SB Nation Seattle Feature: Dave Niehaus Remembered, By Kirsten Schlewitz

SB Nation Seattle writer Kristen Schlewitz shared her memories of Dave Niehaus following his passing this week. From afar, Niehaus was her only link to the team, allowing her to connect with Seattle and the Mariners while times were hardest. Sitting in New Orleans, thousands of miles from home, there was Dave on the radio, providing the comfort of familiarity. She wonders what it will be like next season, when it will likely hit most fans that this is real.

That night, sitting alone in my creaking New Orleans kitchen, thousands of miles from home, I certainly didn't want a detached, dispassionate announcer. It's like when you visit your grandparents for Christmas-you expect the same ornaments on the tree, the same glazed ham on the table, the same cheesy jokes made during the photography session. As much as you might roll your eyes, if any of those pieces are missing, suddenly your holiday just doesn't feel quite right. Your cheery wool sweater is now too tight, too itchy.

Read the whole piece here, it's worth the time.

AUDIO: Listen To Some Of Dave Niehaus' Most Famous Calls

As we remember Dave Niehaus on the day he dies, The Seattle Times has compiled some of his most famous calls. Have a listen:

Like a lot of fans of my generation, nothing will ever top his call of "The Double." I was in my freshman year at WSU, and I vividly remember sitting in my dorm room, watching Game 5 on my little TV. When Edgar Martinez laced that ball down the line, you could hear shouts from all over the floor. When Ken Griffey Jr. slid home safely, I swear you could hear the whole campus explode. Strangers were running around our floor hugging each other. You could hear shrieks of joy coming from all the different dorm complexes. It was that kind of moment.

The funny thing, of course, is that I wasn't listening to Niehaus when it happened, so I didn't hear the call live. Like most, I was watching TV. But I've heard the call so many times since, it just seems perfect in retrospect because it always transports me back to that little dorm room. 

The Mariners had been so horrible for that vast majority of my childhood, the joy in Niehaus' voice at that moment is something I'll never forget. And thanks to the miracle of digital audio, everything that made Dave great will be just a click away.

Lookout Landing: 'Nobody Will Replace Dave Niehaus'

Jeff Sullivan of Lookout Landing, SB Nation's Seattle Mariners blog, weighed in with his own personal thoughts on the death of Dave Niehaus. As usual, he nails the feeling among many fans tonight:

No doubt, it's a great shame that Dave never got to see the M's in the World Series. Having been with the organization from the very beginning, he deserved it more than anyone else, and it hurts to just imagine how excited he would've been. Dave would've had the time of his life.

But rather than get mad at the Mariners for failing to deliver for Dave over 34 years, I think what people need to understand is that, even without a deep trip in October, Dave had the time of his life anyway. Earlier today, we were talking a little about Joe Buck, and it's evident that Buck doesn't approach the game of baseball with a childlike enthusiasm. I do not think that's a barrier from being a good announcer. But in order to be a great one - you gotta love the game, and Dave loved the game like few others do. Announcing was his job, and from time to time it would most certainly feel like a job, but it says something that, on his infrequent days off, Dave would relax and listen to a game. Some people use their offdays to clear their heads. Dave's was never cluttered.

Don't be mad at the Mariners, and don't feel bad for Dave. There could've been more highs, but the man lived his passion every day. He was a lucky one.

He concludes by stating the obvious, that no one will ever replace Niehaus, and wonders when it's going to sink in that he really is gone. That's tough to say, given that Niehaus missed games with some frequency in these later years. I don't know when, exactly, that's going to be for me, but I'll be honest -- I'm not looking forward to that day. Because I'll probably cry like a baby all over again.

Putting Niehaus In Perspective: 'Mariner Fans Saw Our Team Through His Eyes'

To fully put someone like Dave Niehaus in perspective, we have to recall what following sports was like before 24/7 news cycles, dedicated sports television packages and the digital revolution.

Seth Kolloen of the SunBreak describes what made Niehaus' influence on the Seattle sports landscape so powerful by capturing what it meant to broadcast games before we were able to enhance our experience with technology:

The SunBreak | News | Mariners Broadcaster Dave Niehaus Dies, and a Whole Era Dies With Him
For most of Niehaus' career, Mariner fans saw our team through his eyes -- literally, as so few games were televised. The Mariners' first season, 1977, only 17 of 162 games were on TV. As late as 1994, only 71 games were scheduled for TV broadcasts. Now, we watch the games on TV at the gym with the sound down, or spy the Internet gamecast, or follow the score on our phones. Then, Niehaus was often our only link to the team.

Niehaus did television well, but he preferred radio, and would broadcast the final four innings--that is, the most dramatic ones--over that medium.

"Get out the rye bread and the mustard this time Grandma, it is a grand salami!" -- Dave Niehaus, 1995.

Niehaus' best talent was an actor's knack for using his voice to intensify the drama of the game.

It's hard to diminish the influence of that, even if it's "just sports" - Niehaus will always be a part of Mariners fans' lives, because for so long his voice was part of how you understood baseball and, as such, one slice of the world.

