Gene Osborn

Gene Osborn (born August 10, 1922, Davenport, Iowa; died November 27, 1975) was a radio and television broadcaster in the 1960s and 1970s, known primarily as a color commentator for several major league baseball teams.

Osborn, the son of James and Elizabeth Osborn, was raised in Davenport, Iowa, where he played baseball and other sports. He attended St. Ambrose University. His playing days were cut short when he suffered a bout of tuberculosis in his late teens. After broadcasting games for the minor league West Texas-New Mexico Dukes, he was hired as a radio announcer for the Detroit Tigers in 1965, working with legendary announcer Ernie Harwell. Osborn was fired after the 1966 season and replaced by Ray Lane. He later worked with Bob Prince on the KDKA broadcasts of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1970 season. In 1973, he worked with Harry Caray, broadcasting the games of the Chicago White Sox over WMAQ. In 1974, Osborn became the sports director of TV station KMBA in Kansas City, where he covered the NHL Kansas City Scouts as well as handling telecasts of the Kansas City Royals in 1975. Osborn died of a kidney disorder on November 27, 1975 at age 53.