Page 259 - 1975 BoSox

252 ’75—THE RED SOX TEAM THAT SAVED BASEBALL
who was at the park feeding back the information didn’t have everything straight. ... When a correction came through, I’d have to alleviate the situation as realistically as possible. One time, there was a man on rst base when it came over the wire — correction, batter grounded out. Well, I already had the man safe on rst, so I had to pick him o .”20
Also the sports director at WCHS, Martin did play- by-play of the University of West Virginia football and basketball games. “I just believed in some vague way that I’d make it to the majors some day,” he re- called. “I kept bothering people, sending tapes to the clubs in both major leagues, trying to show that I belonged.”21
One of those tapes caught the ear of legendary Red Sox announcer Curt Gowdy. “He liked the tapes and the idea of having an announcer as his partner and not some ex-jock,” Martin remembered. “I was lucky.”22
Gowdy invited Martin to Baltimore to broadcast a Red Sox game against the Orioles in September of 1960.“We didn’t call it an audition,but it was,”Gowdy recalled.23
“I drove up from Charleston to Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium and worked an inning and a half,” Martin remembered fondly. “Now, there’s a spot in my soul for that park, because that’s the place I won the job.”24
Gowdy was impressed and recommended Martin for the announcer position vacated by the departure of Bill Crowley.25 Martin was hired by the Red Sox on December 21, 1960, and joined Gowdy and Art Gleeson in the booth for the combined WHDH radio and television.26 is couldn’t have come at a better time; Martin was red as sports director at WCHS-TV along with nine other employees in budget cuts.27 He was now on his way to the major leagues.
“I’m not playing anymore, so I won’t have to worry about you!” was Martin’s greeting from Red Sox legend Ted Williams at the Red Sox spring-training site in Scottsdale, Arizona. Martin got to know Williams over the years as he would pop into the booth and talk shing with his buddy Curt Gowdy.28
Martin’s debut for the Red Sox was on a frigid Boston day, April 11, 1961, the same day rookie Carl Yastrzemski debuted in left eld. Both had been in the American Association in 1960. Martin had interviewed Yastrzemski, then playing for the Minneapolis Millers, and asked him about the challenge of playing left eld at Fenway Park, never imagining they would both be coming to Boston.29
Martin’s broadcast rotation included innings one through three and seven through nine on radio and four through six on television.30 His rst year con- cluded with calling Roger Maris’s 61st home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s single-season record at the time. “ is 37-year-old rookie broadcaster was glad I was there to do it,” Martin recalled.31 “What a climax for an amazing rookie year.”32 e call was not recorded, however, leaving the archives with only Phil Rizzuto’s call of the historic home run.
Art Gleeson died after the 1964 season, and former Red Sox pitcher Mel Parnell joined Gowdy and Martin in the booth.33 When Gowdy left the Red Sox in 1966 after 15 years to become the NBC Game of the Week announcer, Martin seemed like his natural re- placement. He applied for Gowdy’s job by sending a telegram to WHDH, but didn’t get the job. “I’m just not a commercial person. I don’t have the gift for gab,” said a disappointed Martin.34 e job was given to Ken Coleman, who had been a Cleveland Indians broadcaster. “It was a deep disappointment at the time. But Ken and I became good friends, and life went on.”35
In 1965 Martin also did football play-by-play with Fred Cusick for the Boston Patriots.36 From the 1960s to the early 1970s Martin was also the play-by-play announcer for Ivy League football teams: Dartmouth College (seven years), Harvard College (six years), and Yale University (two years).37
e 1967 Red Sox “impossible dream” team rejuvenated baseball in New England. Martin’s voice guided fans along the journey to the World Series, and he was now receiving attention both locally and nationally for his broadcasting talents. A memorable Martin call was the nal out in the Red Sox’ pennant-clinching