BASEBALL

WPIX and baseball have gone together since the New York Giants games started airing on the station in 1949.  The Yankees first premiered on the station in 1951. The New York Yankees are arguably the greatest team in Sports history. With the greatest players off all time, and the most memorable moments, channel 11 was right there bringing it to you live. In 1957, WPIX unveiled this famous trio of (Rizzuto, Mel Allen, and Red Barber) to broadcast the Yankee games.  Rizzuto would go on to enjoy a 40-year career as a radio and television sports announcer for the Yankees, becoming known for his popular but eccentric style. If you were lucky enough to be watching the game on July 17, 1959, you saw something that changed the game forever. That was the day the world saw its very first instant replay. A ninth-inning single against the Chicago White Sox had spoiled Ralph Terry’s no-hitter for the Yankees.  WPIX sportscaster Mel Allen asked the director, Jack Murphy, to see the hit replayed on videotape. For 47 years, the station was the broadcast home of the New York Yankees.  There were many great moments almost always with Phil Rizzuto announcing brilliantly. And fittingly, in 1998 the Yankees captured their 11th major league title under the broadcast of Channel 11. But in 1999, Channel 11 became the over the air broadcast destination for the New York Mets.

Back to Homepage

 


Copyright © 2008 Tribune Interactive
By visiting this site, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
MemoriesShare your WPIX MemoriesNewsWPIX Early Years Community Kids Telementaries