Warner Fusselle grew up in Gainesville where his late father, Dr. Warner Earle Fusselle, once pastored First Baptist Church on Green Street. (Photo courtesy the Brooklyn Cyclones)
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The son of a late Gainesville minister, who inherited his father's booming voice and used it to make a name for himself in the sports world, has died.
Warner Fusselle was the voice of the minor league Brooklyn Cyclones of the New York-Penn League and was a former voice of "This Week in Baseball," a weekly televised wrap-up of major league baseball.
Fusselle was the only person to call play-by-play action for the Cyclones, a team that was formed in 2001. According to a posting on the Cyclones' website, Fusselle, like Red Barber, Ernie Harwell, and Mel Allen, "brought a distinct southern style to New York baseball," and his "iconic voice became a fixture in the homes of fans throughout the Big Apple."
Fusselle died Sunday night from an apparent heart attack, just a week before what would have been his 12th Opening Day as the radio play-by-play voice of the Cyclones, and his 35th Opening Day in baseball. He was 68.
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Warner’s passing,” said Cyclones General Manager Steve Cohen. “There is no one who knew more – or cared more – about baseball in Brooklyn than Warner. His distinctive voice, knowledge and endless passion for the game enriched Brooklyn Cyclones baseball for our players, staff, and fans from day one and his presence will be sorely missed.”
He missed only a handful of games during his 11 years of calling games from the “Catbird Seat,” a phrase that Fusselle borrowed from his beloved Red Barber. In recent weeks, he also called televised St. John’s University baseball games, which aired on CBS Sports Network.
Fussell was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and was raised in Gainesville, where his father, the late Dr. Warner Earle Fusselle, once pastored First Baptist Church on Green Street.
In addition to voicing "This Week in Baseball" and serving as play-by-play man for the Brooklyn Cyclones and the St. John's baseball games, Fusselle called Seton Hall college basketball during his career in New York. A minor league baseball advocate, he also did play-by-play for the Richmond (now Gwinnett) Braves and Spartanburg, S.C., Phillies. In addition, Warner broadcast games for the American Baskeball Association's Virgina Squires.
Funeral arrangements were still incomplete late Monday afternoon.
