Red Rush, a colorful, nostalgic broadcaster who did play-by-play for the Oakland A's and other Bay Area sports teams died last Sunday in Moraga, Calif. after a long bout with Alzheimer's disease. He was 81.
"Red", whose real name was Wresley, was an amusing fixture during his time with the A's, first for the Kansas City A's in 1965 and back in Oakland in 1971 and 1979-80. He was hired and fired three times by Athletics owner Charlie Finley.
In the Midwest, Rush broadcast baseball games for the Chicago White Sox (1967 to 1970) and St. Louis Cardinals (1984). He also had brief stints calling Northwestern football and DePaul basketball, but his tenure in the Bay Area put his broadcasting signiture on the map.
He had colorful, almost comical tag-lines, such as his folksy description to call basketball games. On free throws, he'd say, "He eyes it, tries it, buys it". On baskets, it was "swisheroo...and two for you". During memorable baseball games, he'd refer to the third baseman as "Gross at the 'hot corner".
All infinitely corny, and yes, a tad un-cool for a sophisticated Bay Area audience, but Mr. Rush built a loyal following and mixed down-home humor in his broadcasts. He was also very nice. A personal note: in 1980, fresh out of high school, I secured media credentials and was able to cover a few Athletics games at the Oakland Coliseum. The manager was the late, great Billy Martin.
One time on the field, both Mr. Rush and Martin told a few colorful stories and Red was seen smoking one of his trademark cigars. He offered some kind advice for this humble reporter, and made a point of always saying "be yourself", for better or worse.
Mr. Rush loved race tracks, card games, and coin tricks.
It's astounding that his death received sparse attention in Bay Area media outlets. Sad. So long, Mr. Rush. You'll be missed.
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