So You Don’t Remember 3-D Movies, Do You Remember Don, Dick & Dave?

No Comments March 13, 2018 Angels By John Stellman

3-D!!!

No. I’m not referring to those classic 1950’s movies, when everyone entering the theater were given those flimsy, paper glasses to wear.

I’m talking about the 1970’s, when Angel baseball fans were treated to their own version of 3-D.

Don, Dick and Dave.

Without question, this was the best broadcast team ever assembled in Southern California baseball history.

Enberg and Niehaus came aboard in 1969. Drysdale joined the team in 1973.

Now I’m not discounting the greatness of Dodger ‘Hall Of Fame’ broadcaster Vince Scully.

Vin was unquestionably THE BEST EVER when it came to painting that picture behind the microphone.

Scully was, and rightfully so, a one-man show.

Silent Partner

Sure, Jerry Doggett partnered with Vin for 30-years (1957-1987). And he made notable contributions when asked.

But there was no greater tandem than Enberg and Drysdale.

Niehaus, meanwhile, was putting his resume together for the Seattle Mariners, who eventually snatched him away from Anaheim in 1977 to become their lead broadcaster.

In an excerpt by Ken Levine in Sports Illustrated, Angel owner Gene Autry once told Dave, “You call a hell of a game. It’s not the one I’m watching, but it’s a hell of a game.”

Born on February 19 (my birthday), 1935 (different year), the Princeton, Indiana native did much more than merely describe the game. Niehaus tied it altogether with a story or two.

Beloved Broadcaster

Not surprising, he quickly became a household fixture in the Pacific Northwest from 1977, until his untimely death on November 10, 2010. Dave was 75.

Niehaus’ professionalism and contributions to the game were recognized in 2008, when he was enshrined at Cooperstown.

Richard Alan Enberg, a former assistant professor and baseball coach at San Fernando Valley State College (now California State University Northridge), departed one year after Niehaus’ exodus.

And Mr. ‘Oh My’ quickly became unquestionably the most versatile all around sports announcer of his era.

In addition to the Angels, he was the voice of the Rams and UCLA basketball.

Here, There, Everywhere

Nationally, Dick worked the NFL (including 10 Super Bowls), MLB, NBA, college football and basketball (8 championship games), the Wimbledon (28 tournaments) and French Opens, the Breeder’s Cup and the Olympic Games for NBC.

He would later add The Master’s on CBS and the Australian Open on ESPN.

“We are immensely saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of legendary broadcaster Dick Enberg,” the Padres, his last employer, said in a statement.

“Dick was an institution in the industry for 60 years and we were lucky enough to have his iconic voice behind the microphone for Padres games for nearly a decade.”

Enberg passed away December 21, 2017 at the age of 82.

Kudos Galore

“I’m heartbroken,” former Padres broadcast partner Mark Grant said.

“It’s so sad. I thought Dick was the type of guy who was going to live until he was 100, going on the circuit, talking to everybody about baseball and football and tennis.”

Added John McEnroe: “If people ask me the top tennis players, when I throw out (Rod) Laver, (Pete) Sampras, Rafa (Nadal), Roger (Federer), I would put him in the same category.

“He’s a Mount Rushmore guy.”

In 2016, former NFL partner Dan Dierdorf said of Enberg: “The man is a walking monument to sports television.”

It was a reputation resulting from dedication and determination. And it was most assuredly well deserved.

Perfectionist

The Mt. Clemons, Michigan native was meticulous when preparing for a baseball broadcast.

On the road, he would sit in the team’s hotel lobby for hours before the game scouring local newspapers for tidbits and anecdotes.

But as focused as he was professionally, his family always was the top priority.

If Dick and first wife, Jeri, were traveling to the same destination, they would never take the same flight. Dick was determined that if tragedy struck, there would be a survivor.

He also an extremely compassionate individual.

These were the early days of charter flights. And occasionally the Angels invited the writer’s to bring their wives on a trip.

In addition to my wife Josie, Ross Newhan of the Los Angles Times brought wife Connie, Dick Miller (Los Angeles Herald Examiner) and wife Donna, as well as Don Merry (Long Beach Independent Press Telegram) and wife Irene were along for the ride.

This particular journey took us through Milwaukee and Boston to New York.

Lucky Ladies

At Fenway Park there was a night to forget!

How glad was I that our wives arrived late for a game against the Red Sox.

The seats were located three rows behind the visitor’s third base dugout.

