Billy Berroa
Encyclopedia
Porfirio Antonio Berroa Carbucia (February 27, 1928 – October 17, 2007) was a Dominican Republic
broadcast
er known for his Spanish language
baseball
announcing.
A native of San Pedro de Macorís
, Dominican Republic, Berroa was affectively known as "Billy" and "El Internacional".
Recognized as one of the most important Spanish voices in baseball, Berroa began announcing Major League Baseball
games in 1963, including the postseason games and All-Star competition from 1987 through 2004. He covered the New York Mets
Spanish broadcasts between 1987 and 1993 and rejoined the team from 1997 to 2007, mainly on Radio WADO 1280 AM
.
Berroa also covered the Caribbean Series, the Olympic Games
, as well as professional boxing
, and announced Winter League baseball in the Dominican Republic for 50 years, the last 23 years with the Escogido Lions
club. On October 17, 1998, he was selected to the Dominican Republic's Sports Hall of Fame.
Berroa died of prostate cancer
in Santo Domingo, D.R.
, at the age of 79.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
broadcast
Broadcast
Broadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
er known for his Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
announcing.
A native of San Pedro de Macorís
San Pedro de Macorís
San Pedro de Macorís is a municipality and the capital of the San Pedro de Macorís province in the Dominican Republic.-Demographics:...
, Dominican Republic, Berroa was affectively known as "Billy" and "El Internacional".
Recognized as one of the most important Spanish voices in baseball, Berroa began announcing Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
games in 1963, including the postseason games and All-Star competition from 1987 through 2004. He covered the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
Spanish broadcasts between 1987 and 1993 and rejoined the team from 1997 to 2007, mainly on Radio WADO 1280 AM
WADO
WADO is a radio station on 1280 AM. WADO serves New York City and is owned by Univision. The station carries a Spanish language News and Talk format. Its transmitters are located in Carlstadt, New Jersey.- Early programming :...
.
Berroa also covered the Caribbean Series, the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, as well as professional boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, and announced Winter League baseball in the Dominican Republic for 50 years, the last 23 years with the Escogido Lions
Leones del Escogido
Leones del Escogido are a professional baseball team in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Established in , Leones are the third most successful teams from the Dominican Winter League, behind Tigres del Licey and Aguilas Cibaeñas, having won 13 national championships and 3 Caribbean Series.Leones...
club. On October 17, 1998, he was selected to the Dominican Republic's Sports Hall of Fame.
Berroa died of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
in Santo Domingo, D.R.
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, at the age of 79.