FORT MYERS, Fla. - Curt Gowdy, one of the signature voices of sports for a generation and the longtime broadcaster for the Boston Red Sox, died Monday at 86.

He died in Palm Beach after a long battle with leukemia, Red Sox spokeswoman Pam Ganley said.

Gowdy made his broadcasting debut in 1944 and went on to call 13 World Series and 16 All-Star games.

In 1951 Gowdy became main play-by-play voice on the Red Sox broadcast team. He left the Red Sox in 1966 for a 10-year stint as "Game of the Week" announcer for NBC. He was also the longtime host of the "American Sportsman" series.

"He's certainly the greatest play-by-play person up to this point that NBC sports has ever had," NBC Universal Sports chairman #^&#^&#^&#^& Ebersol said Monday. "He literally carried the sports division at NBC for so many year on his back. ... He was a remarkable talent and he was an even more remarkable human being."

Loved his voice during games. Sad he's gone.

Curt Gowdy WAS The American Sportsman!

R.I.P Curt

Bernzy

Every Sunday in the off season I would watch "The American Sportsman" with my Dad. We loved that show and he was a Grand Host. I know his son is trying to do a similar show but the original was a real classic.

RIP and fair winds and tight lines Curt.

R.I.P.
Hope he's fishing with Frank again.

R.I.P...

Hab is the "new" Curt Gowdy:bshake:

There's a blast from the past. What a great, recognizable voice. Sad news. I didn't see that in the newspaper. Thanks for the info.

Thinking back, that show was really influential when I was young. My brother and I would go out in the boat along the flats in casting for weakfish. We would be actually try and imitate the American Sportsman show...he would be Curt G. and I would be Bing Crosby. While fishing we started funny chitchat and would refer to each other as curt and Bing. I would be singing while casting (making up typical BC songs..)"Blu, Blu Blue sky’s... ) Now those were the days

I remember those shows with Bing Crosby and Phil Harris was a real character.Wyoming has a Curt Gowdy State Park.A fitting tribute to a great outdoorsman.

Curt Gowdy WAS The American Sportsman!

R.I.P Curt

Bernzy
that's right.

like what Sandman said.... the best of times ...

Curt Gowdy.... Was indeed the American Sportsman...

his voice was sinonomous with the call of the wild.

hearing his voice followed by the bugle of an ELK

will always thrill me to my core.

happy hunting Curt.... & tight lines in heaven my old friend.

R I P

I always thought he had the best broadcasting voice I ever heard! It just compelled you to listen. Rest in peace Curt Gowdy!

Curt Gowdy was my dads hero. Curt Gowdy says this... Curt Gowdy says that....

My dad hooked up on a jumbo sturgeon in SF Bay one day and I asked my dad " what would Curt Gowdy say now?"

My dads response..

OH SH*T !!!!!