AFRS Sportsreel
For troops stationed overseas during World War II, time off often meant gathering for a "Bull Session" — swapping tall tales about home, girls, and, most of all, sports. The Armed Forces Radio Service delivered a perfect companion to those sessions with AFRS Sportsreel, a series that brought some of the most colorful sports stories ever broadcast. Hosted by the legendary Bill Stern alongside fellow sportscasters Bill Brandt, Bob Kelley, and Bill Stewart, this collection of 14 recordings (totaling over 3 hours) serves up tales that are as entertaining as they are, well, creatively embellished. Stern, who began calling football play-by-play in 1925 and later hosted The Colgate Sports Newsreel, developed a storytelling style that would influence even Paul Harvey — but Stern always prioritized a good yarn over strict accuracy.
Collection Highlights
- Hear Bill Stern’s trademark blend of drama and flair in stories about tennis legend Tommy Hitchcock, Theodore Roosevelt, and the beloved Connie Mack — all delivered with the verve that made Stern a household name.
- Enjoy contributions from other notable voices of the era: Bill Stewart recounts Johnny Vander Meer’s back-to-back no-hitters, Bill Brandt shares a touching father-son tale, and Jimmy Young spins a yarn about Yale’s Albie Booth.
- Delight in unexpected episodes that cross into popular culture, including a visit with Lucille Ball and a whimsical take on "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" — proof that AFRS Sportsreel knew how to keep its audience guessing.
- Perfect for collectors of vintage radio and sports history, these broadcasts capture the spirit of the "Bull Session" — where a great story never let the truth get in the way.
Track Listing
Show all 14 tracks (3 hours, 28 min)
- Afrs Sports 460000 028 Arkansas Agricultral College
- Afrs Sports 460000 033 Take Me Out To Ball Game
- Afrs Sports 460000 034 Lucille Ball
- Afrs Sports 460000 063 Bill Stern Legend Tommy Hitchcock
- Afrs Sports 460000 064 Bill Stern Yarns About Tennis
- Afrs Sports 460000 067 Bill Stern And Gertie
- Afrs Sports 460000 068 Bill Stern Story Sports Rivalry
- Afrs Sports 460000 069 Bill Stewart Johnny Der Meer
- Afrs Sports 460000 070 Bill Brandt Ed Mc Ginley And Son
- Afrs Sports 460000 071 Bill Stern Connie Mack Started Career
- Afrs Sports 460000 072 Jimmy Young Story About Albie Booth
- Afrs Sports 460000 101 Bill Stern StoryTeddy Roosevelt
- Afrs Sports 460000 102 Interviews Jack Cramer Bill Schroeder
- Afrs Sports Absent Batsman
