I’ve got one that will never be forgotten as well. It was the late eighties. The M’s had worked hard to fight vs. one of the best closers in the game at the time, Ron Davis of the Minnesota Twins. He was FLAT NASTY back then.

So, the M’s had clawed to get the game to 7-4. The sacks were jammed and Phil Bradley was coming up to the plate. I’ll tell it how I recall it. Please advise if I am wrong but it went a little something like this…

“This place is going bonkers right now…..Ron Davis, staring down, goes to the stretch… The pitch to Phil Bradley, the fastball, BELTED deep to left field, back goes hatcher, this one will fly, fly, fly away and the mariners win it 8 to 7, I don’t believe it! MY OH MY!”

To this day, other than seeing my first son born, I cannot think of anything that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

Dave got me through a lot of rough teenage years. There was NOTHING better than sneaking the radio to bed past bedtime listening to the M’s through his voice.

Lastly, before I go, somebody noted how horrible Jim Presley was. Jimmy wasn’t horrible. Especially the night he went yard to tie a game in the 9th and then come back and go deep in the 10th to win it.

Jimmy, like many other unforgettable role players will always carry a place in my heart.

Thanks Dave, I don’t know if you’ll ever read this but I am not embarassed to say that as a full grown man, more than once have you brought a tear to my eye. We love you man.

Kevin in the Gorge

“…and enjoy yourself a nice, cold, Budweiserrrrrrrr. Imported from Olymmmmmmmpia.”

Instead, I will try and pinpoint some reasons why Dave N is such a great announcer. As a neutral fan (my team no longer exists, so my allegiance is to well played and exciting baseball – wherever), I have listened to at least a few innings of every baseball announcing crew in the league. Dave N. stands out because …

i) he relays the atmosphere. He’ll go beyond the boxscore in his descriptions. He’ll mention that the on-deck hitter is tying his shoes or that the hitter is scratching his nose or somesuch. The art is that he does this without overwhelming the listener with details. Many play by play announcers are limited to reciting the box score and give the listener little feel for the ambiance.

ii) he is of the home team without alienating the neutral or opposing team’s fans. Opposing players and coaches are treated with respect and their accomplishments are called with equanimity. Too many announcing teams are destroyed by their homerism*. Over time I have become somewhat of a Mariners fan thanks to Dave Niehaus.

Kudos to Dave Niehaus.

* Probably the most grievous example is the team that covers the Cubs – excruciating.

What I remember most from that game is the Luis Sojo inside-the-park grand slam, of course, and both Dave and I were equally (it seemed) overwhelmed by what just happened. I practically yelled to everyone on the half-empty bus what happened, with some mild interest, and I gave sporadic updates to the interested parties until I got off. The funny thing is, because of the poor hearing quality, I wasn’t able to hear the entire turn of events that Dave was yelling. In my minds eye, to this day, I still think of that ball rolling underneath the 3rd base bullpen bench, even though I’ve seen it correctly on replays dozens of times since. Thanks to Dave I made a mental image of that awesome, playoff clinching play and there is no way the facts are going to get in the way.

USSM Dave, you said quite eloquently most of the thoughts on my mind. I’m most likely a bit younger than many of you, so I don’t have some of the early memories that you have. I remember becoming truly hooked in 1995. I was 12 years old then. I remember that somewhere deep inside you just kept expecting it to end – and of course it eventually did with the Indians – but not before we were given one of the most magical and thrilling rides that baseball can offer. I remember my sister had a crush on Little Joey Cora, and then later on A-rod. My dad used to always joke that my mom had a crush on Edgar. People always remember the players, but more than any player in M’s history, it is Dave Niehaus that is inseparably tied to each and every moment of Mariner’s baseball. Watching the video of The Double, and hearing Dave call it, I too get choked up. I too enjoy the way his voice crescendos with the play and fluctuates with the location of the pitch. I appreciate his love of the game and his class. I appreciate the way he compliments the other team – even getting a bit excited when they make an exceptional play against us. Dave’s voice has been a constant through many summers of good times and bad times – through good baseball, and lots of bad baseball.

I grew up around Coeur d’Alene, ID, but my wife and I live in San Diego now. I listen to as much of Dave as I can on the internet, and come June 28 when the play the Padres in SD, I plan on being at the ballpark – sign in hand – to show my thanks and support.

Congratulations Dave, you deserve it.

Thanks Dave. Despite my M’s not being the most successful team, I have always enjoyed listening to Niehaus’ voice. Without him, I would think baseball is boring.

USS Dave, thanks for including the rest of us in the end there. Its nice to know that Niehaus is getting an idea of what he has meant to us northwest natives and transplants.

I haven’t lived in the Seattle area for 10 years, but I blast Niehaus over my computer in the summer. Now if the neighbors complain, I can claim that its a hall of fame voice (at least every other inning or so). Its good to have the best on your side.

My favorite memory is riding around in my dad’s red Ford truck and dave calling an AD homerun in his first game back from injury. They probably lost 90 games that year, but I know they one that game on AD’s shot.