{{Short description|American sportscaster}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Al Meltzer | image = | birth_name = | birth_date = June 26, 1928 | other_names = Big Al | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and given age|2018|6|12|89}} | death_place = | known_for = | years_active = 1940s–2003 | employer = | alma_mater = | occupation = Sportscaster | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 }} '''Al Meltzer''' (June 26, 1928{{spaced ndash}}June 12, 2018), nicknamed "'''Big Al'''", was an American sportscaster.
Born in Syracuse, New York,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fitzpatrick |first1=Frank |title=Longtime Philadelphia sports broadcaster Al Meltzer dies |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/mc-spt-al-meltzer-dies-20180614-story.html |accessdate=17 June 2018 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=14 June 2018}}</ref> Meltzer worked for Channel 10 and Channel 3 in Philadelphia, and Comcast SportsNet (as sports director). He also worked for WPHL-17 where he called play-by-play of Big 5 and 76ers basketball. He has also covered the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, and Temple Owls.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/big-al-receives-emmy-96607524.html|title="Big Al" Meltzer Scores Big Honor|work=NBC 10 Philadelphia|accessdate=19 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/Emmy_honoree_Big_Al_Meltzer_stricken.html|title=Emmy honoree|date=26 September 2010|work=Philly.com|accessdate=19 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/1998-09-25/sports/25755920_1_al-meltzer-philadelphia-sports-big-al|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721210203/http://articles.philly.com/1998-09-25/sports/25755920_1_al-meltzer-philadelphia-sports-big-al|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2015|title=After 32 Years, Bye To 'Big Al'|work=philly-archives|accessdate=19 July 2015}}</ref> Previously, he worked in Buffalo, New York at WEBR.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/bp2/almeltzer.html|title=The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia|author=me|work=broadcastpioneers.com|accessdate=19 July 2015}}</ref> He is a member of the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Big 5 Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame and Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2011/12/20/sports/doc4ecb9dbd9cd5d838860239.txt|title='Big Al' Meltzer reflects on a half-century of sports broadcasting (with video)|work=Mainline Media News|accessdate=19 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20111016/big-al-meltzer-tell-all-hits-bookstores-this-month|title='Big Al' Meltzer tell-all hits bookstores this month|work=delcotimes.com|accessdate=19 July 2015}}</ref> During the 1970s, Meltzer, while still living in Philadelphia, commuted to Buffalo to serve as the Buffalo Bills Radio Network play-by-play announcer, serving on a team with Rick Azar and Ed Rutkowski.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sjmagazine.net/cover-feature/romeos|title=SJ Magazine: ROMEOs|date=July 2014}}</ref> He died at the age of 89 on June 12, 2018.<ref>[https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/nbc-sports-philadelphia/philadelphia-sports-broadcasting-icon-al-meltzer-dies-89 Philadelphia sports broadcasting icon Al Meltzer dies at 89] NBC Sports Philadelphia, June 14, 2018</ref>
Meltzer occasionally did voice-over work for NFL Films and was a substitute host for NFL Films' weekly wrapup, ''This Week in Pro Football ''(''This Week in the NFL ''starting in 1974).
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Meltzer, Al}} Category:1928 births Category:2018 deaths Category:People from Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania Category:Television personalities from Syracuse, New York Category:St. Lawrence University alumni Category:American Jews Category:American television sports commentators Category:American radio sports commentators Category:Buffalo Bills announcers Category:College football announcers Category:College basketball announcers in the United States Category:Major League Baseball broadcasters Category:NBA broadcasters Category:Philadelphia 76ers announcers Category:Philadelphia Phillies announcers Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) commentators
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