcasting 22 straight innings without any replacements, in a ballgame against the Houston Astros1989 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros' 1989 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Houston Astros attempting to win the National League West.-Offseason:* December 4, 1988: The Astros traded a player to be named later to the Minnesota Twins for Mark Portugal...
.
On the June 4, 2008 broadcast of the Kansas City Royals
2008 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals' 2008 season began with the team searching for its 15th manager in franchise history. Trey Hillman, former minor league baseball and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager, was hired as the team's skipper on October 19, 2007.The team looked to improve upon its record of...
versus Chicago White Sox
2008 Chicago White Sox season
The 2008 Chicago White Sox Season is the organization's 109th season in Chicago and 108th in the American League. The White Sox won the American League Central division title for the first time since 2005. They finished the regular season tied with the Minnesota Twins and won a one-game playoff...
game, Royals' television announcer Ryan Lefebvre, son of long-time Dodger player Jim Lefebvre, confirms the 22 inning radio broadcast by Ross Porter occurred on June 3, 1989 in the Houston Astrodome versus the Astros. The game was heard over KABC Radio; former KABC newsman Greg Hardison worked the news desk that same night, and also confirms Ross Porter's 22 inning broadcast marathon, which was simulcast over KABC and KTTV in Los Angeles.
Notable broadcasting partners
Throughout his tenure as a Dodgers broadcaster he worked alongside Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin ScullyVin Scully
Vincent Edward Scully is an American sportscaster, known primarily as the play-by-play voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team on Prime Ticket, KCAL-TV and KABC radio...
, Jerry Doggett
Jerry Doggett
Jerry Doggett was an American sportscaster who called games for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball from 1956 to 1987.-Early days:...
, Don Drysdale
Don Drysdale
Donald Scott "Don" Drysdale was a Major League Baseball player and Hall of Fame right-handed pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was one of the dominant starting pitchers of the 1960s, and became a radio and television broadcaster following his playing career...
, and Rick Monday
Rick Monday
Robert James "Rick" Monday, Jr. is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball and is currently a broadcast announcer. From 1966 through 1984, Monday, a center fielder for most of his career, played for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics , Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers...
.
Porter broadcast the 1977
1977 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 11, 1977 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe Dodgers drew first blood off Don Gullett in the first when Davey Lopes walked and scored on a Bill Russell triple. Ron Cey made it 2–0 on a sacrifice fly...
and 1978
1978 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 10, 1978 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaWith Yankee ace Ron Guidry unavailable at least until Game 3, the Dodgers pounded twenty-game winner Ed Figueroa. Figueroa left after two innings, allowing home runs to Dusty Baker and Davey Lopes. Lopes would add a...
World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
for the CBS Radio
Major League Baseball on CBS Radio
Major League Baseball on CBS Radio was the de facto title for the CBS Radio Network's coverage of Major League Baseball. Produced by CBS Radio Sports , the program was the official national radio broadcaster for the All-Star Game and the postseason from 1976 to 1997.-Contracts:CBS first covered...
network, and did Game of the Week
Major League Baseball Game of the Week
The Major League Baseball Game of the Week is the de facto title for over-the-air, nationally televised coverage of regular season Major League Baseball games...
broadcasts in the 1980s and '90s. His most famous national call is from the sixth and final game of the 1977 Series, during which Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
smacked three home runs on three consecutive pitches. The capper:
- Jackson with four runs batted in - sends a fly ball to center field and deep! That's going to be way back and THAT'S going to be gone! Reggie Jackson has hit his third home run of the game!
Real Sports Heroes with Ross Porter
Ross Porter began a new venture called Real Sports Heroes with Ross Porter in April 2007. Real Sports Heroes highlights the positive side of athletics and the great things that some athletes are doing and have done to give something back to the community. Porter airs 90 second Real Sports Heroes vignettes on KLAC and KABCKABC
KABC may refer to:* KABC , a radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California, United States* KABC-TV, a television station licensed to Los Angeles, California...
radio in Los Angeles. The vignettes and Porter's web site are currently sponsored by American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
.