Written by: Jack Thompson

Mel Allen: The Voice of the Yankees

Mel Allen, born Melvin Allen Israel, was an American sportscaster best known for his long tenure as the primary play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees. During the peak of his career in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, Allen was arguably the most prominent member of his profession, with his voice familiar to millions.

Early Life and Career

Allen was born on February 14, 1913, in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended the University of Alabama, where he was a member of the Kappa Nu fraternity as an undergraduate. During his time at Alabama, Israel served as the public address announcer for Alabama Crimson Tide football games.

In 1933, when the station manager or sports director of Birmingham's radio station WBRC asked Alabama coach Frank Thomas to recommend a new play-by-play announcer, he suggested Allen. His first broadcast was Alabama's home opener that year, against the Tulane Green Wave. Allen graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1937.

Rise to Fame

Shortly after graduating, Allen took a train to New York City for a week's vacation. While on that vacation, he auditioned for a staff announcer's position at the CBS Radio Network. CBS executives already knew of Allen, as the network's top sportscaster, Ted Husing, had heard many of his Crimson Tide broadcasts. He was hired at $45 a week, equivalent to $954 in 2023.

Allen often did non-sports announcing, such as for big band remotes, or emceeing game shows like "Truth or Consequences," serving as an understudy for both sportscaster Husing and newscaster Bob Trout. In his first year at CBS, Allen announced the crash of the Hindenburg when the station cut away from singer Kate Smith's show.

Career Highlights

Allen became a national celebrity when he ad-libbed for a half-hour during the rain-delayed Vanderbilt Cup from an air show. He went on to announce 22 World Series, 24 All-Star Games, and 14 national championship football games.

Allen's most notable work was with the New York Yankees, where he was the lead play-by-play announcer from 1940 to 1964. He was known for his signature phrases, including "Going, going, gone!" and "That's the way the ball bounces."

Legacy

Years after his death, Allen is still promoted as having been "The Voice of the Yankees." He was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 1966 and the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 1985.

In his later years, Allen was the first host of "This Week in Baseball," a weekly highlight show that showcased the best plays from around Major League Baseball.

Personal Life

Allen was married twice, first to his college sweetheart, and then to a CBS Radio Network employee. He had two daughters from his first marriage and two sons from his second marriage.

Allen passed away on June 16, 1996, at the age of 83, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most iconic sportscasters in American history.