 Born in Campbellsville, Tennessee, on
May 25, 1919, sportscasting legend Lindsey Nelson announced almost
every headline sports event during his career, and was known for
his psychedelic and multicolored plaid sports jackets. Nelson began
his broadcasting career in 1948, after a short stint as a newspaper
reporter at the Columbia Daily Herald. He was the first ever
play-by-play announcer on the Vol network, which was setup to
broadcast University of Tennessee games. In 1957, Nelson joined NBC
where he began announcing Major League Baseball; then in 1962 he
was hired by the New York Mets to announce Mets games on both
television and radio, a position he held for 17 years. After his
time with the Mets, Nelson worked for the San Francisco Giants for
three years. During his broadcasting career Nelson also covered
college football for 33 years, including 26 Cotton Bowls, 5 Sugar
Bowls, 4 Rose Bowls, and 14 years announcing Notre Dame Games. He
also announced NFL games, including the first NFL game to use
instant replay. During his career Nelson received many awards,
including the first NSSA National Sportscaster of the Year Award;
the Ford C. Frick Award, from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988;
the Pete Rozette Radio-Television Award, from the Pro Football Hall
of Fame in 1990; and an Emmy for career achievement in 1991. Nelson
died in 1995. He was inducted into the National Sportscasters and
Sportwriters Association Hall of Fame on April 9,
1979. |