Winless In Seattle
Steve Sauro
Elliott SmithDave Niehaus: A Tribute
November 14th 2010 20:50
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Part 4
During the 2010 baseball season I canot tell you how many times I saw or heard about the 1995 Mariners. It got to the point where I would get sick to my stomach at the mention of the double or Juniors slide. I told myself I would never re-live season again, but due to the events of the past week, I have been forced back in time. The date was October 8th, 1995 which became a very important day in my life. Why was this day so influential? Was it because of Randy Johnson entering the game to shut down the Yankees offense? Was it because of Edgars 11th inning double? Or was it because of The Kids slide and the celebration to follow? No, actually, it was because of one man: Dave Niehaus.
Like most Washingtonians I was not able to be a part of the Kingdome party. I was stuck watching the game unfold at home. For that very reason, I became one of the lucky Mariner fans. Lucky because we got to watch the game for free and experienced it through Dave's eyes and voice. Because of Dave Niehaus, I felt like I was at the game enjoying every pitch, every hit, every out with thousands of other fans. Until that game I had never felt part of the game while watching on TV or listening to the radio.
Dave Niehaus' passion and excitement pulled me in.
Some would say that the 1995 series was comprised of the greatest games Niehaus' ever called. Surely, these were the games that probably saved baseball in Seattle and Niehaus was a huge part of the success.
I beg to differ.
I feel his greatest accomplishments as an announcer was announcing all the years when the Mariners played below .500 ball. For those of you who disagree, I ask a simple question: Who out there that has watched Mariner baseball on TV or listened to the games on the radio would have tuned in if Niehaus wasn't behind the microphone? Maybe the diehard fans would have still watched during the dark years, but I am certain the average fan would have not blinked an eyelash at the team if Dave had left for greener pastures.
Just the other day, I heard on the radio that Dave Niehaus had several offers from other more successful sports teams. This fact alone makes me appreciate Dave even more. He could have gone and announced games of winning teams. He could have been a part of championship teams. But no, he stayed . He stuck with the Mariners through good times and bad. He was dedicated to the Mariners, to the city and to the fans.
As I look back at all his great calls, I cannot help but feel a little bit angry at the Seattle Mariners organization for not doing all they could to make it to the World Series. Dave deserved to call a World Series. The nation deserved to hear his voice on national TV. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that the Mariners never made the World Series. Maybe this is reason Dave Niehaus touched so many in Washington state.
Why was Dave Niehaus beloved by so many? I cannot tell you the true answer to this question. But, I can tell you why I admired Dave, why I will miss him and why I will get choked on opening day 2011 and Dave is not there to call the first pitch. It's because Dave Niehaus wasn't just an announcer for the Seattle Mariners, he was the Seattle Mariners.
Dave Niehause passed away on November 10th, 2010, but will forever be known to me and many more as one of the greatest Mariners of all time. Dave, we will miss you, but will never forget you.
Like most Washingtonians I was not able to be a part of the Kingdome party. I was stuck watching the game unfold at home. For that very reason, I became one of the lucky Mariner fans. Lucky because we got to watch the game for free and experienced it through Dave's eyes and voice. Because of Dave Niehaus, I felt like I was at the game enjoying every pitch, every hit, every out with thousands of other fans. Until that game I had never felt part of the game while watching on TV or listening to the radio.
Dave Niehaus' passion and excitement pulled me in.
Some would say that the 1995 series was comprised of the greatest games Niehaus' ever called. Surely, these were the games that probably saved baseball in Seattle and Niehaus was a huge part of the success.
I beg to differ.
I feel his greatest accomplishments as an announcer was announcing all the years when the Mariners played below .500 ball. For those of you who disagree, I ask a simple question: Who out there that has watched Mariner baseball on TV or listened to the games on the radio would have tuned in if Niehaus wasn't behind the microphone? Maybe the diehard fans would have still watched during the dark years, but I am certain the average fan would have not blinked an eyelash at the team if Dave had left for greener pastures.
Just the other day, I heard on the radio that Dave Niehaus had several offers from other more successful sports teams. This fact alone makes me appreciate Dave even more. He could have gone and announced games of winning teams. He could have been a part of championship teams. But no, he stayed . He stuck with the Mariners through good times and bad. He was dedicated to the Mariners, to the city and to the fans.
As I look back at all his great calls, I cannot help but feel a little bit angry at the Seattle Mariners organization for not doing all they could to make it to the World Series. Dave deserved to call a World Series. The nation deserved to hear his voice on national TV. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that the Mariners never made the World Series. Maybe this is reason Dave Niehaus touched so many in Washington state.
Why was Dave Niehaus beloved by so many? I cannot tell you the true answer to this question. But, I can tell you why I admired Dave, why I will miss him and why I will get choked on opening day 2011 and Dave is not there to call the first pitch. It's because Dave Niehaus wasn't just an announcer for the Seattle Mariners, he was the Seattle Mariners.
Dave Niehause passed away on November 10th, 2010, but will forever be known to me and many more as one of the greatest Mariners of all time. Dave, we will miss you, but will never forget you.
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