What They're Saying About Niehaus

Ken Levine, By Ken Levine: "Dave and I worked together with the M’s and he’s the best partner I ever had. His enthusiasm, love of the game, and heart as big as the Puget Sound has always been an inspiration for me. He’s a throw-back to the days when announcers had distinctive styles, unique personalities, and memorable catch-phrases....Because of Dave, fans in the Northwest grew to love this team, even though they were usually mathematically eliminated by opening day and played in a nuclear reactor (the Kingdome). It’s only been the last dozen or so years that the Mariners have been contenders. But ratings for Mariners games have always been the highest in baseball. Far higher than the Yankees. It’s gotta be ‘cause of Dave."

Dave Cameron, USS Mariner: "I don’t know Dave Niehaus. I’ve met him once, but I don’t pretend that gives me insight into who he is. All I know is what I’ve seen and heard; the man likes Hawaiian shirts, Lou Piniella, and the squeeze play. But I feel like I know more about him than that. I grew up with him, and he’s involved in more of my childhood memories than anyone whose last name isn’t Cameron. For me, Dave Niehaus was like that cool Uncle who always brought you something fun. He just happened to bring me baseball."

Jason Churchill, Prospect Insider: "Without the special kindness in the way Dave treats his broadcasts and speaks to fans across the Pacific Northwest as if we are all his family, I’m not sure things would be the same in this town...Frequently Griffey, Randy Johnson and manager Lou Piniella are given much of the credit for saving baseball in Seattle back in 1995. And while those accolades are certainly justified, there may not have been 60,000 M’s fans left anywhere to fill the Kingdome that season if it weren’t for Niehaus."

Steve Kelley, Seattle Times: "As dependable as the tides, he has been, and continues to be, the voice of our springs and summers. A storyteller who writes his stories on the fly....When baseball was nothing in Seattle, Niehaus was something. When the Kingdome was as empty as a Roman ruin, his voice was filling the silence in our living rooms and competing with the hum of the engines in our cars."

John McGrath, Tacoma News Tribune: The genius of a baseball broadcaster such as Niehaus is not so much in his ability to convey the magic of a milestone moment. It’s the resourcefulness he uses to make a 6-1 snoozer in June, or a 10-4 laugher in August, an integral part of the family summer soundtrack: Crickets ... cannonball splashes ... kids giggling as they play hide ’n seek ... Niehaus’ deep and persuasive gravel voice offering a simple, “Fastball low, ball two” in the fourth inning."

My own thoughts are these: My roommate and I, who've been listening to Mariner games together since we were six years old, had a little Niehaus party last night--we popped open a bottle of champagne, watched Niehaus' press conference via the Tubes, and popped in the 1995 "My Oh My" video, which we both practically know by heart. I'm struggling to remember a time when I fel t so purely happy about another human being's accomplishment. I think it's that Dave Niehaus has brought me so much joy and happiness, it's nice to see some of that reflected back to him.