Watching Games on TV Through the Years

[Texsox]

The Bill Melton thread and wine have me in a nostalgic mood. 

I first watched games in black and white on a portable TV while trying to get a decent signal on channel 44 (I think that was the correct channel) then using a black box. Cable. Now streaming. 

While my extended family had tickets forever my mom and dad didn't. My dad traveled and my mom wasn't going to drive to a game by herself. I didn't go to games on school nights. My mom also wasn't going to give up the big TV so I was stuck with a portable at the kitchen table or on my room. It wasn't until turning 16 in high school that I sucked up every unused ticket and went to a lot of games. Sometimes three or four in one week. 

I wonder if that amount of effort doesn't commit us to a life that clicking a link on a phone can't. 

[wegner]

I realize the memory of Harry and Jimmy on Channel 44 being the best is probably just nostalgic thinking, but I will hold on to that memory dearly. The mention of watching the games on the TV in the kitchen really touched me the other day.

 

[WhiteSox2023]

Great thread, haha.  It’s amazing that I’m old enough in my mid 40’s to remember and have seen the following in my lifetime:

* black and white tube TVs

* Harry Caray with the Cubs

* black boxes

* Sportsvision

* Hawk and Wimpy

* Flat screen HD TVs

* And now, can stream any game, show, or movie over the Internet for free on TV’s, computers, tablets, and phones

Technology is the s%*#.

Edited December 8 by WhiteSox2023

[Middle Buffalo]

My earliest memories of the Sox are listening to them on the radio because the Sox went out of their way to make it difficult to watch them on tv. My dad used to have the game on in the garage while he tinkered with things or relaxed in the sun on the weekend.

I remember Jimmy & Harry, but only vaguely. I was nine or ten when Harry left. Drysdale & Hawk are the first team that made an impression on me. 

As mad as some people are about Benetti being let go, I’ve felt that way about Paciorek not returning. Hawk & Wimpy is still my favorite Sox combo.

[Falstaff]

The earliest I can remember ever seeing the White Sox or baseball on TV was 1966 at my grandparents' house on a Sunday with all my relatives in the house.  The image of the black and white tv is still burned in my memory along with my uncle saying " Stankey's Stinkies".

Edited December 8 by Falstaff

[The Mighty Mite]

I started watching the Sox in 1952 on WGN with Jack Brickhouse doing the Play by Play with Vince Lloyd and Harry Creighton who was usually soused by the 5th inning, he really was into the suds from the Land of Sky Blue Waters. Back in those days they didn’t televise night games from Comiskey for attendance reasons, only day games were televised so I grew up listening to Bob Elson on the radio more than watching them on TV, can’t tell you how many nights I fell asleep with the transistor radio under my pillow.

 

Edited December 8 by The Mighty Mite

[JoshPR]

I remember watching a few games when I was around 5 (1980) and lived in elgin. After that lost some track when i moved to PR in 1981. I remember Harry with the Sox 

[Highland]

2 hours ago, The Mighty Mite said:

I started watching the Sox in 1952 on WGN with Jack Brickhouse doing the Play by Play with Vince Lloyd and Harry Creighton who was usually soused by the 5th inning, he really was into the suds from the Land of Sky Blue Waters. Back in those days they didn’t televise night games from Comiskey for attendance reasons, only day games were televised so I grew up listening to Bob Elson on the radio more than watching them on TV, can’t tell you how many nights I fell asleep with the transistor radio under my pillow.

 

Many people fell asleep listening to Bob Elson. 

I remember watching Chanel 32. They had a hard time following the flight of the ball. They'd show the center fielder when the left fielder was making the catch. Otherwise, Comiskey Park was empty and the Sox were getting their ass kicked on a regular basis. Brings tears to my eyes. Ah, the memories.

[poppysox]

On 12/5/2024 at 8:14 PM, Texsox said:

The Bill Melton thread and wine have me in a nostalgic mood. 

I first watched games in black and white on a portable TV while trying to get a decent signal on channel 44 (I think that was the correct channel) then using a black box. Cable. Now streaming. 

While my extended family had tickets forever my mom and dad didn't. My dad traveled and my mom wasn't going to drive to a game by herself. I didn't go to games on school nights. My mom also wasn't going to give up the big TV so I was stuck with a portable at the kitchen table or on my room. It wasn't until turning 16 in high school that I sucked up every unused ticket and went to a lot of games. Sometimes three or four in one week. 

I wonder if that amount of effort doesn't commit us to a life that clicking a link on a phone can't. 

I jerry-rigged a portable radio with its pull-out antenna to a string of coat hangers and aluminum foil to kind of hear a Sox radio broadcast.  Good times.

[Texsox]

22 minutes ago, poppysox said:

I jerry-rigged a portable radio with its pull-out antenna to a string of coat hangers and aluminum foil to kind of hear a Sox radio broadcast.  Good times.

The struggle was real

[Falstaff]

16 hours ago, The Mighty Mite said:

I started watching the Sox in 1952 on WGN with Jack Brickhouse doing the Play by Play with Vince Lloyd and Harry Creighton who was usually soused by the 5th inning, he really was into the suds from the Land of Sky Blue Waters. Back in those days they didn’t televise night games from Comiskey for attendance reasons, only day games were televised so I grew up listening to Bob Elson on the radio more than watching them on TV, can’t tell you how many nights I fell asleep with the transistor radio under my pillow.

 

I did have a transistor radio in bed when the Sox played in the Angels in Anaheim