Longtime braves broadcaster pete van wieren dead at 69. Caray s sarcastic wit made him a popular lead voice of the broadcast team, and his fame grew nationally as tbs carried braves games to a national audience for 30 years. In 1976, van wieren and another young broadcaster named skip caray, son of the legendary harry caray, were hired to call atlanta braves games. One problem with national tbs its still all fking braves. Atlanta braves analyst joe simpson talks dave niehaus. Van wieren died at the age of 69 saturday following a prolonged battle with lymphoma. For as long as i can remember, skip caray and pete van wieren were the voice of atlanta braves baseball. Caray was named georgia sportscaster of the year six times. Pete van wieren october 7, 1944 august 2, 2014 was a former american sportscaster.
Pete van wieren, longtime braves broadcaster, passes away. Van wieren was inducted into the braves hall of fame in 2004 along with caray. Remembering skip society for american baseball research. Pete van wieren a broadcast pioneer voices of the game. While skip caray provided the humor, dry and a bit sarcastic at times, pete van wieren was intelligent, articulate, and passionate about the game. Heres a nice, throwback picture of van wieren with ernie johnson and caray. For generations of braves fans, they were a connection to the team, a daily companion painting a picture of the game of baseball in a way. If you listen or watch a lot of games, and at 162 games a year, thats a lot of time that you spend listening to these guys. Pete van wierens legacy began in 1976, when he and a young skip caray were hired to call. In 1976, van wieren and another young broadcaster named skip caray, son of. He was the voice of major league baseballs atlanta braves along with skip caray van wieren was born in rochester, new york he also called games for the atlanta hawks, atlanta falcons preseason, and atlanta flames.
Peter dirk van wieren october 7, 1944 august 2, 2014 was an american sportscaster best. Pete van wierens legacy began in 1976, when he and a young skip caray were hired to call atlanta braves games. Just before the august 4th game of the braves at san francisco, pete van wieren had these words to say about his broadcast partner, skip caray, who had died just the day before. An iconic figure in franchise history and a 2004 inductee into the braves hall of fame, van wieren, along with broadcasting partner skip caray, became the voice of the braves after joining turner. In 1995, van wieren cowrote the book americas team. Jul 27, 2016 skip caray, pete and don sutton were going to remain here in their roles of course, but there was an opening to fill the fourth. His gallows humor was perfect for a bad team which the braves were at. Bbtfs newsblog discussion tbs bumps announcers caray. Tbs announced tuesday that don sutton and joe simpson will broadcast 90 braves games on the cable network, with skip caray and pete van wieren working games for regional channel turner south. Van wieren had been calling games for the class aaa tidewater tides when the braves hired him before the 1976 season to join a new threeman broadcast team with mr.
Together, it was a delightful combination to listen to, even when it was difficult to watch. Skip caray and pete van wieren were more than announcers. Remembering skip, in ken fenster and wynn montgomery, eds. A voice for the braves for 33 years, pete van wieren has seen the highs and lows of a franchise that transformed baseball in atlanta. After his retirement in 2008, he released a book entitled of mikes and men. The broadcast booth for the braves home games at turner field is named for van wieren. Aug 02, 2014 pete van wieren october 7, 1944 august 2, 2014, a native of rochester, ny, was an american sportscaster best known for his long career calling playbyplay for major league baseballs atlanta braves. From 1976 to 2008, he called the teams television andor radio broadcasts, teaming with a number of onair partners including ernie johnson, don. From 1976 to 2008, he called the teams television andor radio broadcasts, teaming with a number of onair partners including ernie johnson, don sutton and skip caray who was hired by the club at the same time as himself. These days, pete is four years into retirement, and the mantra, never give up hope, has taken on a whole new meaning. Caray and van wieren will handle 36 games on turner south, a regional. Jack wilkinson the extraordinary life of an atlanta braves hall of fame broadcaster is shared in this firsthand account of the highs and lows of major league baseball. He was a very witty announcer and i enjoyed listening to him.
Pete van wieren born october 7, 1944 in rochester, new york began his broadcasting career with the atlanta braves in by1976 along with partner skip caray. These men were the voices of my obsession with baseball when i was growing up. Pete van wieren s legacy began in 1976, when he and a young skip caray were hired to call atlanta braves games. Skip caray and pete van wieren stayed in the braves broadcast booth for over thirty years. Instead, he found bigleague broadcast heaven in atlanta. Bbtfs newsblog discussion tbs bumps announcers caray, van. Since retiring after the 2008 season, pete has written a book called of mikes and men. Through it all there were skip caray and pete van wieren calling the games. Van wieren was an announcer for the braves in the 1985 movie the sluggers wife. Exbraves announcer van wieren opens up about cancer. Aug 12, 2014 through it all there were skip caray and pete van wieren calling the games. Pete van wieren leaving the airwaves atlanta business chronicle. Longtime braves broadcaster pete van wieren passes away fox. Sep 30, 2015 skip caray, pete van wieren, joe simpson, and don sutton were the voices of this rhythm and our bond.
Longtime braves broadcasters skip caray and pete van wieren had one idea during a recent game. While others lionized the braves announcers for their openly cheering for the braves and for some of the offbeat and strange things they would say, it was just part of it for us. Pete van wieren lacked ernies folksiness and skips roguish humor, but the professor brought his own brand of wit and wisdom to the booth. What i liked most about this book was hearing van wierens voice in my head as i. Pete van wieren october 7, 1944 august 2, 2014, a native of rochester, new york, was an american sportscaster best known for his long career calling playbyplay for major league baseballs atlanta braves broadcasting career atlanta braves. As seen through the eyes of the voices of the atlant by richard sink, skip caray, pete van wieren. A memorial service is planned for saturday at 11 a. Caray and pete van wieren have been broadcasting braves games since 1976.
