Desmond's most impactful years came after he joined Red Barber in 1943 to broadcast for the Brooklyn Dodgers, replacing Al Helfer. During this period, especially in 1943, Desmond and Barber were the sole broadcasters of baseball in New York, as broadcasts for the Giants and Yankees were suspended. Desmond remained with the Dodgers until his resignation in August 1956, working alongside not only Barber but also Ernie Harwell and the legendary Vin Scully. His career was punctuated by his involvement in broadcasting college football and New York Giants football with Barber, as well as college basketball and New York Knicks basketball with Marty Glickman.
However, Desmond's career was marred by struggles with alcoholism, which frequently interfered with his work, leading to missed games and ultimately his firing before the 1955 World Series—a series that would have seen him broadcast the Dodgers' only world championship on the East Coast. Despite a brief return in 1956, his relapses led to his final dismissal and replacement by Jerry Doggett.
In addition to his broadcasting career, Desmond was known for his singing talents, hosting music shows on WOR in the early 1940s. He made a brief return to baseball broadcasting in 1967 with the Toledo Mud Hens before passing away on March 10, 1983, in Toledo, Ohio. Desmond's life was a blend of remarkable professional achievements shadowed by personal battles, leaving behind a legacy marked by both iconic sports narration and the poignant struggles of his personal life.
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