 Ol'
Dizzy was a colorful character who had been a pitcher with
the Cardinals "Gas House Gang" in the 1930s. In
his cheerful broadcasts, he tells anecdotal stories of past
sporting events and players as well as answering fan mail
in between joke telling.
During the depression era, a group of school teachers
demanded his removal from the air because he was a detriment
to their students. "Let the teachers teach English,
and I will teach baseball," countered Dean. "There
is a lot of people in the United States who say "isn't,"
and they ain't eating."
Dean was a star for less than ten seasons but he remained
a "personality" for years to come. His boastfulness
and constant need to be in the spotlight made him a legend
in the glory years of baseball and his short stories in
these 15-minute broadcasts are still entertaining today.
For great sports reporting, see Grandland Rice and Bill Stern Sportsreel.
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