I’m going to keep this short. 

If you are a real Seattleite, this is one of the saddest nights of your life. Especially if you’re a baseball fan.

One of the truly great broadcasters of our time passed away today. Dave Niehaus, the only voice Seattle Mariner fans have really known.

He was there when we lost, which for many years was most of the time.

He was there when we won, which was mostly during the Ken Griffey years in the 1990s.

He was there in the concrete horror that was the Kingdome. He was there at the wonderful, state of the art Safeco Field. 

But for Mariners fans, he was always there. 

Until tonight.

I will miss his comforting voice as much as I will miss his trademark calls.

I just texted a friend with the simple words “my oh my” and he immediately texted back, “Oh, no. Did Dave Niehaus die?” 

I know we are not the first baseball fans who have lost their “voice.” Earlier this year, the Detroit fans lost Ernie Harwell.

But few teams have lost the only voice they’ve ever had. That’s what Mariners fans are facing tonight.

My condolences go out to the entire Niehaus family tonight. And believe me, in Seattle, it’s pretty much the entire city. At least that’s the way many Seattleites feel.  

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