Dominick Valentino

Published in The Patriot Ledger on April 19, 2012

Dominick "Mickey" Valentino, 83, longtime sports broadcaster, died April 17, 2012, at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, with his son and longtime caregiver, David, by his side.

Mickey grew up in Hingham, graduated from Hingham High School, Class of 1947, and received a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University.

He served as a flight officer with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He returned to New England and began calling games for the Boston Patriots of the AFL, as well as football, basketball and hockey for Boston College.

He first became known to NBA fans during the 1960s as the voice of the Cincinnati Royals, Kansas City Omaha Kings and the New Orleans Jazz.

Mickey enjoyed a lengthy career in pro sports. Called one of a kind and versatile by his colleagues, he earned the distinction of being the only man ever to broadcast the play-by-play of three major league sports teams in the same year, 1975- New York Yankees, New York Nets and New York Islanders.

He called balls/strikes for the New Orleans Pelicans- AAA team for the St. Louis Cardinals. Later, he called games for the Oakland A's and went on to have stints with San Diego Padres top affiliate, Las Vegas Stars, as well as U.N.L.V. basketball, pro boxing and horse racing at Suffolk Downs.

In addition to his son David, he is survived by sons, Jay and Tom; and three grandchildren. A memorial Mass will be held at St. Paul's Church in Hingham, Mass., Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m., followed by a burial service with military honors at St. Paul's Cemetery at 10:45 a.m.