WEDNESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS brought to you by PABTS BLUE RIBBON BEER presents Middleweight boxing champion Gene Fullmer who defends his crown against Sugar Ray Robinson. Robinson knocks out Fullmer in round 5. The commentator is Steve Ellis 
After the fight, there's a short interview with Robinson and Joe Louis.
                         

Middleweight boxing champion Sugar Ray Robinson defends his title vs. Carmen Basilio in a fifteen round match at New York's Yankee Stadium. Basilio took the crown from Robinson on a close fifteen round decision. The fight opening plus rounds nine, eleven, and fifteen are heard. Basilio is interviewed after the fight.

The announcers are Winn Elliott and Don Dunphy.                                     

A special on New York's new National League baseball team the New York Mets. Interviews with Mets Charlie Neal, Gil Hodges, manager Casey Stengal, others.                           

Steve Ellis, sports announcer, who passed away in February 1966, interviews  Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston on their forthcoming heavyweight championship fight to be held at Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, February 25, 1964.

Liston states that he is in the best shape of his life.Clay states that he will win the fight in nine rounds and that he has some "secret weapons" that he will employ in the fight. .                          

The New York Yankee's Mickey Mantle is interviewed by Howard Cosell. Mickey discusses his career and the many physical injuries that have threatened it.             

Excerpted broadcast of the first Muhammad Ali vs. George Chuvalo heavyweight championship fight, live from Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Canada. Ali wins a fifteen-round unanimous decision.

This radio broadcast sports special was presented and heard on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company). It was not broadcast on American radio though seen in theaters on closed-circuit.
Commercials included.

Don Dunphy does the blow-by-blow reporting at ringside.                                                                          

Muhammad Ali vs. Canadian heavyweight champion George Chuvalo in a heavyweight championship fight from the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Canada. Ali retained his heavyweight championship with a fifteen-round unanimous decision.          

Following the Muhammad Ali vs. George Chuvalo heavyweight championship fight at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Cleveland Browns star running back Jim Brown interviews winner Muhammad Ali. Also, an interview between Howard Cosell and Ali, plus a replay of round 13. Ali proclaims Chuvalo as his toughest opponent ever. 
           

Muhammad Ali vs. George Chuvalo from Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto for the heavyweight championship of the world. Ali wins a unanimous fifteen-round decision.
Don Dunphy reports from ringside.             

Muhammad Ali vs. Cleveland Williams in a heavyweight bout. Ali wins via 3rd round TKO. Pre-fight interviews and fight on ABC radio with Les Keiter calling the blow-by-blow from ringside.             

Muhammad Ali vs. Cleveland Williams from the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.  There are pre-fight comments from Bill Stern, Les Keiter, Ernie Terrell, Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), Cleveland Williams, and NY Daily News sportswriter Gene Ward. Ali wins via a third round TKO.

Broadcast on the Radio Mutual Broadcast System this Heavyweight Championship fight is considered at the time the largest viewed indoor boxing match in history. 

The broadcast, called "CHAMPIONSIP '66"  sponsored by STP (commercials are included) opens with Bill Stern describing a run down of both fighters. There are pre-fight interviews with Ali who describes how he will be fighting Williams, mentioning that he will have to be cautious with Cleveland for it is possible for him to knock him out.
Williams, who was recently shot by a police officer in a traffic dispute states that he has given that offer tickets to tonight's championship match. Describing Muhammad Ali, Cleveland Williams states that there is always someone superior to him and comments on Ali's "shuffle" in the ring. 

Van Patrick and Les Keiter get pre fight predictions from numerous attendees at the Astrodome, including Joe Louis who picks Ali to KO Williams in one or two rounds. 

Andy Robustelli is interviewed, as well as Red Smith. 

Introductions of both fighters in the ring. The entire fight is heard, as well as post fight interviews. Bill Stern gives his evaluation of Muhammad Ali. Referee Harry Kessler who stopped the fight in the third round is interviewed. 
Cleveland Williams and Muhammad Ali interviewed as well as Ernie Terrell by Les Keiter who states he will KO Ali. 




                         

Al Kaline leads a 16-hit Detroit Tiger attack with four hits and an eighth inning home run as the American League Western Division champion Detroit Tigers pummel the Milwaukee Brewers 13-4 at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Joe Coleman wins his 19th game of the year and George Scott connects for his 20th homer of the year in the sixth inning for the Brewers. 

Prior to the game the final pre-game show, "BASEBALL TODAY" with Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek discuss the end of season teams in contention of getting into the playoffs. 
Interviews include Jimmy Piersall talking with Dick Williams, Bob Prince talking with Bill Verdon, Sparking Anderson speaking with Al Michaels. 

Following the game on BASEBALL TODAY: A PLAYOFF PREVIEW  Tony Kubek interviews Al Kaline and Duke Sims, who also homered in the eighth inning. 

Announcers are Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek. Final NBC Game of the Week broadcast for 1972.

NOTE:
During the game announcements by Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek discussing yesterday's what seemed like a hit taken away from Roberto Clemente and later in the broadcast flashing the news on Roberto Clemente's 3000th hit today. Also commentary about the retirement of Ted Williams as manager of the Texas Rangers.
*OCCASIONAL NBC TV Broadcast reception at times. Seconds gap in continuity from track 1 at 3 hours 07 minutes in broadcast to second track which lasts for 28 minutes. 

