Being a Mariners fan has always been a tough thing to be and now it’s even tougher. Longtime Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus passed away of a heart attack at the age of 75.
I never had the fine opportunity of meeting Mr. Niehaus but I still feel as if I knew him by just listening to him call games every spring and summer night in Seattle.
I was born in 1991 and watched the Mariners as early as I can remember. The first thing I can remember about the Mariners is that great voice of Mr. Niehaus. If the Mariners were losing by double-digits, which happened a lot, he made it entertaining to keep watching the game.
Ichiro would come up to bat and Mr. Niehaus could tell you the funniest story about him. Mr. Niehaus was more than just an announcer, he was family to the Mariners players and management.
Mariner great Ken Griffey Jr. thought of Mr. Niehaus like a grandfather-like figure. Another Mariner great, Jay Buhner, said he was like a father figure to him.
Mr. Niehaus is also the only Mariner enshrined in Cooperstown where he will soon be joined by the likes of Ken Griffey Jr. for sure and hopefully Edgar Martinez.
But the thing I will most about Mr. Niehaus is how I was raised with him by my side every spring and summer and how well he called the games. He was such a brilliant announcer with many crazy funny stories that made everyone smile.
He made really awful announcers sound good because he was so easy to work with. He was very friendly and cheerful with everyone he worked with and overall just loved the game of baseball.
And we can’t forget about his great calls of all-time such as when someone hit a grand slam, “Get out your rye bread, grandma, it’s grand salami time!” We can’t forget the oh-so-famous one that was said every time something great happened, “My, oh my.”
Lastly, maybe the most famous call of all time in Mariners history which came during the 1995 American League Divisional Series versus the Yankees:
“Right now, the Mariners looking for the tie. They would take a fly ball, they would love a base hit into the gap and they could win it with Junior’s speed. The stretch…and the 0-1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martinez, swung on and LINED DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE FOR A BASE HIT! HERE COMES JOEY, HERE IS JUNIOR TO THIRD BASE, THEY’RE GOING TO WAVE HIM IN! THE THROW TO THE PLATE WILL BE…LATE! THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP! I DON’T BELIEVE IT! IT JUST CONTINUES! MY, OH MY!”
Those kind of calls made Mr. Niehaus the best announcer ever in my opinion because of his enthusiasm and love for the game.
The baseball world has lost this great legend and even better a kind man who just loved the game, so please rest in peace, Dave.
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