Bay Area broadcast legend Bill King dies
Chronicle Staff
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Bill King, longtime Bay Area sportscaster who was the radio voice of the Oakland A's since 1981, died Monday night.
King died after complications from surgery.
Known for his trademark beard, his call of "Holy Toledo," and his colorful lifestyle, King was behind the mike for some of the most memorable moments in Bay Area sports history.
He was the voice of the Warriors from the time they moved to San Francisco in 1962 until 1983. That tenure included the team's only NBA championship in 1975.
In 1966 he began broadcasting Raiders games and stayed with that franchise through the move Los Angeles in 1982 and the return in 1995. He gave up the Raiders job in 1996 to concentrate on baseball.
His call of the famous "Sea of Hands" pass from Ken Stabler to Clarence Davis in a 1974 playoff, is considered one of the greatest play-by-play accounts ever.
He also was at the mike for the "Heidi Game," against the Jets, the "Immaculate Reception" by Franco Harris in Pittsburgh and the "Holy Roller" against the Chargers, three memorable moments in Raiders history.
With the A's he teamed first with Hall of Famer Lon Simmons and then Ken Korach. He broadcast the three straight World Series appearances (1988-90) as well as Rickey Henderson's steal of third to set the all-time stolen base record.
King, who broadcast college games in the Midwest following World War II, came to the Bay Area in 1958. He did some broadcasting for the Giants, joining Simmons and Russ Hodges in the booth, as well play-by-play for Cal football and basketball before joining the Warriors.
Plans for a memorial service are pending.
Chronicle Staff
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Bill King, longtime Bay Area sportscaster who was the radio voice of the Oakland A's since 1981, died Monday night.
King died after complications from surgery.
Known for his trademark beard, his call of "Holy Toledo," and his colorful lifestyle, King was behind the mike for some of the most memorable moments in Bay Area sports history.
He was the voice of the Warriors from the time they moved to San Francisco in 1962 until 1983. That tenure included the team's only NBA championship in 1975.
In 1966 he began broadcasting Raiders games and stayed with that franchise through the move Los Angeles in 1982 and the return in 1995. He gave up the Raiders job in 1996 to concentrate on baseball.
His call of the famous "Sea of Hands" pass from Ken Stabler to Clarence Davis in a 1974 playoff, is considered one of the greatest play-by-play accounts ever.
He also was at the mike for the "Heidi Game," against the Jets, the "Immaculate Reception" by Franco Harris in Pittsburgh and the "Holy Roller" against the Chargers, three memorable moments in Raiders history.
With the A's he teamed first with Hall of Famer Lon Simmons and then Ken Korach. He broadcast the three straight World Series appearances (1988-90) as well as Rickey Henderson's steal of third to set the all-time stolen base record.
King, who broadcast college games in the Midwest following World War II, came to the Bay Area in 1958. He did some broadcasting for the Giants, joining Simmons and Russ Hodges in the booth, as well play-by-play for Cal football and basketball before joining the Warriors.
Plans for a memorial service are pending.