Early life and career Niehaus was born and raised in
Princeton, Indiana. He graduated from
Indiana University in 1957, entered the military, and began his broadcasting career with
Armed Forces Radio. He became a partner of
Dick Enberg on the broadcast team of the
California Angels in
1969. Niehaus also broadcast for the
Los Angeles Rams of the
NFL and the
UCLA Bruins football and
basketball teams during this period.
Seattle Mariners In 1977,
Danny Kaye, part-owner of the Seattle Mariners
expansion team, recruited Niehaus to become the franchise's radio voice. Despite working for a franchise which from its first year in 1977 until
1991 was without a winning season, Niehaus's talent gained recognition, and he was considered one of the few attractions for Mariners fans. •
"It will fly away!" (sometimes
"Fly, fly away!") – used for home runs. • "Death to Flying Things" – first to call
Franklin Gutiérrez by his nickname • "The Kid" – Niehaus's name for
Ken Griffey Jr. Notable calls {{Listen {{blockquote|Right now, the Mariners looking for the tie. They would take a fly ball. They would love a base hit into the gap and they could win it with
Junior's speed. The stretch... and the 0-1 pitch on the way to
Edgar Martínez, swung on and LINED DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE FOR A BASE HIT! HERE COMES
JOEY! HERE IS
JUNIOR TO THIRD BASE, THEY'RE GOING TO WAVE HIM IN! THE THROW TO THE PLATE WILL BE LATE! THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE
AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! IT JUST CONTINUES! MY, OH MY! EDGAR MARTÍNEZ WITH A DOUBLE RIPPED DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE AND THEY ARE GOING CRAZY AT THE KINGDOME!
Death Heart problems had forced Niehaus to undergo two
angioplasties in
1996, causing him to stop
smoking and change his diet. On November 10, 2010, he suffered a
heart attack at his home in
Bellevue, Washington while preparing to barbecue some ribs on his deck. He died that day at the age of 75. In a formal statement, Mariners Chairman
Howard Lincoln and President
Chuck Armstrong said "Dave has truly been the heart and soul of this franchise since its inception in 1977... He truly was the fans' connection to every game." Washington governor
Chris Gregoire said "Today the Pacific Northwest lost one of its sports icons...Dave was an institution here starting with the team's first pitch in 1977. With all due respect to the great
Alvin Davis, Dave is 'Mr. Mariner.'" At news of Niehaus's death, tributes came from
Jay Buhner,
Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mayor
Mike McGinn, other Mariners broadcasters, and fans.
Legacy Prior to the
Mariners' home opener in 2011 against the
Cleveland Indians, the city of Seattle and King County declared April 8 "My oh My! Dave Niehaus Day." After a successful petition drive by fans Glen Garnett and Mark Caylor, the city also gave the block of First Avenue S. between Edgar Martínez Dr. S. and S. Royal Brougham Way the honorary designation of Dave Niehaus Way S. A sign which paid tribute to Niehaus was unveiled in the press area. On December 22, 2010, Seattle rapper
Macklemore released a song called "My Oh My" in tribute to Niehaus. It describes the sportscaster's influence on not only Macklemore's own childhood but the lives of Seattleites in general. The song also features the audio clip of the winning call from the 1995 American League Division Series. When it was debuted by a radio host, numerous calls were received from Mariners fans who had pulled over on the highway in tears from the lyrical work and memory of Niehaus. Macklemore performed the song at Safeco Field on Opening Day 2011 during the team's tribute to the late broadcaster. Niehaus's longtime broadcast partner
Rick Rizzs presided over the private unveiling ceremony. The statue is located on the main concourse near Section 105 in right centerfield. It depicts Niehaus sitting at a desk behind a microphone, with his scorebook in front of him. Sculptor Lou Cella viewed dozens of photos before creating the statue, which was first sculpted in clay, then cast in bronze. There is an empty seat next to the statue, allowing fans to sit next to Niehaus and pose for photos. ==References==