Dave Brandt

Headshot Dave Brandt
1997
J. Freeland Chryst Award

Dave Brandt began his broadcasting career in June 1937 at what was then WGAL radio (now WLPA) while a sophomore at Elizabethtown College. He broadcast all local sports: baseball at Stump Field; F&M football, baseball and wrestling; and pro wrestling at Maple Grove Arena.

He was privileged to interview many local and famous sports figures, including Barney Ewell, Nellie Fox, Yogi Berra, Julius Erving, Althea Gibson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. His last interview was with Philadelphia 76ers’ Moses Malone. In 1975, Dave was inducted into the Susquehanna Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. The following year, the Lancaster Sportswriters and Sportscasters presented him with the George W. Kirchner Memorial Award for his lifetime contributions to sports. He retired in 1982 after 45 years of broadcasting.

Dave loved baseball as a player, manager and coach. In his youth, he played second base for the Marietta Red Wings. He founded the Red Rose Softball League in 1964. He managed his own team, the Channel 8 Cardinals, for eight years. He also served as an assistant coach of the Hershey Equipment team in the Lancaster Rec Softball League.

Dave was a member of the Hershey Hockey Writer's Association and the Lancaster Sportswriters and Broadcaster's Association

Dave Brandt's Kirchner Award bio