STL All Sports

It was May 30th, a hot sunny day. The great stadium was jammed to the distant fences with shirt-sleeved fans who waited patiently for the big fight to begin. In the center of the ring stood the immaculately- garbed announcer, his gleaming white jacket setting off his neatly pressed dark trousers and his sleek well-groomed hair. Suddenly an invisible band swung into the stirring strains of the national anthem. The crowd rose solemnly and listened to the song that means so much on this day of sad remembrance of our war dead. Then, in dead silence, they sat down. The announcer in the ring reached for his microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen!" he cried, and his melodious voice carried to the farthest reaches of the great arena. "Before we commence the business of the afternoon, let me wish you all a happy Memorial Day!"

That was Harry Balogh, announcer extraordinary, the man with more words than the dictionary because he made up a lot of them himself. Who had ever heard Harry Balogh's last words to a pair of fighters in the ring and not been touched to the very core of his being by them? They will ring forever from the rafters of Madison Square Garden, no matter where Harry Balogh goes. "And may the better adversary emerge triumphant from this combat!" Stirring words! Or, "May the arm of the better participant be elevated in token of victory!"

A fighter who had earned Harry's admiration because he had always met all challengers was likely to be introduced by him as follows: "Introducing a man who bars, and never has barred, anyone regardless of race, creed or color." Or if it happened to be a fighter worthy of the highest praise, Harry may have presented him as he once did Gus Lesnevich: "Introducing Les Gusnevich who, like good wine, goes on for ever!',

Once he introduced that great favorite of fight fans, Barney Ross, as a "former" native of New York. It is to be doubted that Barney, who had been born in New York, had moved his birthplace elsewhere.

On the night of a certain important fight, an emergency telephone call to the arena was relayed immediately to Harry Balogh in the ring. Harry raised his arm for silence. The crowd, though impatient for the big fight to begin, became still. Harry waited and the suspense became unbearable. At last he deigned to speak.

"Is Joe Smith of New Rochelle in the crowd? Joe, I regret that I am obliged to inform you that we have just received word that your dear mother suffered a serious stroke within the past hour. Our deepest sympathy goes out to you, Joe. Be a good boy, a fine son, and a real sport. Go out and call her right up. Then come back and enjoy the fight!"

A reporter, deeply affected by one of Harry's most stirring elocutionary exhortations, made by the announcer on the spur of the moment, leaned forward into the ring and addressed the wordy windbag. "Harry," he asked, "did you really extemporize that speech?"

"Hell, no," answered Balogh, "I made it up as I went along."

Early in his career, Harry was announcing in a small club. In the far distant fifty-cent seats a pesky fan kept howling all evening, "I want blood! Give me blood!" At last, Harry stepped out and raised his hand. "Quiet, please!" he shouted. "There will be no transfusions given for fifty cent s!"

Harry often functioned in his wonted capacity at charity affairs for which he refused to accept a cent of payment. It was on one such oc casion that he made his most priceless contribution to the art of garbled speech. The affair was being run for a very worthy charity but, oddly enough, the fight had attracted a most plebeian crowd of roughnecks. Harry spieled the mob for twenty eloquence-drenched minutes with the most soul-lifting appeal for contributions ever heard anywhere. At its close, he waved his arm to indicate the group of pretty young debutantes who stood waiting for his signal to go out and collect the offerings from the crowd.

"There they are!" shouted Harry in his most persuasive tones. "Get yourselves ready, gentlemen! These lovely young society maidens with their little' cans' are about to pass among you. Please -please take good care of them! "