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{{short description|American television executive}} |
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==Early life and family== |
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MacPhail was born in [[Columbus, Ohio]], son of [[Larry MacPhail]], a baseball executive and innovator. He was a graduate of [[Swarthmore College]] and served in the [[United States Navy]]. His brother was longtime baseball executive [[Lee MacPhail]], and Larry and Lee MacPhail are both members of the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]].<ref name=nyt/> [[Andy MacPhail]], also a baseball executive, is his nephew.<ref name=nyt/> |
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==Early career== |
==Early career== |
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MacPhail worked his way up in the front office of several minor league teams. He was traveling road secretary for the New York Yankees<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?94822-The-New-York-Yankees-Team-Photo-Collection |title= The New York Yankees Team Photo Collection |publisher=www.baseball-fever.com |accessdate=2009-11-24 }}</ref> in 1946 and then worked for eight years for three minor league teams before becoming director of publicity for the [[Kansas City Athletics]] in 1955. CBS hired him the following year. |
MacPhail worked his way up in the front office of several minor league teams. He was traveling road secretary for the New York Yankees<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?94822-The-New-York-Yankees-Team-Photo-Collection |title= The New York Yankees Team Photo Collection |publisher= www.baseball-fever.com |accessdate= 2009-11-24 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110614142315/http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?94822-The-New-York-Yankees-Team-Photo-Collection |archive-date= 2011-06-14 |url-status= dead }}</ref> in 1946 and then worked for eight years for three minor league teams before becoming director of publicity for the [[Kansas City Athletics]] in 1955. CBS hired him the following year.<ref name=nyt/> |
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==Broadcasting career== |
==Broadcasting career== |
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MacPhail |
MacPhail was a former president of [[CBS Sports]], where he worked from 1956 to 1973. Afterwards he was associated with [[Bob Wold]], a satellite sports pioneer, and then brought to [[CNN]] by [[Reese Schonfeld]] to create the CNN Sports department in 1980 upon its launch, which he ran until retiring from CNN in 1995. While at CBS Sports, MacPhail is credited with implementing [[instant replay]]<ref name=nyt>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/05/sports/bill-macphail-76-pioneer-in-development-of-tv-sports.html?pagewanted=1 |title= Bill MacPhail, 76, Pioneer In Development of TV Sports |work=www.nytimes.com |accessdate=2017-01-09 | first=Richard | last=Sandomir | date=1996-09-05}}</ref> for the first time in sports — during the [[Army-Navy Game]] of 1963. |
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MacPhail is known for hiring famous broadcasting talent. He |
MacPhail is known for hiring famous broadcasting talent. He introduced a number of sportscasters nationally, including [[Chris Schenkel]], [[Jim McKay]], [[Dan Patrick (sportscaster)|Dan Patrick]], [[Phil Griffin]] and [[Keith Olbermann]].<ref name=bsun>{{cite web |url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/06/07/macphail-leaves-mark-before-leaving-cbs-cnn/ |title= MacPhail leaves mark before leaving CBS, CNN |date=1995-06-07 |access-date=2017-01-09 |newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/ud/2008/01/17/ddn011708patrickqa.html |title= Q&A with UD grad, sportscaster Dan Patrick |publisher=www.daytondailynews.com |accessdate=2008-01-17 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110622062917/http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/ud/2008/01/17/ddn011708patrickqa.html| archivedate=June 22, 2011| url-status= live}}</ref> He hired former [[New York Giants]] kicker [[Pat Summerall]] as a sportscaster at CBS.<ref name=bsun/> He also hired [[Frank Gifford]],<ref name=nyt/> [[Jack Buck]], and golf producer [[Frank Chirkinian]]. |
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MacPhail is recognized for helping CBS Sports acquire the television rights to numerous sporting events, including the [[1960 Winter Olympics|1960 Winter]] & [[1960 Summer Olympics|Summer]] [[Olympics on CBS|Olympics]] in [[Squaw Valley]], [[United States]] and [[Rome]], [[Italy]] respectively, the [[NBA on CBS|NBA]], the [[Masters Tournament]] ([[PGA Tour on CBS|CBS]] still holds the television rights to this day), and [[Major League Baseball on CBS|Major League Baseball]]. |
MacPhail is recognized for helping CBS Sports acquire the television rights to numerous sporting events, including the [[1960 Winter Olympics|1960 Winter]] & [[1960 Summer Olympics|Summer]] [[Olympics on CBS|Olympics]] in [[Squaw Valley Ski Resort|Squaw Valley]], [[United States]] and [[Rome]], [[Italy]] respectively, the [[NBA on CBS|NBA]], the [[Masters Tournament]] ([[PGA Tour on CBS|CBS]] still holds the television rights to this day), and [[Major League Baseball on CBS|Major League Baseball]]. |
