Nostalgia Fix: Bob Prince
March 26, 2025Bob Prince was known for his Pirates Play-by-Play, but as PBRTV Colleague and WEDO (810) and WIXZ (1360) (… and all those other stations he’s been a part of) alumnus Bill Korch points out… it wasn’t just his colorful commentary ON air that he was known for. Prince died June 10, 1985 at the age of 68. Let’s take you back to 1986… but first, please send any children or adults with virgin ears out of the room…
Bob was the first person who said F*ck in front of me, and that was in the broadcast booth at Forbes Field, having just flipped off the mic switch to make an off-mic comment about a play on the field. He then nonchalantly flipped the mic back on and continued with a clean broadcast as though THAT was his natural style.
Years later, Bob & Billy Hilgrove were making a commercial for a car dealership in front of the Hilton downtown. Bob was to pull into the horseshoe drive in front of the hotel in a Cadillac convertible; Billy walked out the front while Bob pulled in, stopping in front the entrance. Billy was to look admiringly at the car, top down and say “That’s a real beauty you got there, Bob” but on take one, as Bob topped in front of Billy, Hilgrove started cracking up instead of saying his line…
Everyone returned to position one, Bob went around the block, Billy walked out, Bob pulled up and instead of saying “That’s a real beauty you got there Bob” Billy just started laughing hysterically.
The director could not imagine what was going so wrong so he reminded Billy of his one line and asked him if he could remember it. Billy insisted that he remembered his line, and the director insisted that he SAY it.
Billy said that he WOULD say “That’s a real beauty you got there, Bob” if someone would just make Bob put his pants back on….