Importance of Radio In Games In 19's

Radio had a very important effect-- it brought sports directly into people's homes. Before radio, you either waited for the newspaper to come out, with a report of the game; or you had to go to the game itself (which excluded poor people who could not afford tickets; and in some cities, it excluded black people who were not allowed in a segregated venue). Radio was somewhat of an equalizer-- now anyone could hear the game, in real-time, as it was happening. It no longer mattered what your race or social status was.

Because more people could hear the games, sports also became more popular as a topic of conversation. Talk shows were not technologically possible yet, but a larger number of people now had access to sports, and it enhanced the experience of being a fan; people gathered to listen to a game together, and then they talked about the results. Also, radio allowed fans to hear the voices of their heroes for the first time. A number of big sports stars, including Babe Ruth, were interviewed and the public really enjoyed it, even if just like today, the athletes did not have a lot to say that was new or interesting. Just hearing their voices made the fans feel closer to their favorites (this would, years later, be further enhanced by television, which would enable fans to both see and hear the star athletes).