Dave Brandt (sportscaster)

David Leroy "Dave" Brandt Jr. (February 8, 1919 – June 10, 2007) was an American sportscaster in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He worked for WGAL radio and later WGAL-TV, where he presented sports segments including the 15-minute Brandt on Baseball. According to WGAL, he delivered the station’s first televised sports broadcast in 1949 and had an on-air career of 45 years.[1]

Early life

Brandt was born in Marietta, Pennsylvania. He attended Elizabethtown College and began working at WGAL radio in 1937 while a sophomore, according to the Lancaster County Sports Hall of Fame.[2][3] He served in the United States Army during World War II and returned to broadcasting after his discharge in 1945.[3]

Career

WGAL credits Brandt as one of the first at the station to take sports coverage from radio to television and says he gave the station’s first televised sports segment, Brandt on Baseball, in 1949.[1] After his Army service, he rejoined WGAL radio as a staff announcer and sports director and later moved to WGAL-TV in 1949.[3] He hosted Brandt on Baseball and the game show Stump Your Neighbor, and he interviewed sports figures including Barney Ewell, Nellie Fox, Yogi Berra, Althea Gibson, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Julius Erving; his last interview was with Moses Malone.[2]

Archival WGAL footage shows Brandt reporting from the York Fair in 1953.[4]

Brandt retired from WGAL in 1982 after 45 years in sports broadcasting and 33 years spent at WGAL.[2][5][6]

Awards

In 1975, Brandt was inducted into the Susquehanna Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.[2] In 1976, he received the George W. Kirchner Memorial Award from the Lancaster County Sports Hall of Fame;[3] in 1997, he received the J. Freeland Chryst Award.[2] In December 2016, WGAL posthumously inducted him into its Hall of Fame.[7][8]

Personal life

Brandt married Phyllis Yeagley in 1951, and they settled in Lancaster. The couple had two daughters, Sally Marie and Ann E.; Sally died in 1972. They also had a grandson named Kerry and a great-grandson named Skyler.[9][10]

Death

Brandt died of natural causes on June 10, 2007, at the age of 88.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ a b "WGAL 70th anniversary countdown: Moments 61–70". WGAL. Hearst Television. March 13, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Dave Brandt (Chryst Award)". Lancaster County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Dave Brandt (Kirchner Award)". Lancaster County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  4. ^ "Archival film: Travel back to the York Fair midway in 1953". WGAL. July 22, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  5. ^ Clinton, Roger (September 30, 1982). "Dave Brandt, Voice Of Sports, Retires". Intelligencer Journal – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Snyder, Steve (October 31, 1982). "Friends Salute WGAL's Dave Brandt". Sunday Pennsylvanian. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. p. B1 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Lemon, Kim (December 16, 2016). "'WGAL Hall of Fame' unveiled, honors founders of the station". WGAL. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  8. ^ "Dick Hoxworth inducted into 'WGAL Hall of Fame'". WGAL. December 17, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  9. ^ "Sports is Brandt's Forte". Sunday News. August 31, 1958.
  10. ^ "David Brandt Jr., 88, sports broadcaster". The Ephrata Review. June 20, 2007 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Dave Brandt: WGAL sports pioneer passes away at 88". LancasterOnline. June 13, 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  12. ^ Hersh, Jim (June 17, 2007). "So long to a voice of local sports". LancasterOnline. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
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