Dick Enberg, the Hall of Fame broadcaster whose “Oh my!” calls rang familiar with so many sports fans, has died, his wife and daughter confirmed Thursday night.
He was 82.
Enberg’s daughter, Nicole, said the family became concerned when he didn’t arrive on his flight to Boston on Thursday, and that he was found dead at his home in La Jolla, a San Diego neighborhood, with his bags packed. The family said it was awaiting official word on the cause of death, but believed he had a heart attack.
Enberg was one of America’s most beloved sports broadcasters, with his versatile voice spanning the world on networks like NBC, CBS and ESPN. In all, he covered 28 Wimbledons, 10 Super Bowls and eight NCAA men’s basketball title games, including the Houston-UCLA “Game of the Century” in 1968 and the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird showdown in 1979.
His work was celebrated in a host of honors, including the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award (2015), the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Rozelle Award (1999) and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Gowdy Award (1995).
Most recently, Enberg had served as the primary play-by-play television voice of the San Diego Padres, retiring in 2016 after seven seasons with the team.
“Baseball,” he said then, “has been in my DNA from the time I was in diapers.”
Born and raised in Michigan, Enberg graduated from Central Michigan University, where he began his broadcasting career as an undergraduate. He later moved to California, doing TV work for the UCLA Bruins and radio work for the California Angels and Los Angeles Rams.
In 1975, Enberg joined NBC Sports and remained with the network for 25 years, covering the World Series, NFL games and Wimbledon, among other sports and marquee events.
He went on to do work for CBS Sports and ESPN, with his voice commonly associated with the NFL and college basketball games, as well as the all-grass tennis tournament in England.
An Enberg interview was published Thursday as part of his “Sound of Success” podcast. His guest was veteran TV producer and executive Andy Friendly. At one point in the extensive interview, Friendly pauses to share his admiration for the legendary Enberg.
“I’m especially honored to be talking to you,” he said. “I mean — ‘Oh my!’ I grew up watching you do the NFL, especially Wimbledon, I was a tennis player growing up. … I’m a golfer, a bad one now. … And I just watched you religiously. …
“This is a true honor, and I can’t wait to read your book on Ted Williams, who is a true hero of mine.
“You are one of my true heroes and one of the true greats of our business, Dick. It’s a real honor, and I’m not just blowing smoke, and I know your listeners know this already. I am talking to broadcast royalty today, and I am thrilled to be doing it.”
Enberg is the only person to win Emmy Awards as a sportscaster, a writer and a producer.
His death comes just weeks shy of his 83rd birthday, which would have been on Jan. 9.