Fred White Dies, Former Kansas City Royals Broadcaster from 'Fred and Danny' Team Passes Away at 76
Fred White, former Kansas City Royals broadcaster, passed away on Wednesday to complications from melanoma. He officially retired from his position with the team on Tuesday, just one day before his death. White spent 40 seasons with the Royals. He was 76.
The club said White passed away under hospice care.
No information about funeral arrangements has been reported at this time
While working with the Royals, White served as an announcer and as the Director of Broadcast He also began managing events for former players in the Royals Alumni program, which included organizing visits to clinics and the Royals Fantasy Camp.
The Royals replaced White in 1998 with Ryan Lefebvre, a decision that at first drew a strong backlash from the club's fans. White remained with the organization but instead overseeing the Royals Radio Network.
White's long career with the Royals began in 1973. He spent 25 of those years as an announcer with partner Denny Matthews. The team of "Fred and Denny" popularized the club through Midwest radio networks in an era before cable television coverage of baseball was commonplace.
White was a broadcaster during the team's two World Series appearances in 1980 and 1985, the championship season and numerous post-season playoffs.
Along with Matthews, White was inducted into the Kansas Association of Broadcasters' Hall of Fame in 2004.
A native of Illinois, White's first baseball broadcasts were on an American Legion team in Hastings, Nebraska. White spent his baseball offseasons by calling basketball games for the Big Eight and Big 12 television networks.
White also called basketball games for ESPN, NBC Sports, CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting.
From the middle 1960s through early 70s, White was the broadcaster for the Kansas State Wildcats.