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At one point, during the 1960s and '70s, CBS Sports, under MacPhail, owned the rights to all major sports events—pro football, basketball, the Triple Crown, the Masters tournament and other major golf events, except Major League Baseball. MacPhail attempted to acquire the baseball rights, then owned by NBC, from Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Kuhn seemed very interested, but the higher up at CBS declined—they did not want to start bidding wars for sports rights. When Roone Arledge was appointed head of ABC Sports, he thought differently and thus the bidding wars began. |
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| ⚫ | While head of CNN Sports, MacPhail acquired news rights from Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA and other sporting events so that CNN might carry TV clips of all major sporting events. He also mentored |
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| ⚫ | While head of CNN Sports, MacPhail acquired news rights from Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA and other sporting events so that CNN might carry TV clips of all major sporting events. He also mentored former CNN Worldwide President [[Jim Walton (journalist)]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2006-05-18-walton-usat_x.htm |title=CNN chief: More news to more people on more platforms |publisher=www.usatoday.com |accessdate=2006-05-21 | date=2006-05-21}}</ref> At CNN, MacPhail hired sports anchors [[Nick Charles (sportscaster)|Nick Charles]], [[Bob Kurtz (broadcaster)|Bob Kurtz]], [[Fred Hickman]], [[Jim Huber]], [[Dan Patrick (sportscaster)|Dan Patrick]], [[Keith Olbermann]], [[Hannah Storm]], [[Dan Hicks (sportscaster)|Dan Hicks]], and [[Daryn Kagan]], among others. |
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==Awards== |
==Awards== |
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In 1989, MacPhail was the first recipient of [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]’s [[Pete Rozelle |
In 1989, MacPhail was the first recipient of [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]’s [[Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/2009/7/7/irv-cross-named-rozelle-award-winner/| title= Irv Cross named Rozelle Award winner | publisher=www.profootballhof.com |accessdate=2009-07-07 }}</ref> The annual award recognizes "long-time exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football." |
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==Personal== |
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MacPhail was born in [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], [[Ohio]]. He graduated from [[Swarthmore College]] and served in the [[Navy]]. |
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Bill MacPhail is the son of [[Larry MacPhail]], former President of the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], who introduced night baseball when he was President of the [[Cincinnati Reds]] at a game at between on May 24, 1935 (at [[Crosley Field]] in Cincinnati between the Reds and [[Philadelphia Phillies]]). Bill’s brother [[Lee MacPhail]], is a former President of the [[American League]] and former General Manager of the [[New York Yankees]]. |
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Both Bill’s brother Lee MacPhail and their father Larry MacPhail are the only father-son combination inducted in the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]]. Bill’s nephew [[Andy MacPhail]] is President of the [[Baltimore Orioles]]. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
{{reflist|2}} |
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{{Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award}} |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |
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{{Presidents of CBS Sports}} |
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| NAME = Macphail, Bill |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Macphail, Bill}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macphail, Bill}} |
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[[Category:1920 births]] |
[[Category:1920 births]] |
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[[Category:1996 deaths]] |
[[Category:1996 deaths]] |
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[[Category:CBS executives]] |
[[Category:CBS executives]] |
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[[Category:Presidents of CBS Sports]] |
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[[Category:Swarthmore College alumni]] |
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[[Category:United States Navy sailors]] |
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[[Category:MacPhail family|Bill]] |
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Latest revision as of 02:49, 9 October 2024
William Curtis MacPhail (March 25, 1920 – September 4, 1996) was an American television sports executive.