Ken Griffey Jr. Remembers Dave Niehaus: 'He Is Mariners Baseball'

Ken Griffey Jr. has been in hibernation ever since abruptly leaving the Mariners back in June, but the passing of legendary Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus brought him out of hiding. He joined Shannon Drayer and Matt Pitman on ESPN 710-AM to share some thoughts on the man loved and respected by so many -- including the Mariners players.

Here are some of the highlights.

On how Niehaus treated people: "You didn't know if he was the No. 1 guy on the team or the No. 25 guy on the team, he treated everyone the same."

How he found out: "My dad called me, and you could hear in my dad's voice. He was like, 'Did you hear?' And I was like, 'Yeah.' He asked if I was all right, and I said, 'Yeah, I'm all right.' "

On hearing his calls: "I would go home and my friends would call me and tell me about the home run and would be like, 'Did you hear the call?' And I was like, 'No.' A couple times I'd go home after I hit one and I'd listen and just start laughing. If I would've jumped up and down and he would've said a ball was hit, it's a home run, game over. He made everything so exciting and he was so personable. It's just crazy that were having this discussion for somebody who there's not one person in Seattle that wanted this day to happen."

Overall thoughts: "He's one of the greatest men I've ever met and had the privilege of knowing. Everything that he's done, from going to school, the charity work. He is Mariners baseball. Everyone talks about all the players; we can't hold a candle to that man."

How he handled himself: "It's very rare. He came to the ballpark expecting to win, wanting to win and rooted for his guys. Up there, no matter if we were down 10 runs with two outs, he was still, 'Come on, let's go, let's go." 

His way: "They tried to tell him he couldn't be this and that and he said, 'I'm doing it my way.'

His advice for Junior: " 'Just be you.' That's one of the things. Just be you. Sometimes you need to hear it from other people. My dad has always said it -- youre not me, just be you. All he did was reinforce these things my dad has always said. The crazy thing is nobody listens to their dad."

His family: "He's a grandfather, I know he's got three grandkids, but he's got 300 of us. He's surely gonna be missed."

Favorite memories: "Some of the wardrobe malfunctions he'd have. You know, the white prom shoes he buys every year. We kept telling him his wife didn't want to go to prom for like the 50th time. I told him the sun was free so he could get some sun on those legs. It's hard to think that he's gone."

You can listen to the full interview here.

Jay Buhner On Dave Niehaus: 'He Could Call A Sunset'

Larry LaRue of The (Tacoma) News Tribune -- the longest-tenured Seattle Mariners beat writer -- composed a short obituary on Dave Niehaus at his Mariners Insider blog, and he caught up with former Mariner Jay Buhner, who had some kind words:

"I just drove home from the grocery store and someone called to tell me the news and I almost threw up. I haven't cried  since my mom died last year. This hurts. I lost a family member today. We all did. ...

"In the late '80s, early' 90s - some of my teams - there wasn't much of a product on the field but people tuned in to hear Dave. He'd rant and rave off the air, then ‘bam' be back on the air and be totally at peace calling the game. The booth was his home, and he made you feel every pitch, every play. He could call a sunset. It's a sad day for all of us."

I, for one, would have gladly listened to Dave Niehaus call a sunset.

Niehaus Passes Away After Heart Attack, Mariners Confirm

The Seattle Mariners have released a statement confirming the death of Dave Niehaus. According to the release, Niehaus passed away at his home after a heart attack. He was 75. His longtime announcing partner, Rick Rizz, was shocked and saddened by the news.

“What a loss,” Rizzs said. “Holy cow. I feel numb. He meant everything to Mariner baseball. Everything. He was not only the voice of the Mariners, he WAS the Mariners. He was the face of the franchise. When you turned on the radio, everything was right with the world when you heard Dave’s voice.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by fans of Seattle baseball near and far. Mariners CEO Chuck Armstrong and President Howard Lincoln also released a statement remembering Niehaus as a constant presence with the organization (via The Seattle Times)

“Dave has truly been the heart and soul of this franchise since its inception in 1977. Since calling Diego Segui’s first-pitch strike on Opening Night in the Kingdome some 34 years ago, Dave’s voice has been the constant with the franchise.”

Niehaus is survived by his wife, Marilyn, and their three children, Andy, Matt and Greta. You can read the full press release over at Lookout Landing.

Dave Niehaus Passes Away At Age 75

Longtime Seattle Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus has passed away at the age of 75. Niehaus, a legend in the Seattle area and throughout Major League Baseball, has been the voice of the Mariners since the beginning, in 1977. The cause of death is currently unknown. The Mariners are expected to release a statement shortly.

Niehaus was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008 after receiving the Ford C. Frick Award. The award is given annually to a baseball broadcaster and is considered the highest honor for those in the profession. He will always be remembered for his passion and excellence as a broadcaster, especially here in the Northwest.

Inducted, rightfully, into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2000, Niehaus was a constant presence with the franchise. He thrilled fans with his trademark calls -- "My oh my!", "Fly, fly away!" and "Grand salami time!" among them -- and was a soothing voice in times of unrest. His voice and vigor for the game of baseball was timeless and cannot be replaced. It's with tears in my eyes and a heavy hear that I say goodbye, and we'll miss you, to a legend.