CLEVELAND, OH. (THECOUNT) — – Longtime sportscaster and play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the husband of Meteorologist Beth McLeod, Fred McLeod has died, it was announced on Tuesday. He was 67.
The cause of death has not yet been released.
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The Cavs released a statement Tuesday. It says in part:
“It is with the most extreme sadness that the Cleveland Cavaliers share that Cavs and Fox Sports Ohio play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod died suddenly Monday evening. The entire Cavaliers organization mourns the loss of their great friend and teammate. Fred’s deep love for Cleveland and the Cavaliers was clearly evident in everything he did in and around the community and on-air during his more than 1,000 Cavalier game broadcasts. He was a true, heart-felt ambassador for the team, fans and entire greater Cleveland community.”
McLeod grew up in Strongsville where he was a two-sport star. He played both baseball and basketball. He began his broadcasting career in 1974, working in Missouri and Steubenville, Ohio before getting a job here at WJKW-TV 8 in the 1970s as a weekend sports anchor. At the time he did the play-by-play commentary for our coverage of the Cleveland Indians games during the 1979 season.
In 2006, McLeod become the play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers alongside former Cavalier, Austin Carr. While calling the action for his hometown team, he has since coined many signature calls like “Right down Euclid!”
To add to his impressive resume, just this summer, McLeod became the new play-by-play voice for the Detroit Lions preseason games, reports FOX8.
DEVELOPING::
Geo quick facts: Cleveland is a major city in Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie. Landmarks dating to its days as a turn-of-the-20th-century manufacturing center include the Steamship William G. Mather, now part of the Great Lakes Science Center. It’s also known for the stately Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the I.M. Pei–designed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum.