Al Meltzer

Al Meltzer
BornJune 26, 1928
Died (aged 89)
Other namesBig Al
OccupationSportscaster
Years active1940s–2003
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)

Al Meltzer (June 26, 1928 – June 12, 2018), nicknamed "Big Al", was an American sportscaster.

Born in Syracuse, New York,[1] Meltzer worked for Channel 10 and Channel 3 in Philadelphia, and Comcast SportsNet (as sports director). He also worked for WPHL-17 where he called play-by-play of Big 5 and 76ers basketball. He has also covered the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, and Temple Owls.[2][3][4] Previously, he worked in Buffalo, New York at WEBR.[5] He is a member of the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Big 5 Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame and Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame.[6][7] During the 1970s, Meltzer, while still living in Philadelphia, commuted to Buffalo to serve as the Buffalo Bills Radio Network play-by-play announcer, serving on a team with Rick Azar and Ed Rutkowski.[8] He died at the age of 89 on June 12, 2018.[9]

Meltzer occasionally did voice-over work for NFL Films and was a substitute host for NFL Films' weekly wrapup, This Week in Pro Football (This Week in the NFL starting in 1974).

References

  1. ^ Fitzpatrick, Frank (June 14, 2018). "Longtime Philadelphia sports broadcaster Al Meltzer dies". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  2. ^ ""Big Al" Meltzer Scores Big Honor". NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  3. ^ "Emmy honoree". Philly.com. September 26, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  4. ^ "After 32 Years, Bye To 'Big Al'". philly-archives. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  5. ^ me. "The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia". broadcastpioneers.com. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  6. ^ "'Big Al' Meltzer reflects on a half-century of sports broadcasting (with video)". Mainline Media News. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  7. ^ "'Big Al' Meltzer tell-all hits bookstores this month". delcotimes.com. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  8. ^ "SJ Magazine: ROMEOs". July 2014.
  9. ^ Philadelphia sports broadcasting icon Al Meltzer dies at 89 NBC Sports Philadelphia, June 14, 2018


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