1979 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Bob Elson
The 1979 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award was Bob Elson, longtime play-by-play announcer for the Cubs and White Sox.
Elson's broadcasting career spanned well over 40 years of Chicago baseball. He was also the Oakland A's announcer in 1971.
"The Commander," as he was known to his old friends, was a pioneer of the industry, conducting the first on-the-field interview (with Connie Mack in 1931).
He was behind the mike for nine All-Star Games and 12 World Series, including the 1943 games for which he was given two weeks leave by the Navy at the request of the Gillette Company.
Twice selected as "Announcer of the Year" by the Sporting News, Elson was an active broadcaster during five decades of baseball history.
He was invited to the White House as one of baseball's representatives to mark the observance of the Game's centennial in 1976.
Elson passed away on March 10, 1981.
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