Photos
Click thumbnails for larger view
Before ESPN
Bill Rasmussen at bat. Spring 1950 Chicago, Illinois
Bill Rasmussen at 'The Boulder' - DePauw University 1950
Bill Rasmussen's first radio network 'The Redman Network' with former UMass, Michigan and Iowa State coach Johnny Orr and colorman Charlie Hill. 1964
ESPN - Construction
Original ESPN site, Bristol, Connecticut 1979
Original ESPN site, Bristol, Connecticut 1979
ESPN Construction, August 1979
ESPN construction site with Scientific Atlanta 10m satellite dishes, August 1979
Bill Rasmussen with son Scott at ESPN Plaza, Bristol Connecticut, September 1979
ESPN Plaza construction site, Bristol, Connecticut. August 1979
The ESPN Broadcast Center. ESPN Plaza Bristol, Connecticut. September 1979
September 7, 1979 - ESPN Launch and First Year
ESPN Launch - Sept 7th 1979
Control Room - ESPN Launch 1979
Lee Leonard - ESPN Launch
George Grande and Lee Leonard - ESPN Launch, 1979
ESPN Launch - Behind The Scenes
First ESPN Newsroom - 1979
The first ESPN production truck. 1979
Original ESPN Tape Room. ESPN Plaza Center at Bristol, Connecticut. September 1979
Bill Rasmussen with Scotty Connal (left) VP of Production and Evan Baker (right) VP of Sales. September 1979
'Why are ABC, CBS and NBC afraid of this man?' Bill Rasmussen on the cover of Connecticut Magazine. September 1979
Bill on the cover of Cable Vision Magazine. October 1979
ESPN Celebrates First Anniversary With Expanded Sports Scheduling
ESPN 30th Anniversary - Philadelphia Phillies First Pitch 9/13/2009
Philadelphia Phillies First Pitch 9/13/2009 photo © Heddy Bergsman
Bill with the Philly Fanatic - Philadelphia Phillies First Pitch 9/13/2009 photo © Heddy Bergsman
Bill with Dan Baker, Phillies PA Announcer - Philadelphia Phillies First Pitch 9/13/2009 photo © Heddy Bergsman
Bill with Tony Danza Philadelphia - Phillies First Pitch 9/13/2009 photo © Heddy Bergsman
Bill greets the Fanz in Philadelphia - Philadelphia Phillies First Pitch 9/13/2009 photo © Heddy Bergsman
Bill throwing the First Pitch in Philadelphia - Philadelphia Phillies First Pitch 9/13/2009 photo © Heddy Bergsman
Bill gets ready to throw the First Pitch in Philadelphia - Philadelphia Phillies First Pitch 9/13/2009 photo © Heddy Bergsman
ESPN’s 40th Anniversary Celebration
Bill with ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro on e replica of ESPN's first SportsCenter set.
Bill, Mike Tirico, and ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro
George Bodenheimer, Jimmy Pitaro, Bill, and George Grande
Bill and Suzy Kolber
Bill, George Grande, and Chip Dean
Bill greets visitors during the grand opening of ESPN's History Exhibit.
Reminiscing during the grand opening of ESPN's Historical Exhibit
Bill with Robin Roberts and Mike Tirico during ESPN's 40th Anniversary Celebration
ESPN 40th Anniversary - Boston Red Sox First Pitch 9/8/2019
Bill with ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro before the game
Bill prepares to throw the first pitch
Throwing the first pitch
Throwing the first pitch
Bill with ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro
Bill with ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro
Throughout the years
TV equipment in Bill's condo in 1979
Bill with Bristol, CT Mayor Mike Werner
Bill Rasmussen speaking during an ESPN ground breaking ceremonies
Bill and Scott Rasmussen
George Grande, Robin Roberts and BIll
ESPN Presidents. From left: Bill Rasmussen, Chet Simmons, Bill Grimes, Roger Werner, Steve Bornstein and George Bodenheimer. ESPN 25th Anniversary, New York City, September 2004
Bill during one of his many visits to the ESPN campus.
A plaque honoring Bill on the ESPN Bristol, CT campus
Bill with George Bodenheimer, Bob Ley, and Chris Berman
Bill with a group of ESPN employees who all started in 1979.
Flagpole dedication ceremony on ESPN's Bristol, CT campus
ESPN Sunday Night Baseball production truck at Yankee Stadium
Bill and ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro
Bill chats with Chris Berman on ESPN's main campus
Location of famous traffic jam on I84 on 8/16/1978 where ESPN was conceived
Bill near the entrance to the Rt. 84 in Connecticut.
Bill with ESPN producer Jack Obringer.
Bill with SportsCenter anchor David Lloyd
Bill inside ESPN's Digital Center 2.
Bill views the ESPN campus green
Bill inside the former Cookes Tavern restaurant
Bill inside ESPN's NFL studio
Bill inside ESPN's SportsCenter studio