COMMERCIALS include: Armstrong Carpets, Mohawk National Bank, Tapp Furniture, Promo for film "Cactus Flower," Promo for TV's "Wonderful World of Disney," Anacin, Perpetration H, Bell Systems, Sears Car Batteries, Major League Baseball, 1973 
Plymouth Satellite Automobiles with Spokesman, Arthur Godfrey, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Vitalis, David Frye for Copy Machines, Gillette Track Two Blades, Right Guard Deodorant, Gillette Foamy Face Saver Cream, Schlitz Beer, Chrysler Electronic Systems, Aqua Velva, Williams Electric Shaver, El Producto Cigars, Dodge Dart Sport Convertible, J.C. Penny, Shell Super Regular Gasoline, Joe Garagiola for Dodge Charger, Alka Seltzer ("I can't believe I ate that whole thing"), Gillette Double Edge Blades Platinum Plus, Florsheim Boots, Dodge Plug Cam Suspension, Guinness Beer, Atlas Tires, Brooks Robinson for Anti Drug Use, Promo for film "The Beguiled," George Blanda for Dodge.

NOTE:
Even the magnificent BASEBALL REFERENCE website guide gets the facts wrong on occasion. The game is not 2 hours and 51 minutes long but actually lasts 3 hours & 25 seconds.

Oct 4, 1972 — Milwaukee Brewers beat New York Yankees (1-0). Oct 4, 1972, Attendance: 5210, Time of Game: 1:57.

The Milwaukee Brewers defeat the New York Yankees 1-0 at Yankee Stadium on this final day of the regular season. Jim Lonborg scatters three hits in winning his 14th game of the season. Larry Gowell is the losing pitcher for the Yankees. Announcers are Phil Rizzuto, Bill White, and Frank Messer. Aired on WGY Radio.

NOTE: New York Yankee pitcher, Larry Gowell was the last AL pitcher to record a hit in a regular-season game before the DH was instituted.

On October 4th, 1972, Gowell made his mark in baseball history when the rookie right-hander faced Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jim Lonborg, and slugged a 3-2 fastball down the left-field line for a double.

Interestingly enough, it was Larry Gowell's first and last MLB hit, as well as the final regular-season hit by an American League pitcher until interleague play and the designated hitter was implemented for the 1973 American League season. 

Frank Messer, New York Yankee announcer from 1968 to 1985 calls the first, second, and third inning with Bill White.

Bill White, New York Yankee announcer form 1971 to 1988 calls the fourth, fifth and sixth inning with Phil Rizzuto.

Phil Rizzuto, New York Yankee announcer from 1957 to 1996 calls the seventh, eighth and ninth inning with Frank Messer from County Stadium, Milwaukee Wisconsin. 

Larry Gowell leads off the bottom of the third inning and on a 3-2 count doubles down the left field line. Messer states, "Even if this is Gowell's only hit he'll ever get (which is was)...a special memory."

72 minutes into this broadcasts Phil Rizzuto comments on Gowell.

NOTE: The baseball Gowell hit now resides in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. 

Also, interesting, 1972 had the lowest Yankee Stadium attendance record since 1945 (under 1 million).
At his final game of the season only 5,210 fans were in attendance watching a Hall of Fame baseball historic moment transpire. 

Although Larry Gowell allowed only one run during this game the Yankees lost 1-0. It was to be Gowell's only MLB decision.

ON FEBRUARY 29, 2020 LARRY GOWELL CONTACTED YOURS TRULY, PHIL GRIES STATING HE HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR ANY BROADCAST RECORD OF THIS GAME FOR THE PAST 45 YEARS. One DVD SOUNDTRACK of the broadcast mastered from the original 1/4" reel to reel audio tape was sent to Gowell and he sent a second one sent to him to Cooperstown, audio courtesy of Archival Television Audio, Inc. 

An email I received on February 29, 2020, from Larry Gowell.

Hi Phil 
A facebook friend of mine just let me know about your company. His name is Chris and he was looking into my time with yhth Yankees as a pitcher. The first game was in Milwaukee on September 21, 1972 in County Stadium where I pitched two perfect innings. In my second game, I started the last game of the year in Yankee Stadium on October 4th and pitched against Jim Lonborg.
These were my only two starts with the Yankees. In that last game in Yankee Stadium it became an historical night for me and the game of baseball. 

In the third inning of the game I got up to bat which was the only time in my major league career, and ended up getting a hard hit double down the line that got to the wall. This being the last game of the season in the major leagues I found out about 8 years later that the hit I got ended up being the last hit by a pitcher before the enactment of the Designated Hitter rule (DH). I had the baseball because they always would give the baseball on the occasion of  your first hit in the the big leagues. After I found out about this ai Sent the baseball to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. to be evaluated and to confirm this actually was the baseball and that I was the pitcher that hit it. With further review, they asked me if I wanted to donate the ball to the Hall of Fame as an historical baseball that is very valuable to the hall and to the history of baseball. So, with that said, I am looking for any Video or Audio I can find on that game at Yankee Stadium. Chris Chafin checked it out and he said you have it.I know that Mrs. Babe Ruth was in the stands for that last game too.

I look forward to hearing from you. 

The Best,

Larry Gowell
45 Seventh Street 
Auburn, Maine 04210
PH. 207...-.... 

ON March 11th I mastered for Larry Gowell a DVD sound track containing the complete game broadcast which runs 131 minutes. 
An additional copy was sent to him to send to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
It is heartening to know that Larry finally had a chance, after 48 years, to share with his family, especially grandson, and friends and to reflect while listening to the actual broadcast of his historic hit...only two months prior to his passing, at age 72, on May 11, 2020.
                        

New York Yankees at California Angels. Last three innings only.