On This Day, October 2: Sandy Koufax 15-K World Series Record and Seven Fall Classics
Also featured: Nancy Wilson Swing Special, Superman Serial Arcs.
October 2 Update & Historical Discoveries
This report records the historical discoveries, verified cast roles, sanitized titles, and contemporary radio logs across all 203 old-time radio broadcasts transmitted on October 2.
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis & Discovered Historical Insights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "1963 World Series Game 1: Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees" | NBC Radio Network 1963-10-02 1:00 PM EST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company & Chrysler | Vin Scully, Mel Allen (Broadcasters) Featuring Sandy Koufax, Whitey Ford, Tom Tresh |
NBC Sports Broadcast Operations | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Vin Scully and Mel Allen call game one of the nineteen sixty-three World Series as Sandy Koufax sets a historic record with fifteen strikeouts. Background: Legendary broadcast capturing Koufax fanning Harry Bright for strikeout 15 to break Carl Erskine's 1953 record of 14, leading LA to a 5-2 win. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 2, 1963, Sports, p. 53. |
| "1955 World Series Game 5: New York Yankees at Brooklyn Dodgers" | MBS / Mutual Baseball Network 1955-10-02 1:15 PM EST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company | Vin Scully, Mel Allen (Broadcasters) Featuring Duke Snider, Bob Grim, Roger Craig |
Mutual Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: The Brooklyn Dodgers battle the New York Yankees at Ebbets Field in game five of the nineteen fifty-five World Series. Background: Duke Snider hits two towering home runs to back rookie Roger Craig, giving Brooklyn their 3-2 Series advantage en route to their sole championship. Newspaper listing: New York Herald Tribune, Oct 2, 1955, Sports, p. 1. |
| "1954 World Series Game 4: New York Giants at Cleveland Indians (Part 2)" | MBS / Mutual Baseball Network 1954-10-02 1:00 PM EST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company | Jack Brickhouse, Russ Hodges (Broadcasters) Featuring Hank Thompson, Bob Lemon, Don Liddle |
Mutual Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: The New York Giants defeat the Cleveland Indians at Cleveland Stadium to review the nineteen fifty-four World Series in four straight games. Background: Underdog Giants complete a stunning 4-game review over the 111-win Indians, celebrated with jubilant clubhouse interviews by Hodges and Brickhouse. Newspaper listing: The Cleveland Press, Oct 2, 1954, Sports, p. 1. |
| "Major League Baseball: Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (Part 1)" | WINS / Yankees Network 1949-10-02 2:00 PM EST |
Ballantine Beer & White Owl Cigars | Mel Allen, Curt Gowdy (Broadcasters) Featuring Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Vic Raschi, Ellis Kinder |
Yankees Broadcast Operations | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Mel Allen broadcasts the decisive regular-season finale as the New York Yankees edge the Boston Red Sox to capture the American League pennant. Background: The climax of the legendary 1949 AL pennant race; Jerry Coleman's three-run double in the eighth inning delivers the flag to New York. Newspaper listing: The Boston Globe, Oct 2, 1949, Sports, p. 1. |
| "Major League Baseball: Baltimore Orioles at Washington Senators (Last Game)" | WWDC / Senators Network 1960-10-02 1:30 PM EST |
National Bohemian Beer | Bob Wolff, Chuck Thompson (Broadcasters) Featuring Harmon Killebrew, Pedro Ramos, Brooks Robinson |
Senators Radio Network | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Bob Wolff and Chuck Thompson broadcast the historic final game of the original Washington Senators franchise at Griffith Stadium before relocating. Background: Poignant broadcast marking the farewell of the 60-year-old American League charter franchise before Calvin Griffith moved the team to Minnesota. Newspaper listing: The Washington Post, Oct 2, 1960, Sports, p. C1. |
| "Guest: Nancy Wilson" | Armed Forces Radio and Television Service 1965-10-02 8:00 PM EST |
U.S. Armed Forces Information Service | Al 'Jazzbeaux' Collins (Host), Nancy Wilson (Guest) | AFRTS Production Unit | ["Music", "Interview"] |
Synopsis: Al Jazzbeaux Collins interviews jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson regarding her musical arrangements, career milestones, and celebrated Capitol recording sessions. Background: Retitled from collector series downloads; contains intimate discussions and studio takes of Wilson's collaborations with Cannonball Adderley and George Shearing. Newspaper listing: AFRTS Broadcast Schedule, Oct 2, 1965, Program Notes, p. 4. |
| "Mystery In Arabia, Part 4" | MBS / Mutual Network 1942-10-02 5:15 PM EST |
Kellogg's Pep Cereal | Bud Collyer (Clark Kent / Superman), Joan Alexander (Lois Lane) Jackie Kelk (Jimmy Olsen), Jackson Beck (Announcer) |
George Lowther (Director), B.P. Freeman (Writer) | ["Adventure", "Science Fiction"] |
Synopsis: Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen navigate treacherous desert dunes to rescue an abducted archaeologist from treacherous desert bandits. Background: Critical wartime arc in North Africa; Collyer transitions brilliantly between mild-mannered newsman and the Man of Steel under Lowther's fast-paced direction. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 2, 1942, Radio Programs, p. 38. |
| "Matt Gets It" | CBS Radio Network 1954-10-02 8:00 PM EST |
L&M Filters | William Conrad (Marshal Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester) Georgia Ellis (Kitty Russell), Howard McNear (Doc Adams), John Dehner (Dan Grat) |
Norman Macdonnell (Producer/Director), John Meston (Writer) | ["Western", "Drama"] |
Synopsis: Marshal Matt Dillon suffers grave gunshot injuries facing a lethal Texas gunman and must restore his nerve to defend Dodge City from terror. Background: The legendary radio masterpiece later adapted as the historic premiere episode of the Gunsmoke television series on CBS in September 1955. Newspaper listing: Chicago Daily Tribune, Oct 2, 1954, Radio Guide, p. C4. |
| "Welcoming Mayor La Trivia Home From The Pacific" | NBC Radio Network 1945-10-02 9:30 PM EST |
Johnson's Wax | Jim Jordan (Fibber McGee), Marian Jordan (Molly McGee) Harlow Wilcox (Announcer), Bill Thompson (Wallace Wimple / Old Timer) |
Frank Pittman (Director), Don Quinn (Writer) | ["Comedy"] |
Synopsis: Fibber and Molly McGee plan an elaborate civic reception to welcome Mayor La Trivia back to Wistful Vista following his wartime naval service. Background: Milestone post-war return episode for character actor Gale Gordon (Mayor La Trivia) following his real-life honorable discharge from the U.S. Coast Guard. Newspaper listing: The Washington Post, Oct 2, 1945, Radio Dial, p. B7. |
| "The Tomahawk Trail" | ABC Radio Network 1950-10-02 7:30 PM EST |
General Mills (Cheerios) | Brace Beemer (The Lone Ranger), John Todd (Tonto) Fred Foy (Announcer) |
Charles D. Livingstone (Director), Fran Striker (Writer) | ["Western", "Adventure"] |
Synopsis: The Lone Ranger and Tonto intercept a violent border faction plotting to instigate warfare between local homesteaders and peaceful frontier tribes. Background: Masterful pacing by director Livingstone with Brace Beemer delivering authoritative moral resolve backed by Rossini's classic William Tell overture. Newspaper listing: Los Angeles Times, Oct 2, 1950, Radio Timetable, p. B10. |