Still empty, a screaming line drive ricocheted off the back of one of those seats.

A memory that to this day, still brings a chill to my spine!

Surviving that, we moved on to New York, arriving in ‘The Big Apple’ in late July of 1972.

Hot And Humid

The weather wasn’t exactly perfect for Josie, who just happened to be pregnant with our first son, Jason, at the time.

So how did Enberg ease the pain?

One afternoon before a game against the Yankees, Enberg took Josie out for an ice cream cone.

A similar incident occurred during spring training in Palm Springs.

Don’s wife Irene and Dick were seated at the bar in the cocktail lounge of the Gene Autry Hotel.

Thoughtful, Thoughtful

Enberg was well aware that Irene was breast feeding baby daughter Kathy.

So when Irene left for the ladies’ room, Dick made sure there was a chilled glass of milk awaiting her return. The bars’ refrigerator was always well stocked.

What’s that old saying? Little things mean a lot!

Enberg was kind, considerate and caring.

He was also a workaholic.

Two Of A Kind

That made he and Drysdale a perfect fit.

Don added the player’s touch to whatever situation Dick referenced.

Their interaction was informative and many times hilarious.

Dick would asked appropriate, but sometimes leading questions that Drysdale might have to dance around.

Their broadcasts were often off the cuff and extremely entertaining.

I remember having dinner with Drysdale one night in the press room at Arlington Stadium in Texas when multi-year contracts were the topic of the day.

Way To Long

Don was never a believer in lengthy agreements. Dollars should be earned after the fact, not doled out prematurely.

When he heard of pitchers who were seeking three and four year contracts, he cringed.

Drysdale was of the opinion that no pitcher was worthy of more than a two year agreement.

Injuries were so unpredictable that he feared clubs could get burned big time by agreeing to long term deals.

A high school phenom out of Van Nuys, California, Drysdale signed a $4,000 bonus deal with the Dodgers in 1954 that would earn him $600 a month.

Steal Of The Century

His 14-year major league career included a record of 209-166, nine All-Star Game selections, three World Championship (1959, 1963, 1965) and a Cy Young Award (1962).

Those credentials were good enough to get ‘Big D’ inducted into the ‘Hall Of Fame’ in 1984. That same year, the Dodgers retired his No. 53.

It was during his 1976 season behind the Angel microphone that I was invited to be on Drysdale’s pre-game show.

During the summer players were given their freedom when Curt Flood and Andy Messersmith won the fight for free agency.

No, No, No!

Late one night in the comfort of the Anaheim Stadium press room, Autry was tossing out the names of players he’d like to sign.

Under those circumstances and in that environment, all that information is considered ‘off the record’.

So I went to the park early the next afternoon and called ‘The Cowboy’, who had returned to Palm Springs.

I repeated what he had said the previous night and asked for his permission to write the story.

He gave me the green light.

All Over The Orange County Register

The next day I reported excusively that the Angels would actively pursue Baltimore second basemen Bobby Grich, and Oakland outfielders Don Baylor and Joe Rudi.

I was Drysdale’s guest that evening.

All three were in Angel uniforms when the 1977 season opened.

Don’s broadcasting career actually began with the Montreal Expos (1970-1971).

He then spent one season in Texas before joining the Angels.

After leaving in 1979, he returned for the 1981 season, before moving into the White Sox broadcast booth (1982-1987).

Ironically, it would end where it all began, when ‘Big D’ returned to Los Angeles to join Scully from 1988 to 1993.

Drysdale passed on July 3. He was just 56 years of age.

A Little Bit Of History Here

The first confirmed 3-D film debuted 71 years earlier.

Producer Harry K. Fairall and cinematographer Robert F. Elder unveiled ‘The Power Of Love’ to an Ambassador Hotel audience in Los Angeles on September 27, 1922.

As revolutionary as it was at the time, this, and other historic 3-D extravaganzas have probably long since been forgotten.

As for the memories created by Dick Enberg, Don Drysdale and Dave Niehaus?

I’ve got a pretty good feeling that for those of us who knew them well, their memories will most certainly last a lifetime!

The San Diego Union Tribune Contributed To This Article

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John Stellman

I was born with sports in my blood. I began coaching little league baseball at 15. I was the sports editor of my high school newspaper. I did football play by play for the college radio station. I broadcast high school basketball for a local commercial station. But baseball was always my passion. During the 1970's I covered the Angels for the Orange County Register. And now I am back where I belong...