Friday, 27 March 2026

Red Barber

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Commentators 2026
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Baseball & Football
Statistics: National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame
American Sportscasters Hall of Fame
Ford C. Frick Award
Florida Sports Hall of Fame
National Radio Hall of Fame
Known for his impartiality and colloquialisms (Barberisms), Red Barber became synonymous with the game with phrases that are still used today. Barber first worked University of Florida Football Games, but moved on to Cincinnati to broadcast for the Reds. It was his move to Brooklyn, where he covered the Dodgers, that made him immortal.

In Brooklyn, most of his catchphrases were developed (“can of corn," “rhubarb”, “sitting in the catbird seat” became part of the baseball lexicon. Barber called the greatest moments in Brooklyn Dodgers history, including Jackie Robinson’s first game, and notably, he was a strong supporter of integration. Also, during this time, it was Barber who called the first televised baseball game in 1939 for NBC.

Following a pay dispute, Barber moved on to cover the New York Yankees, where he covered multiple World Series, including Don Larsen’s perfect game, but this ended when he accurately reported in a 1966 game that there were fewer than 500 people in attendance, making that the story. As said before, he was all about integrity.

His calling style has been emulated by others (in multiple sports) and will be echoed across the diamond as long as it is broadcast. Fittingly, (along with Mel Allen), he was the first Ford C Frick Award winner to be honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Barber also published six books.

We are proud to nominate Red Barber for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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