James R. Dudley (September 27 1909 - February 12 1999) was an American sportscaster, best known as the play-by-play voice of Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians for nearly two decades. A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Dudley majored in chemistry at the University of Virginia. After serving as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, he turned to broadcasting. Dudley was the Indians' lead announcer from 1948 until his firing by the club in 1967. In 1969 Dudley broadcast for the expansion Seattle Pilots; when the club moved to Milwaukee and became the Brewers the following year, he did not join them. Dudley broadcast for a number of minor league teams in the 1970s before retiring. As an announcer, Dudley was known for his friendly, homespun style and his signature catchphrases: "Hello, baseball fans everywhere" (to start a broadcast), "The string is out" (describing a full count on a hitter), and "So long and lots of good luck, you hear?" (signing off at the game's end). In addition to baseball, Dudley also broadcast football at various times for the Ohio State University and the NFL's Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts. Dudley was presented with the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. He died at age 89 in Tucson, Arizona.
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| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Herb Carneal |
Ford C. Frick Award 1997 |
Succeeded by Jaime Jarrin |
