The Sounds Of Simmons
A visitor to San Francisco in the 1960s once
referred to it as "The City of the Deaf" because
everyone appeared to be outfitted with hearing aids. Those
earpieces were actually connected to tiny transistor radios, the
better to listen to the San Francisco Giants on 560/KSFO, with
Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons in the broadcast booth at
Candlestick Park.
From 1958, when the Giants
arrived in Baghdad By The Bay, through the 1970 season, after
which Hodges retired, the duo were among the finest to have
graced the airwaves. From 1958 until 1962, in order to free
Simmons up for 49ers broadcasts, they were joined in the
broadcast booth by Bill King. When King left following the
Giants' NL pennant-winning 1962 season, Russ and Lon were joined
by Bill Thompson, a longtime friend of Simmons.
In recognition of their talents,
Hodges (1980) and Simmons (2004) were honored with the
Ford C. Frick Award by the National Baseball Hall of Fame
for their major contributions to baseball. In addition, Lon Simmons was inducted into the
Bay Area Radio
Hall of Fame in 2006 as a member of the first class to be
enshrined. Russ Hodges was inducted into BARHOF as a member of
the Class of 2008.
We take you back now to those thrilling days of
yesteryear...
Russ and Lon and The Giants:
TO PLAY CLIPS: Click on
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clips. |
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The
Giants Fight Song
You won't hear Russ and Lon on this clip, but no Giants
broadcast on KSFO and the Golden West Radio Network started
without this classic fight song, inspired by Russ' famed
"Bye-Bye Baby" home run call. |
It's Bye-Bye Baby
(The Giants Fight
Song)
When the Giants come to town,
it's "Bye-Bye Baby!"
Every time the chips are down,
it's "Bye-Bye Baby!"
History's in the making
at Candlestick Park
Cheer for the batter
and light the spark!
If you're a fan of Giants baseball,
sing "Bye-Bye Baby!"
If you want to be in first place,
call "Bye-Bye Baby!"
Listen to the broadcast on KSFO
Turn up the volume and hear 'em go.
With the San Francisco Giants,
it's "Bye-Bye Baby!"
Candlestick Park 
Willie Mays 
Orlando Cepeda 
Jimmy Davenport |
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The
Famous Giants-Mets Fight
Future Giants manager Roger "Humm-Baby" Craig
attempts to pick off Willie Mays, triggering a classic
on-field rumble involving Craig, Mays, Elio Chacon and
Orlando Cepeda. Lon makes the call, with Russ adding his
comments. |
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"Tell
It Goodbye!"
Willie Mays launches one deep into the bleachers off
Stan Williams and past Dodger left fielder Duke Snider,
eliciting Lon's trademark call.
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Cepeda's
Sacrifice Fly
Orlando Cepeda lofts a sacrifice fly to Dodger right
fielder Ron Fairly (a future Giants broadcaster),
scoring Bobby Bolin from third base. |
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Base
Hit By Alou
The Dodgers' Ed Roebuck serves up a base hit to Matty
Alou of the Giants. |
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Davenport
Gets A Free Pass
Matty Alou comes in to score as Jimmy Davenport takes a
bases-loaded 3-1 pitch to force in a run. |
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The
Giants Clinch The Pennant
Willie Mays hauls in a liner off the bat of Dodger Lee
Walls to close out the 1962 playoff and send the Giants
to the World Series against the New York Yankees. |
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