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{{For|the American politician|Cornelius Desmond}}
{{short_description|American sports broadcaster}}
{{other people|Cornelius Desmond}}
⚫
'''Cornelius "Connie" Desmond''' (January 31, 1908 – March 10, 1983)<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/13/obituaries/connie-desmond.html | work=The New York Times | title=Connie Desmond | date=March 13, 1983}}</ref> was an American [[sportscaster]], most prominently for the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] of [[Major League Baseball]].
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Connie Desmond
| image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption =
| birth_name = Cornelius Desmond
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|01|31|mf=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1983|03|10|1908|01|31|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Toledo, Ohio]], United States
| nationality = American
| other_names =
| occupation = sports broadcaster
| years_active = 1932–1956
| known_for = broadcaster for New York City sports teams
| notable_works = [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] broadcaster
}}
⚫
'''Cornelius''' "'''Connie'''" '''Desmond''' (January 31, 1908 – March 10, 1983) was an American [[sportscaster]], most prominently for the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] of [[Major League Baseball]].


==Biography==
Desmond began his [[career]] in 1932 as the voice of the [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] [[Toledo Mud Hens]]. In 1940, he was promoted to broadcasting the games of the [[Triple-A (baseball)|AAA]] [[Columbus Red Birds]].
Desmond began his [[career]] in 1932 as the voice of the [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] [[Toledo Mud Hens]]. In 1940, he was promoted to broadcasting the games of the [[Triple-A (baseball)|AAA]] [[Columbus Red Birds]].


[[Mel Allen]] was impressed enough with Desmond that he asked him to come to New York City as his sidekick on the home games of the [[New York Yankees|Yankees]] and [[New York Giants (NL)|Giants]] in 1942. After one year, he left and joined [[Red Barber]] on the Dodgers broadcasts, replacing [[Al Helfer]]. During the 1943 season, Barber and Desmond were the only voices of baseball in New York; the Giants and Yankees suspended broadcasts that year for unknown reasons. Desmond remained with the Dodgers until 1956, teaming with Barber (1943–1953), [[Ernie Harwell]] (1948–1949), and [[Vin Scully]] (1950–1956). In the 1940s Desmond also teamed with Barber to call [[college football]] and [[New York Giants]] football, and with [[Marty Glickman]] to call [[college basketball]] and [[New York Knicks]] basketball.
[[Mel Allen]] was impressed enough with Desmond that he asked him to come to New York City as his sidekick on the home games of the [[New York Yankees|Yankees]] and [[New York Giants (NL)|Giants]] in 1942. After one year, he left and joined [[Red Barber]] on the Dodgers broadcasts, replacing [[Al Helfer]]. During the 1943 season, Barber and Desmond were the only voices of baseball in New York; the Giants and Yankees suspended broadcasts that year for unknown reasons. Desmond remained with the Dodgers until he resigned in August 1956,<ref>{{cite news |title=N. B. C. gives role to Marisa Pavan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1956/08/10/archives/nbc-gives-role-to-marisa-pavan-italian-actress-will-star-in.html |access-date=May 4, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=August 10, 1956 |page=37|url-access=subscription}}</ref> teaming with Barber (1943–1953), [[Ernie Harwell]] (1948–1949), and [[Vin Scully]] (1950–1956). In the 1940s Desmond also teamed with Barber to call [[college football]] and [[New York Giants]] football, and with [[Marty Glickman]] to call [[college basketball]] and [[New York Knicks]] basketball.


Desmond battled [[alcoholism]] for many years, and frequently missed games because he was too drunk to go on the air. Dodgers owner [[Walter O'Malley]] finally lost patience with him and fired him before the [[1955 World Series]. Thus, Desmond missed his chance to call the Dodgers' only world title on the East Coast. Desmond asked for and got another chance in 1956, but was fired for good after several more absences. He was succeeded by [[Jerry Doggett]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Curt |authorlink=Curt Smith (author) |coauthors= |title=Voices of Summer |year=2005 |publisher=Carroll & Graf |location=New York City |isbn=0-7867-1446-8 }}</ref>
Desmond battled [[alcoholism]] for many years, and frequently missed games because he was too drunk to go on the air.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=March 20, 1983 |title=Some Remembrances Of a Voice of Summer: TV Sports |work=[[Newsday]] |pages=E2 |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref> Dodgers owner [[Walter O'Malley]] finally lost patience with him and fired him prior to the [[1955 World Series]]. Thus, Desmond missed his chance to call the Dodgers' only world title on the East Coast. Desmond asked for and got another chance in 1956, but was fired for good after several more absences. He was succeeded by [[Jerry Doggett]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Curt |author-link=Curt Smith (author) |title=Voices of Summer |year=2005 |publisher=Carroll & Graf |location=New York City |isbn=0-7867-1446-8 }}</ref>


Desmond was a fairly accomplished singer. In the early 1940s he hosted several music shows on [[WOR (AM)|WOR]], with himself as the featured singer.<ref>http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/designated_hitter/002425-print.html</ref>
Desmond was a fairly accomplished singer. In the early 1940s he hosted several music shows on [[WOR (AM)|WOR]], with himself as the featured singer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/designated_hitter/002425-print.html|title=The Baseball Analysts: Print Archive}}</ref>


Desmond died March 10, 1983 in Toledo, Ohio at the age of 75.
Desmond briefly returned to baseball broadcasting with his hometown Toledo Mud Hens of the International League in 1967.

