Bill Stern (July 1, 1907-November 19, 1971), was a radio sports announcer, actor and director from Rochester, New York.

Stern did not enjoy a long acting or directing career, as his last theater performances were when he was a young lad. He is widely known, however, as a sportscaster.

Stern began doing radio play by play commentary in 1925, when he was hired by a Rochester station, WHAM , to cover football games.

Later on, Stern became known across the United States, when he was hired by NBC in 1937, to host "The Colgate Sports Newsreel " as well as friday night boxing fights. In 1939, Stern narrated the first televised baseball game in history.

Bill Stern caused controversy on September 15, 1944, when he reported, in a Chicago newspaper, that there was an arrangement so that the St. Louis Browns of baseball's American League would not win the World Series that year. Stern later expressed regret about writing the article; the Browns nevertheless did lose the World Series that year, 4 games to 2, to their hometown rivals, St. Louis Cardinals.

Stern was also one of the first men to do commentary on televised boxing fights. After many years with NBC, he joined ABC, where he lasted until 1956.

Bill Stern led a quiet life after retiring from television broadcasting. He settled in the New York city of Rye, where he spent his last fifteen years.

Stern has a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.

External Links

Radio Hall of Fame page on Stern