Clem McCarthy

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Clem McCarthy (1882 - June 4, 1962) was a famous American sportscaster. He specialized in horse races and boxing matches from the late 1920s to the early 1950s, primarily for NBC. He was also one of the lead voice over narrators for Pathe News RKO newsreels.

McCarthy was known for his gravelly voice and dramatic style -- almost a "whiskey tenor," according to radio executive and former sportscaster David J. Halberstam. Some examples:

Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling rematch: "Schmeling is down! ... Schmeling is beaten in one round!"
Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral match race: "Seabiscuit by three! Seabiscuit by three! Seabiscuit is the winner!"

As part of McCarthy's sportscasting accmplishments, he is considered one of the greats of the race-calling field, along with Ted Husing, Chic Anderson and Dave Johnson. He was the first public-address announcer at a major US racetrack, Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois, in 1927.

McCarthy was also known for mis-calling the 1947 Preakness, when a crowd that was standing on a platform blocked his view of the far turn, just at the moment when two horses with similar silks switched places. His immediate apology and self-deprecation helped to smooth over that widely-heard mistake.

His well-known voice was mimicked by Doodles Weaver in the William Tell Overture (Spike Jones version).