Gabby Bell
George Andrew "Gabby" Bell (born 1926 in Paducah, Kentucky; died December 9, 2011 in Jupiter, Florida) was the play-by-play announcer for the Birmingham Barons from 1948 to the late 1950s. He helped develop a 38-station radio network which broadcast Barons games in four states.
Bell began his career as a sports announcer in the 1940s in Kentucky before entering the army during World War II. Following his discharge in 1945, he moved to Tuscaloosa to broadcast Alabama Crimson Tide football games, and to serve as the university's first basketball announcer.
Bell began calling Barons games during the 1948 season and remained for nearly a decade, including some of the Barons best outings in the Southern Association.
In 1960 Bell returned to Kentucky, calling Louisville Cardinals basketball games and Paducah Tilghman Tornadoes baseball. He hosted a weekly "All Star Wrestling Show" syndicated on television in 13 states. He later moved to South Florida where he continued to provide sports commentary on radio and television.
Bell died in 2011. He was survived by his wife, Mary, three children; Georgia, Brenda and Doug; 12 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.
He was inducted into the Birmingham Barons Hall of Fame during the 2014 Rickwood Classic.
References
- "George Bell" obituary (December 14, 2011) The Palm Beach Post
- "Barons Induct Quartet Into Hall of Fame" (June 18, 2014) press release - accessed June 18, 2014