Over the next three decades, they were the voices of americas team, as the braves became known thanks to ted turners tbs superstation. I first met skip caray on a december day in 1975, when he and i were. Longtime braves broadcaster pete van wieren dead at 69 after. Skip loved making ernie laugh, and their repartee, especially during blowout games, was priceless. Caray was an announcer for the braves in the 1985 movie the sluggers wife. Chop to the top the behindthe scenes tale of the teamand the townthat turned upside down. Oct 20, 2008 its the end of an era for the atlanta braves on the radio. Van wieren said, pete rose now has 4197 hits or whatever it was then. He was the voice of major league baseballs atlanta braves along with skip caray.
And when things did turn around for the braves, petes hope and atlantas hope paid off in a big way. The behindthe scenes tale of the teamand the townthat turned upside down as seen through the eyes of the voices of the atlanta braves, skip caray and pete van wieren sink, richard published by tomahawk pr 1992. Pete van wieren, a member of the braves hall of fame, has retired and ended his 33 years as a playbyplay broadcaster for the atlanta. Pete and skip caray were both freshmen in americas bicentennial year. Along with skip caray and ernie johnson, pete van wieren formed the third leg of the broadcast team for americas team. For generations of braves fans, they were a connection to the team, a daily companion painting a picture of. Pete van wieren was named the professor by braves radiotv partner ernie johnson. Aug 02, 2014 while skip caray provided the humor, dry and a bit sarcastic at times, pete van wieren was intelligent, articulate, and passionate about the game. Van wieren also was employed for turner sports calling college football games on. Pete van wierens legacy began in 1976, when he and a young skip caray.
Pete van wieren simple english wikipedia, the free. Carays sarcastic wit made him a popular lead voice of the broadcast team, and his fame grew nationally as tbs carried braves games to a national audience for 30 years. This article was published in the 2010 the national pastime. Of mikes and men by pete van wieren overdrive rakuten. Don sutton and joe simpson, whove split duties with caray and van wieren for several years, will handle 90 games on tbs. Apr 05, 2017 as a native georgian and a huge fan the atlanta braves, i am very familiar with the name ernie johnson both jr. Aug 10, 2014 skip loved making ernie laugh, and their repartee, especially during blowout games, was priceless. In 2015, he was elected to the braves hall of fame for his work with the team as a broadcaster, joining fellow broadcasters skip caray, pete van wieren and ernie johnson to be so honored. Remembering skip caray and pete van wieren talking chop.
They were amazing on their own, but together they were golden. Van wieren, caray are off tbs games orlando sentinel. Pete van wieren, 69, of johns creek, died saturday of complications from lymphoma. On november 4, 2009, van wieren was diagnosed with cutaneous bcell lymphoma. He also called games for the atlanta hawks, atlanta falcons preseason, and atlanta flames. Pete van wieren announced his retirement from the braves booth after the 2008 season. I put my name in and i guess you could say i got lucky to be. In 1989, he began a broadcasting career when he called games for the dodgers and atlanta braves. Skip caray left and pete van wieren acknowledging fans at a braves game in 1983. Pete van wieren simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Van wieren is survived by his wife of 50 years, elaine, sons jon and steve, daughterinlaw starla, and granddaughters chaney, grace and becca. He had a huge impact on a lot of peoples lives and he had a. Skip caray, pete van wieren, joe simpson, and don sutton were the voices of this rhythm and our bond.
Former atlanta braves broadcaster pete van wieren, right, is shown in the booth with longtime broadcasting partner skip caray. As a boy growing up in upstate new york, pete van wieren dreamed of becoming the playbyplay voice of his hometown heroes, the triple a rochester red wings. A lifetime of braves baseball in which he chronicles his long career and some of the key people and events he encountered. This segment features commentary from braves announcers skip carey and pete van wieren. Turner senior vice president greg hughes said extensive research showing that viewers are less likely to tune in or stay as long with the bravesoriented tbs telecasts contributed to switching 28year announcers skip caray and pete van wieren to regional cable turner south. Skip caray, pete and don sutton were going to remain here in their roles of course, but there was an opening to fill the fourth. Caray and van wieren were inducted into the braves hall of fame in 2005. During the next three decades, the professor and caray became the voices of a team known nationwide as americas team courtesy of ted turners superstation tbs. A lifetime of braves baseball, triumph books, chicago, il, 2010.
For thirtythree years, pete van wieren was a very welcome presence on braves radio and television broadcasts, and a good contrast to his long time partners skip caray and ernie johnson. I hope the three of them are together now talking about last nights game, said carays son, chip, a. Jun 26, 2007 longtime braves broadcasters skip caray and pete van wieren had one idea during a recent game. Sports speakers 360 sports talent agency for booking athletes. Skip says, after a pause, thats about one for every person in attendance tonight. Longtime braves broadcaster pete van wieren passes away. Baseball in the peach state, the national pastime, sabr, volume 40 2010, pp. He said he was not trying to impress owners, managers, or players. Pete van wieren born october 7, 1944 in rochester, new york began his broadcasting career with the atlanta braves in by1976 along with partner skip caray born october 7. Skip caray and pete van wieren acknowledging fans at a game in 1983. In 1976, he was added to the broadcast team for the braves, a position he held until his death.