Hockey
Canadians First Broadcaster Passes Away
The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club is mourning the loss of Vancouver broadcaster and Hall of Fame member Hal Rodd who passed away Saturday at the age of 91.
Hal was the first broadcaster to call a baseball game at Capilano Stadium (Nat Bailey Stadium) back on June 15th, 1951 after being the lead voice of professional baseball games for five seasons at Athletic Park (5th & Hemlock).
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Hal began his career in radio in Hollywood, California, as a sound technician on the Ozzie & Harriett Show that was heard across North America.
Eventually he would migrate back into Canada setting up in Vancouver where he would find his way into local newsrooms at CKMO, CJOR, CKNW and CFUN during his tenure on the local airwaves.
As the voice of Vancouver baseball, Hal took pride in giving a young Clancy Loranger his first few games behind the microphone, and was later touted as having one of the smoothest deliveries of any play-by-play man in the Pacific Northwest.
Predeceased by his loving wife Lorraine, Hal was inducted into the Vancouver Canadians Broadcast & Journalism Hall of Fame in 2010 in front of his family including daughter Wendie, his grandchildren Jessie and Josh as well as a number of great-grandchildren.
No service of memorial will be held in Hal’s honor, but the Canadians intend on having a moment of silence prior to the club’s home opener on June 17th, 2013 out at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium.
Thanks to the Canadians for the above info.