Mel Allen

Mel Allen will always be THE Voice of the Yankees. Born in 1913 in Birmingham, Alabama, Allen showed promise at a young age. He started college at 15, and began his broadcasting career calling University of Alabama football games as an undergraduate. Allen went on to law school, graduated, but chose a career in broadcasting over practicing law, calling Alabama football games for only $5 per contest.

In 1937, Allen auditioned for and earned a job as a staff announcer for CBS, usually broadcasting Yankees games. Allen became the team's lead announcer in 1940 and quickly became part of the Yankee tradition. He called every game of DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak, and every one of Maris' 61 home runs, not to mention Ruth, Gehrig, and Mantle.

Allen's resonant, understated tone is the envy of many broadcasters, and his trademark phrases "How about that!" and "Going, Going, Gone!" are heard in countless broadcasts even today. He called 20 World Series, 24 All Star games, 14 Rose Bowls, 5 Orange Bowls, 2 Sugar Bowls, and finished his broadcasting career as the voice of television's "This Week in Baseball." Long time Yankee owner George Steinbrenner said of Allen, "Mel Allen meant as much to Yankee tradition s legends like Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, and DiMaggio."

Mel Allen
1939-1942, 1946-1964 New York Yankees
Hall of Fame 1978

*Sources
http://drake.marin.k12.ca.us/students/friedmad/announce/Allen.htm
http://www.pubdim.net/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/A/Allen_Mel.stm
http://www.ccju.org/ccju_events_melallen%20.htm
http://baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/frick_bios/allen_mel.htm
http://www.radiohof.org/sportscasters/melallen.html

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