Early life and family
[edit]MacPhail was born in Columbus, Ohio, son of Larry MacPhail, a baseball executive and innovator. He was a graduate of Swarthmore College and served in the United States Navy. His brother was longtime baseball executive Lee MacPhail, and Larry and Lee MacPhail are both members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.[1] Andy MacPhail, also a baseball executive, is his nephew.[1]
Early career
[edit]MacPhail worked his way up in the front office of several minor league teams. He was traveling road secretary for the New York Yankees[2] in 1946 and then worked for eight years for three minor league teams before becoming director of publicity for the Kansas City Athletics in 1955. CBS hired him the following year.[1]
Broadcasting career
[edit]MacPhail was a former president of CBS Sports, where he worked from 1956 to 1973. Afterwards he was associated with Bob Wold, a satellite sports pioneer, and then brought to CNN by Reese Schonfeld to create the CNN Sports department in 1980 upon its launch, which he ran until retiring from CNN in 1995. While at CBS Sports, MacPhail is credited with implementing instant replay[1] for the first time in sports — during the Army-Navy Game of 1963.
MacPhail is known for hiring famous broadcasting talent. He introduced a number of sportscasters nationally, including Chris Schenkel, Jim McKay, Dan Patrick, Phil Griffin and Keith Olbermann.[3][4] He hired former New York Giants kicker Pat Summerall as a sportscaster at CBS.[3] He also hired Frank Gifford,[1] Jack Buck, and golf producer Frank Chirkinian.
MacPhail is recognized for helping CBS Sports acquire the television rights to numerous sporting events, including the 1960 Winter & Summer Olympics in Squaw Valley, United States and Rome, Italy respectively, the NBA, the Masters Tournament (CBS still holds the television rights to this day), and Major League Baseball.
At one point, during the 1960s and '70s, CBS Sports, under MacPhail, owned the rights to all major sports events—pro football, basketball, the Triple Crown, the Masters tournament and other major golf events, except Major League Baseball. MacPhail attempted to acquire the baseball rights, then owned by NBC, from Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Kuhn seemed very interested, but the higher up at CBS declined—they did not want to start bidding wars for sports rights. When Roone Arledge was appointed head of ABC Sports, he thought differently and thus the bidding wars began.
While head of CNN Sports, MacPhail acquired news rights from Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA and other sporting events so that CNN might carry TV clips of all major sporting events. He also mentored former CNN Worldwide President Jim Walton (journalist).[5] At CNN, MacPhail hired sports anchors Nick Charles, Bob Kurtz, Fred Hickman, Jim Huber, Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann, Hannah Storm, Dan Hicks, and Daryn Kagan, among others.
Awards
[edit]In 1989, MacPhail was the first recipient of Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.[6] The annual award recognizes "long-time exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football."
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Sandomir, Richard (1996-09-05). "Bill MacPhail, 76, Pioneer In Development of TV Sports". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
- ^ "The New York Yankees Team Photo Collection". www.baseball-fever.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
- ^ a b "MacPhail leaves mark before leaving CBS, CNN". The Baltimore Sun. 1995-06-07. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
- ^ "Q&A with UD grad, sportscaster Dan Patrick". www.daytondailynews.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
- ^ "CNN chief: More news to more people on more platforms". www.usatoday.com. 2006-05-21. Retrieved 2006-05-21.
- ^ "Irv Cross named Rozelle Award winner". www.profootballhof.com. Retrieved 2009-07-07.