Balter, Sam

A member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Helms Hall of Fame, Balter became a sportscaster after winning a gold medal as a member of the U.S. basketball team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He broadcast the first coast-to-coast radio sports commentary in 1938, on Mutual Network. A seven-time selection as the outstanding sportscaster of Southern California, Balter appeared in 46 movies as a sportscaster or newsman.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. Oct. 15, 1909 - d. Aug. 10, 1998

Career Highlights:
Before becoming a famous sportscaster, Balter was a star player at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) in the late 1920s. After a 12-4 record in 1927, the Bruins had a record of 10-5 the following year. In 1929, Balter was named All-America, and was captain of the Bruin basketball team that had a record of 7-8. After graduating, Sam continued to play competitively and was a starting member of the national champion Universal Pictures AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team in the mid-1930s. Balter was selected to represent the United States at the 1936 Olympics, the first time basketball was an Olympic sport (the gold medal game was played outside in the rain). Sam averaged 8.5 points for the U.S. (the fourth highest average on the team) as the American squad captured the gold medal.

After returning from the Olympic Games, Balter became a radio announcer in 1937, then sports director of KLAC radio in Los Angeles in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Sam was also a television play-by-play announcer for the Hollywood Stars and Los Angeles Angels of the old Pacific Coast League. From 1945-1952, Balter was UCLA's football and basketball radio voice; he also did play-by-play for the Cincinnati Reds in 1942. Sam was a charter member of the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association, and was elected to the SCSBA Hall of Fame. Balter is also a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame (as a sportscaster), the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Hall of Fame, the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame, and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Origin:
Detroit, Michigan

Career Dates:
Balter played at UCLA, 1927-1929.

Physical description:
5'9 1/2", 175 pounds

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