Russ Hodges was sports editor of WBT, Charlotte, North Carolina until October 1941, when he moved full-time to WOL in Washington, DC, where he had already been doing play-by-play for the Washington Redskins.
13 Facts About Russ Hodges
2.
In 1949, Russ Hodges became a No 1 announcer when the Giants and the Yankees separated their radio networks to each broadcast a full, 154-game schedule.
3.
Russ Hodges was the voice of the Giants for the next 22 seasons on both coasts.
4.
On October 3,1951, Russ Hodges was on the microphone for Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World".
5.
However, in his autobiography, Russ Hodges related how a Brooklyn fan, excited over what appeared to be a certain Dodger victory, hooked up his home tape recorder to his radio.
6.
Russ Hodges continued working for the team through 1970, when he retired.
7.
Russ Hodges was the lead announcer for Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts on CBS from 1948 to 1955.
8.
The most famous fight called by Russ Hodges was Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston, one of the most anticipated, watched, and controversial fights in boxing history.
9.
Some other fights Russ Hodges called include Beau Jack vs Ike Williams, Joe Louis vs Ezzard Charles, Sugar Ray Robinson vs Jake LaMotta, Floyd Patterson vs Hurricane Jackson, and Joe Louis vs Cesar Brion.
10.
Russ Hodges, who had played halfback for the University of Kentucky before suffering a broken ankle in his sophomore year, broadcast professional and college football at various times in his career, including several years in which he teamed with Giants partner Lon Simmons to call San Francisco 49ers radio broadcasts.
11.
Russ Hodges died suddenly of a heart attack at age 60 in Mill Valley, California, on April 19,1971.
12.
Russ Hodges was survived by his wife, Gay, and two children from a previous marriage.
13.
In 2008, Russ Hodges was elected into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame, joining his longtime broadcast partner Simmons, who was inducted in 2006.