Arch McDonald

American radio broadcaster, sportscaster

Arch Linn McDonald Sr. (May 23, 1901 – October 16, 1960) was an American radio sportscaster who served as the play by play voice of Major League Baseball's Washington Senators from 1934 to 1956, with the exception of 1939, when he broadcast the New York Yankees and New York Giants.

McDonald was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee.—a remarkable achievement, considering that the Lookouts were a Class A team. Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith jumped McDonald straight to broadcasting for the major league team in 1934, and he immediately became a hit. McDonald was one of the first to use "ducks on the pond" as a term for players on base, McDonald was best known, however, for his studio re creations of road games, In June that year, he helped broadcast activities at the opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, for CBS. However, his homespun style didn't play well in New York, and he was back in Washington for the 1940 season. For the most part, McDonald called losing baseball; the Senators only finished higher than fifth four times during his tenure. Despite the team's losing efforts, McDonald was again named outstanding baseball broadcaster in 1942 and 1945. but remained behind the microphone for the Redskins.

McDonald was the Democratic candidate for Maryland's 6th congressional district in the 1946 House of Representatives election, He was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland. In 1999, McDonald was posthumously honored with the Ford C. Frick Award, given annually to one baseball broadcaster.