Desmond died March 10, 1983, in Toledo, Ohio at the age of 75.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/13/obituaries/connie-desmond.html | work=The New York Times | title=Connie Desmond | date=March 13, 1983}}</ref>

Desmond and his wife had two children, whom they raised in [[Flower Hill, New York]].<ref name=":0" />


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=Uzh6vqrdzMIC&pg=PA54&lpg=PA54&dq=connie+desmond&source=web&ots=kDO3FmeToM&sig=e7s41AM8mDeW5LJNf0TDkmbHtuw#PPA54,M1 "Golden Voices of Baseball" book excerpt]
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=Uzh6vqrdzMIC&dq=connie+desmond&pg=PA54 "Golden Voices of Baseball" book excerpt]
*[https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/13/obituaries/connie-desmond.html obituary]
*[https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/13/obituaries/connie-desmond.html obituary]
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=JVv8UIPEJ2kC&pg=PA142&lpg=PA142&dq=connie+desmond&source=web&ots=fec-ZLaAPk&sig=hW6IOzoNZLJVKIUVgnN89Ud5uF0 Dodgers Encyclopedia]
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=JVv8UIPEJ2kC&dq=connie+desmond&pg=PA142 Dodgers Encyclopedia]


{{Los Angeles Dodgers broadcasters}}
{{Los Angeles Dodgers broadcasters}}
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[[Category:1983 deaths]]
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[[Category:Brooklyn Dodgers broadcasters]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Dodgers announcers]]
[[Category:College basketball announcers in the United States]]
[[Category:College basketball announcers in the United States]]
[[Category:College football announcers]]
[[Category:College football announcers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball broadcasters]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball broadcasters]]
[[Category:National Basketball Association broadcasters]]
[[Category:Minor League Baseball broadcasters]]
[[Category:NBA broadcasters]]
[[Category:National Football League announcers]]
[[Category:National Football League announcers]]
[[Category:New York Giants broadcasters]]
[[Category:New York Giants announcers]]
[[Category:New York Giants (NL) broadcasters]]
[[Category:New York Giants (baseball) announcers]]
[[Category:New York Knicks broadcasters]]
[[Category:New York Knicks announcers]]
[[Category:New York Yankees broadcasters]]
[[Category:New York Yankees announcers]]
[[Category:People from Flower Hill, New York]]
[[Category:People from Toledo, Ohio]]
[[Category:People from Toledo, Ohio]]

Latest revision as of 17:03, 8 November 2024

For other people named Cornelius Desmond, see Cornelius Desmond (disambiguation).

Connie Desmond
Born
Cornelius Desmond

(1908-01-31)January 31, 1908
DiedMarch 10, 1983(1983-03-10) (aged 75)
Toledo, Ohio, United States
NationalityAmerican
Occupationsports broadcaster
Years active1932–1956
Known forbroadcaster for New York City sports teams
Notable workBrooklyn Dodgers broadcaster

Cornelius "Connie" Desmond (January 31, 1908 – March 10, 1983) was an American sportscaster, most prominently for the Brooklyn Dodgers of Major League Baseball.

Biography

[edit]

Desmond began his career in 1932 as the voice of the minor league Toledo Mud Hens. In 1940, he was promoted to broadcasting the games of the AAA Columbus Red Birds.

Mel Allen was impressed enough with Desmond that he asked him to come to New York City as his sidekick on the home games of the Yankees and Giants in 1942. After one year, he left and joined Red Barber on the Dodgers broadcasts, replacing Al Helfer. During the 1943 season, Barber and Desmond were the only voices of baseball in New York; the Giants and Yankees suspended broadcasts that year for unknown reasons. Desmond remained with the Dodgers until he resigned in August 1956,[1] teaming with Barber (1943–1953), Ernie Harwell (1948–1949), and Vin Scully (1950–1956). In the 1940s Desmond also teamed with Barber to call college football and New York Giants football, and with Marty Glickman to call college basketball and New York Knicks basketball.

Desmond battled alcoholism for many years, and frequently missed games because he was too drunk to go on the air.[2] Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley finally lost patience with him and fired him prior to the 1955 World Series. Thus, Desmond missed his chance to call the Dodgers' only world title on the East Coast. Desmond asked for and got another chance in 1956, but was fired for good after several more absences. He was succeeded by Jerry Doggett.[3]

Desmond was a fairly accomplished singer. In the early 1940s he hosted several music shows on WOR, with himself as the featured singer.[4]

Desmond briefly returned to baseball broadcasting with his hometown Toledo Mud Hens of the International League in 1967.

Desmond died March 10, 1983, in Toledo, Ohio at the age of 75.[5]

Desmond and his wife had two children, whom they raised in Flower Hill, New York.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "N. B. C. gives role to Marisa Pavan". The New York Times. August 10, 1956. p. 37. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Some Remembrances Of a Voice of Summer: TV Sports". Newsday. March 20, 1983. pp. E2 – via ProQuest.
  3. ^ Smith, Curt (2005). Voices of Summer. New York City: Carroll & Graf. ISBN 0-7867-1446-8.
  4. ^ "The Baseball Analysts: Print Archive".
  5. ^ "Connie Desmond". The New York Times. March 13, 1983.
[edit]
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