Sam Balter papers

One for the Book Undated [circa 1955-circa 1963]

Scope and Content

The series documents Balter’s radio and Los Angeles Herald newspaper commentary feature, One for the Book. Included are numbered radio scripts and published newspaper columns representing a wide variety of sports-related topics such as basketball, boxing, baseball, football, horseracing and track and field. The scripts are numbered but not dated; notably absent are script numbers 682-702.

Organization and Arrangement

The series is arranged with scripts first ,in number order, followed by published clippings in loose chronological order.

Box 10, Folder 5

One for the Book list (appears to segment titles for feature sports commentary) (undated)

Box 6, Folder 14

One for the Book unnumbered scripts and notes (undated)

Box 6, Folder 15

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 1-25 (undated)

Box 6, Folder 16

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 26-50 (undated)

Box 7, Folder 1

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 51-75 (undated)

Box 11, Folder 1

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 76-100 (undated)

Box 7, Folder 2

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 101-125 (undated)

Box 7, Folder 3

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 126-150 (undated)

Box 7, Folder 4

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 151-175 (undated)

Box 7, Folder 5

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 176-200 (undated)

Box 7, Folder 6

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 201-225 (undated)

Box 7, Folder 7

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 226-250 (undated)

Box 7, Folder 8

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 251-275 (undated)

Box 7, Folder 9

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 276-300 (undated)

Box 8, Folder 1

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 301-325 (undated)

Box 8, Folder 2

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 326-350 (undated)

Box 8, Folder 3

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 351-375 (undated)

Box 8, Folder 4

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 376-400 (undated)

Box 8, Folder 5

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 401-425 (undated)

Box 8, Folder 6

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 426-450 (undated)

Box 8, Folder 7

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 451-475 (undated)

Box 8, Folder 8

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 476-500 (undated)

Box 8, Folder 9

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 501-525 (undated)

Box 9, Folder 1

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 526-550 (undated)

Box 9, Folder 2

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 551-575 (undated)

Box 9, Folder 3

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 576-600 (undated)

Box 9, Folder 5

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 626-650 (undated)

Box 9, Folder 4

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 601-625 (undated)

Box 9, Folder 6

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 651-675 (undated)

Box 9, Folder 7

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 676-682 (undated)

Box 9, Folder 8

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 700-725 (undated)

Box 10, Folder 1

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 726-750 (undated)

Box 10, Folder 2

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 751-775 (undated)

Box 10, Folder 3

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 776-800 (undated)

Box 10, Folder 4

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 801-825 (undated)

Box 11, Folder 2

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 826-850 (undated)

Box 11, Folder 3

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 851-864 (undated)

Box 11, Folder 4

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 865-875 (undated)

Box 11, Folder 5

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 876-900 (undated)

Box 11, Folder 6

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 901-925 (undated)

Box 11, Folder 7

One for the Book radio scripts, numbers 926-942 (undated)

Box 15

One for the Book columns in scrapbook (1955 June 15-Feb. 14, 1957)

Box 16

One for the Book columns (published clippings) (1957 Feb. 23-June)

Box 16

One for the Book columns (published clippings) (1958 Jan-June)

Box 16

One for the Book columns (published clippings) (1958 July-Dec)

Box 16

One for the Book columns (published clippings) (1959 Jan-June)

Box 16

One for the Book columns (published clippings) (1959 July-Dec)

Box 17

One for the Book columns (published clippings) (1960 Jan-June)

Box 17

One for the Book columns (published clippings) (1960 July-Dec)

Box 17

One for the Book columns (published clippings) (1961 Jan-June)

Box 17

One for the Book columns (published clippings) (1961 July-Dec)

Box 17

One for the Book columns (published clippings) (circa 1962 Jan-circa 1963 June and undated)

Box 17

One for the Book columns (published clippings) (circa 1963 July-Dec and undated)

Correspondence Bulk, 1944-1959 1943-1976 (bulk dates 1944-1959)

Organization and Arrangement

The series is arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content

The series consists of letters to Sam Balter, mostly from listeners and readers, and documents his career working as a radio news commentator on Los Angeles based radio stations KWFB and KFI during World War II; his radio sports feature, One for the Book; and his Los Angeles Herald column One for the Book. The letters reflect audience support and/or reaction to Balter’s commentary on a wide variety of current events of the time. Additionally there are letters protesting Balter’s dismissal from KFWB and KFI for what was thought to be liberal political views during World War II and a small amount of material regarding the Pacific Coast Commission’s penalties and probation against the UCLA Football program (1956).

Box 1, Folder 2

Letters to Balter (1943-1976)

Box 1, Folders 3-5

KFWB Listener letters (1944 Feb-May)

Box 1, Folder 6

KFWB Listener protest letters (1944 April )

Scope and Content

With letter from Congressman George E. Outland regarding the firing of Sam Balter from Mutual Network in 1944.

