On This Day, August 25: Vin Scully (Polo Grounds & Shea Stadium) and Phil Rizzuto
Also featured: Mindwebs (J.G. Ballard).
August 25 Exhaustive Update
This report documents the comprehensive provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serial multi-part narrative arcs, and story synopses for historical broadcasts transmitting on August 25 across American network, legendary live Major League Baseball broadcasts by Hall of Fame announcers Vin Scully and Phil Rizzuto, haunting speculative science fiction by J.G. Ballard on Mindwebs, pioneer westerns, and cowboy harmonies (1939–1978):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Love Will Find a Way (The Old Ranger — 20 Mule Team Borax)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1939-08-25 8:30 PM EDST |
Pacific Coast Borax 20 Mule Team & Boraxo |
Tim Frawley (The Old Ranger), John MacBryde | Ruth Cornwall Woodman, George Hicks | ["Western", "Historical", "Frontier", "Drama", "Americana"] |
"Death Valley Days, true stories of the pioneer West, presented by 20 Mule Team Borax!" The Old Ranger tells the pioneer tale of a young California miner who constructs a cable ferry across an impassable river gorge to court a rival's daughter. |
| "I've Got Music (Martha Mears & The Sons of the Pioneers — Dr. Pepper)" | Dr. Pepper Synd. 1945-08-25 (WBAP/WFAA) |
Dr. Pepper Co. Dr. Pepper — "Drink a Bite" |
Martha Mears, Sons of the Pioneers | Tracy-Locke Agency, Bill Ring | ["Country", "Western", "Music", "Vocal", "Harmony"] |
"Welcome to the 10-2-4 Ranch, brought to you by Dr. Pepper!" Songstress Martha Mears joins Western vocal legends The Sons of the Pioneers for cowboy harmonies and fiddle tunes including 'I've Got Music', 'Cool Water', and 'Tumbling Tumbleweeds'. |
| "The Garden of Time by J.G. Ballard (Michael Hanson — Mindwebs)" | WHA Madison 1978-08-25 10:30 PM CDT |
Sustaining Speculative Fiction |
Michael Hanson (Host / Audio Designer) | J.G. Ballard (Author), WHA Radio | ["Science Fiction", "Speculative Fiction", "Drama", "Psychological", "Short Story"] |
"Mindwebs... weaves of the mind into new dimensions." Michael Hanson narrates J.G. Ballard's haunting speculative masterwork The Garden of Time, where Count Axel plucks crystal time-flowers to turn back an advancing barbarian army. |
| "Live from the Polo Grounds: Dodgers at Mets (Vin Scully — Union Oil)" | KFI Los Angeles 1962-08-25 2:00 PM EDT |
Union Oil Co. 76 Gasoline & Tareyton |
Vin Scully (Play-by-Play), Jerry Doggett | Dodgers Radio Network, Casey Stengel | ["Sports", "Baseball", "Live", "Play-by-Play", "Historical"] |
"Pull up a chair and spend part of each day with us..." Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully calls live action from the historic Polo Grounds in New York as Walter Alston's Los Angeles Dodgers battle Casey Stengel's expansion New York Mets. |
| "Live from Shea Stadium: Dodgers at Mets (Vin Scully — Union Oil)" | KFI Los Angeles 1965-08-25 8:00 PM EDT |
Union Oil Co. 76 Gasoline & Security 1st |
Vin Scully (Play-by-Play), Sandy Koufax | Dodgers Radio Network, Don Drysdale | ["Sports", "Baseball", "Live", "Play-by-Play", "Historical"] |
Vin Scully broadcasts live under the lights at brand-new Shea Stadium as Sandy Koufax and the pennant-bound 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers duel the New York Mets in a tense late-season National League clash. |
| "Live from Tiger Stadium: Yankees at Tigers (Phil Rizzuto — Ballantine Beer)" | WPIX New York 1968-08-25 1:30 PM EDT |
P. Ballantine & Sons Ballantine Beer & Winston |
Phil Rizzuto (Play-by-Play), Mickey Mantle | Frank Messer, Denny McLain | ["Sports", "Baseball", "Live", "Play-by-Play", "Historical"] |
"Holy cow! It's Yankees baseball from Tiger Stadium in Detroit!" Phil Rizzuto and Frank Messer call the game as Mickey Mantle and the New York Yankees take on 31-game winning ace Denny McLain and the World Champion Detroit Tigers. |