a.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Mel Allen
By HASKELL COHEN
(Copyright 1978, J.T.A., Inc.)
You don't hear too much
about him anymore, but his
fans, still legion ; haven't
forgotten the Voice of the
Yankees, Mel Allen ne Is-
rael. Allen hasn't been on
the air for the Yankees
since 1965, not on a regular
basis, just marginally, but
he still retains the mellif-
luent voice that made him
the "Voice of the Yankees."
His side-kick, Red
Barber, often proclaimed
the_ best announcer in
baseball history, succinctly
describes the demise of the
Yankee mouthpiece in
these pithy words, "He gave
the Yankees his life and
they broke his heart."
Allen, the son of tradi-
Famous Voice of the Yankee4
tional Jewish parents sur-
named Israel, grew up in
the Alabama area. His voice
apparently came naturally
to him since the Israel fam-
ily boasted of several can-
tors. As a matter of fact, in
his early youth, Allen
seemed destined to become
a hazan.
However, his love for
sports pushed him into
equal to them in knowl-
edge and voice.
the Canada Dry Bottling
Co. He still does commer-
cial voice-overs.
Last year he did the Uni-
versity of Miami football
games and conceivably
might be back with the
Yanks for a pre-or post-
game show, since George
Steinbrenner, the New
York owner, holds great re-
spect for the man who gave
so much of his time and
energy to the perennial
American League cham-
pions.
Why didn't Allen catch on
with one of the other teams
in baseball? Mel just didn't
want anybody but the
Yanks. Charley Finley, the
oddball -owner of the Oak-
land nine chased Allen for a
time, but Mel didn't bite. He
was a Yankee all the way.
As for the Yanks, he al-
most made it back with
them a few years ago. Gabe
Paul, then top dog on the
club, spoke to Allen about
just such possibility but the
discussion ended when
Gabe asked, "Mel, how old
are you?"
There are those who will
tell you the decline of the
New York Yankees started
when Allen was shunted
aside. He announced Yan-
kee contests from 1939
through 1965, the great
years in. Yankee history.
Once he was dropped the
Yanks dropped with him in
the broadcasting field, the standings, only to re-
where he and Barber turn to their winning ways
emerged as the finest in recent years.
baseball duo reporters in
Nobody knows exactly
sportscasting history. why the Yankees dropped
Nobody since these men Allen. Oh, there are some
backed out of the field who claim he couldn't stop
has come along to emu- talking. Once he got going
late either Allen or on his favorite nine, the
Barber. And the likeli- words came out in a torrent
hood is there never will
and never ceased. His
be a talk team in sports biggest trouble was not
talking, whether he was
broadcasting or relating to
fellow workers.
Not too long ago he went
on the air with Mary Albert,
of
NBC's popular young sports
announcer, who reverently
asked before air time. "Mel,
26400 W. 12 MILE RD. AT NORTHWESTERN HWY.
please try and keep your an-
INTHE RACQUETIME BLDG.
355-3733
swers short. We only have a
few minutes of air time."
and
"Sure, Marv, anything
Not a nice approach from
you say, just cut me off any- a fellow Yankee to a man
time," replied the air sage.
still a few years younger
Chinese-American Dining
I remember back to our than Paul. With Paul in
33459 W. 8 MILE AT FARMINGTON RD.
New York Bnai Brith Cleveland now, and Stein-
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Sports Lodge dinners, brenner at the Yankee
477-0656
some years ago, when I helm, backed by Al Rosen,
was president of the the "Voice" may once again
lodge, and had to tug fur- be brought back to his hey-
tively on Allen's jacket to day.
THE DONG FAMILY
Henry, Susie & Quincy
POINT AFTER DELI
SUSIE DONG'S
WISH ALL THEIR MANY
FRIENDS & CUSTOMERS
A VERY HEALTHY
AND HAPPY
NEW YEAR
mmiTR Is
N mo ts
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tions. While Mel MC'd
beautifully, our dinners
generally ended at mid-
night. These days we
knock off the same affair,
annually, by 10:30 p.m.
JERUSALEM (ZINS) —
Former Prime Minister Yit-
zhak Rabin has minimized
differences between
Menahem Begin and De-
fense Minister Ezer Weiz-
man over foreign policy, and
the chances for the Labor
Party to return to power.
"Li'Shana TcWa Tikatavu"
— May you be inscribed (in
the Book of Life) for a good
year.
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Stephen Becharas • . . and The Staff Of
Nevertheless, Allen was
and still is a gentleman. It
was a pleasure talking to
him at all times. You al-
ways knew you had to have
plenty of time on your hands
if you engaged -him in con-
versation. Nothing wrong
with that. Most people were
aware of his glibness and
stuck it out.
daeeiazid
19469 W. 1 0 MILE RD. (1 Block E. of Evergreen)
352-7466
.
-- It was galling to watch
some of the inconsiderate
Yankees give Allen the
brush, or turn on their heels
and stomp away from him
while he was in the middle
of a sentence. Mickey Man-
tle in particular was a con-
stant - offender in this re--
spect. But then Mantle
found it hard to relate with
people most of the time,
anyway.
Sincerely With Their Many Friends
and Customers
A Very
appy New Year
Unlike so many of his
Jewish associates in the
broadcasting field, Allen
found time to visit Israel to
associate with guys like
Chaim Glovinsky, then and
to this day Mr. Sports of the
Holy Land.
While he has dropped
out of the limelight with
the Yankees, except for
sporadic appearances on
Old Timers days, it will
not be necessary to pass
the hat around for Allen.
At 65, with a voice 20
years younger, he owns a
radio station in Birming-
ham, Ala. managed by
brother Larry, and does
public relations work for
No bifference
Friday, September. 29, 1978 53
We thank you for your
gracious patronage . . . and
most sincerely
wish the very best
In health, joy and
prosperity to all
L.