Box 1, Folders 7-9

KFWB Listener letters (3 folders) (1944 May-July )

Box 2, Folders 1-3, Box 1, Folders 10-11

KFI and KFWB Listener letters (5 folders) (1944 May-July)

Box 2, Folder 4

KFI and KFWB Listener letters (1944 Oct-Nov)

Box 2, Folders 5-7

KFWB Listener letters (3 folders) (1945)

Box 3, Folder 1

KFWB Listener letters (1945 Jan-June)

Box 2, Folders 8-9

KFI Listener letters protesting Balter's dismissal from Mutual Network (2 folders) (1945 Feb-May)

Box 3, Folders 2-3

Listener letters (2 folders) (1945 July-Oct)

Box 3, Folder 4

Sports Quiz Bowl submissions (1946 Dec-1947 Feb)

Box 3, Folders 5-7

KLAC Sports Listener letters (3 folders) (1946-1950)

Box 4, Folder 1, Box 3, Folders 8-10

Listener letters (4 folders) (1951)

Scope and Content

With fan letter to Balter from Kirk Douglas.

Box 4, Folders 3-5

Listener letters (3 folders) (1951-1953)

Scope and Content

With letter to Balter from Patricia Thorpe, widow of Jim Thorpe.

Box 4, Folder 2

Listener letters regarding wrestler Baron Leone (1952 May)

Box 4, Folder 6

Sports Forum Listener letters (1953 Aug)

Box 4, Folder 7

Listener letters (1954)

Box 4, Folders 8-9

Listener and Reader letters (2 folders) (1954-1956)

Scope and Content

With letter to Balter from Goose Tatum and Marques Haynes (former Harlem Globe Trotters).

Box 11, Folder 10, Box 5, Folders 1-2, Box 4, Folder 10

Listener and Reader letters, and articles regarding Pacific Coast Commission probation and penalties against UCLA Football (4 folders) (1956)

Scope and Content

With transcript of speech by Dr. Raymond B. Allen, UCLA Chancellor, presented for the Commonwealth Club, San Francisco, June 8, 1956, and copies of letters to Robert Sproul, Edwin Pauley, and Govenor Goodwin Knight.

Box 5, Folders 4-5

Listener and Reader letters (2 folders) (1957-1959)

Box 5, Folder 9

Herman Weiner correspondence regarding claims against Balter (1958 Aug-Sept)

Box 5, Folders 6-8

Listener and Reader letters (2 folders) (1958-1959)

Box 5, Folder 10

Boxing - letters, clippings and wire service printouts (1959-1960)

Box 11, Folder 8-9

Listener and Reader letters (2 folders) (1959-1961)

General note

With letter to Sam Balter from Los Angeles Rams owner Daniel Reeves.

Box 12, Folder 7

John F. Kennedy death (1963)

Scope and Content

With One for the Book column, excerpt from Balter broadcast, reader and listener letters, and publications.

Writings by Balter (1932-1970)

Organization and Arrangement

There is no specific arrangement to the series.

Scope and Content

The series consists of writings by Sam Balter outside of his radio and newspaper column, One for the Book. Included is a work titled Forty Years of Olympic Basketball; a possible writing project focused on basketball coaching; writings about John F. Kennedy; and uncredited writing that may have been penned by Sam Balter.

Box 6, Folder 12

Assorted writings and notes by Sam Balter (1958 and undated)

Box 12, Folder 1

[Basketball writing project?] (1932-1937)

Scope and Contents note

Holographic and typescript pages that may be related to a 1937 writing project by Sam Balter titled, Basketball Without the Center Jump.

Box 6, Folder 13

Forty Years of Olympic Basketball by Sam Balter (undated)

Box 1, Folder 1

Sam Balter Sportsbook press release, award (undated)

Sports Ephemera and Publications circa 1937-circa 1980

Organization and Arrangement

The series are arranged alphabetically by file titles.

Scope and Content

The series consists of ephemera and publications mostly related to Southern California based sports teams. Included are press publications, souvenir programs, wire service printouts, and a small number of press releases. The bulk of the items are associated with the Dodgers, the Lakers, the Los Angeles Stars, and UCLA sports. There is a small number of items representing the Harlem Globe Trotters, the Hollywood Stars, the Rams, and the Washington Caps. Additionally, there are undated wire service copy covering a wide range of sports feature material and a very small number of 1980s Olympics’ memorabilia.

Box 6, Folder 4

16th Annual National Collegiate Basketball Championship program (1954)

Box 21

1839 /1939 Baseball League Centennial sleeve patch [circa 1939]

Box 6, Folder 5

Baseball published ephemera (1947-1969)

Box 6, Folder 3

Basketball published ephemera 1937-1979

Box 10, Folder 9

Douglas Guardian periodicals (1956-1960)

Box 5, Folder 3

Harlem Globe Trotters souvenir program (1953-1954)

Box 12, Folder 2

Helms Athletic Foundation press releases, reports and sports features (circa 1960s)

Box 10, Folder 11

Hollywood Stars decals (7 items, duplicates) (undated)

Box 10, Folder 11

Los Angeles Angels decal (1 item) (undated)

Box 12, Folders 4-6

Los Angeles Dodgers publicity materials and ephemera (3 folders) (1947-1980)

Box 10, Folder 6

Los Angeles Lakers Illustrated Yearbooks (1962-1964)

Box 10, Folder 7

Los Angeles Rams Official Yearbook (1963)

Box 6, Folder 6

Los Angeles Stars programs (1969-1970)

Box 10, Folder 8

National Football League history publications (2 items) (undated)

Box 6, Folder 1

The Newspaper Credo of William Randolph Hearst (undated)

Box 21

Olympics related ephemera (1980, 1984)

Scope and Content

1984 ribbons, one honoring Balter; mini Olympics souvenir flags from the 1980s; Squaw Valley souvenir.

