Johnny Gilbert
Sports Challenge
Season 1
Sports Challenge was a sports-centered game show that aired in weekly syndication from 1971 to 1979, with a separate version that aired briefly on CBS weekends from May 20 to September 9, 1973. Dick Enberg was host. Johnny Gilbert, Art James, and John Harlan announced. The show was taped at the KTLA/Golden West studios in Los Angeles, with the exception of some shows taped at Metromedia Square. The show's theme throughout its run was an instrumental version of The Beatles' "Get Back" by Pat Williams, from his Verve Records album "Heavy Vibrations"; a different theme was briefly used for the 1977–1978 season, but the original theme replaced it for the show's final season.
Episode 30 min
None+
S1E1 - Brooklyn Dodgers vs. New York Yankees
The Yankees were notorious for belittling the Brooklyn Dodgers in October. This debut episode of Sports Challenge was no different. Brooklyn alumnus Don Drysdale brought the defeat crashing down when he blew a question about the Rams' defensive end Deacon Jones.
S1E2 - New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers had yet to win an NBA Championship at this time. But on Sports Challenge, they began a dynasty. In only the series' second show, the Purple and Gold began their streak of seven straight wins, which would be the Sports Challenge record until Joe McCarthy's Yankees came along in 1972.
S1E3 - Los Angeles Lakers vs. Champions of Boxing
S1E4 - Los Angeles Lakers vs. NFL's Greatest Runners
S1E5 - Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Francisco 49ers
S1E6 - Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cincinnati Reds
S1E7 - All-Time Great Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland Indians
Instead of Rose, Bench and Tolan, the birthplace of professional baseball sends three Cincinnati legends to defend the Reds' Sports Challenge crown. They walk all over the Cleveland Indians. No surprise there: Cleveland was in the midst of its four-decade-long misfortune.
S1E8 - All-Time Great Cincinnati Reds vs. NFL Quarterbacks
S1E9 - NFL Quarterbacks vs. Chicago Cubs
S1E10 - NFL Quarterbacks vs. California Angels
The California Angels make their first of many appearances on Sports Challenge. Immediately, the likes of Jim Fregosi and Andy Messerschmidt display the form that their successors would continue in later seasons.
S1E11 - California Angels vs. Boston Celtics
One of the other all-time Sports Challenge favorites, the Boston Celtics, appears for the first time. And yes, Red Auerbach is going to light his cigar. There would be more to come.
S1E12 - Boston Celtics vs. Washington Senators
During their dismal last season of existence, the Washington Senators (A.L.) baseball team makes its only Sports Challenge appearance. Most of the time, manager Ted Williams speaks for the team. That doesn't matter at all to the Celtics, who win their second straight.
S1E13 - Boston Celtics vs. Green Bay Packers
S1E14 - Boston Celtics vs. Washington Redskins
S1E15 - Boston Celtics vs. 1951 New York Baseball Giants
S1E16 - Boston Celtics vs. NFL Hall of Famers
S1E17 - NFL Hall of Famers vs. Baltimore Orioles
S1E18 - Detroit Tigers' Pitchers vs. NBA Hall of Famers
S1E19 - NBA Hall of Famers vs. N.Y. Yankees' World Series Heroes
S1E20 - NBA Hall of Famers vs. N.Y. Football Giants
S1E21 - N.Y. Football Giants vs. Chicago Blackhawks
S1E22 - N.Y. Football Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams
Episode Runtime: 30 min.
Season Runtime: 30 min.
Status: Returning Series
Certification: NR
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