Box 6, Folder 9

Olympics press material and souvenir publication (1952-1966)

Box 10, Folder 11

Reflections on the Age of Anxiety - Audio History (record) (circa 1960s)

Box 5, Folder 12

Rose Bowl: A Complete Action and Pictorial Exposition of Rose Bowl Football by Maxwell Stiles (undated)

General note

Signed by Stiles to Balter.

Box 5, Folder 11

Sports clippings and wire service printouts (1961)

Box 12, Folder 8

Sports filler wire service copy (undated)

Box 10, Folder 10

Sports humor and trivia (undated)

Box 12, Folder 3

Sports press releases (1956-1966)

Box 13, Folders 1-2, Box 12, Folder 9

Sports wire service copy (3 folders) (undated)

Scope and Content

Covers a range of topics which have been used in part in Balter's radio and newspaper column One for the Book.

Box 6, Folder 11

Sportscasters Association publications (2 items) (circa early-1960s)

Box 13, Folder 3

Try and Stop Me: A Collection of Anecdotes and Stories, Mostly Humorous by Bennett Cerf (1944-1953)

Box 6, Folder 7

UCLA sports printed and published ephemera (1958-1969)

Scope and Content

With publication titled How to Play Basketball by John R. Wooden.

Box 6, Folder 2

Washington Caps published ephemera (undated)

Box 6, Folder 10

What Were the Circumstances and What Were the Results of the Sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees by the Red Sox in 1920? by Mervyn S. Harris - mimeograph of typescript (1960)

Books and Records Albums

Organization and Arrangement

There is no specific arrangement to the series.

Scope and Content

The series consists of books and records albums collected by Sam Balter. Included are hardbound, paperback, and pamphlet-like books along with a variety of commercially released record albums related to a variety of sports as well as humor.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 19

Books from the library of Sam Balter (16 hardbound and 1 pamphlet books about a variety of sports topics) various dates

Box 20

Books from the Library of Sam Balter (34 hardbound, paperback and pamphlet books covering a variety of sports and humor topics) (1929-1960)

General note

To find individual titles, search the title: Sam Balter Papers.

Box 18

Balter reels II and III (5 inch audio reels) (undated)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

Sam Balter for sports book transcription disc (1954 March 19)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

The Best of Allen Funt's Candid Mike, Vol. 1, LP 25 (33 1/3 RPM) (undated)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

The Explosive Sounds of Pro Football narrated by Elroy Hirsch (33 1/3 RPM) (c. 1963)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

Great Moments in Boxing (33 1/3 RPM) (undated)

General note

Written and produced by Bud Greenspan; narration by Don Dunphy.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

The Greatest Moments in Sports actual sounds and voices (33 1/3 RPM) (1919-1954)

General note

Spoken passages by or about Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Johnny Vandermeer, Connie Mack, Carl Hubbell, Bobby Thomson, Al Gionfriddo, Cookie Lavagetto, Knute Rockne, Jesse Owens, Roger Bannister, Glenn Cunningham, Helen Jacobs, Grantland Rice, Earl Sande, Josy Barthel, Roy Riegels, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Louis, Jess Willard, Tony Galento, Jim Corbett; narrated by Clem McCarthy, Mel Allen, Don Dunphy, Marty Glickman.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

Greatest Races of 1954 (33 1/3 RPM) (undated)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

Guideposts Spots with Catherine Marshall and Red Barber (33 1/3 RPM) (c. 1966)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

Guideposts from the World of Sports told by Red Barber and Carol Heiss (33 1/3 RPM) (c. 1965)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

How To Break 80...at Home! A Revolutionary New Method of Golf Instruction (33 1/3 RPM) (c. 1958)

General note

Written and directed by Dick Robb, PGA.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

I Am the Greatest! Cassius Clay (33 1/3 RPM) (c. 1963)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

Learn Bridge at Home with Robert Lee Johnson (2 LP 33 1/3 RPM) (c. 1958)

General note

Singed to Balter by Bob Johnson.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

A No-Hitter for Bill Singer (33 1/3 RPM) (1970 July 20)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

A Heart I Can't Give Away (45 RPM) and printed sheet music to Sam Balter from former student George Roncevich (undated)

Box 18

USAF Presents Tops in Sports featuring Harry Wisner (33 1/3 RPM) (U.S. Air Force Public Service Program) -- (undated)

General note

Show 1: The Oscar Robertson Story; Show 2: The Gene Tunney Story.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

We Love the Dodgers as sung by Jimmie Maddin (45 RPM) (undated)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Box 18

What is a Jew by Alex Dreier (45 RPM) (undated)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Container List