RIP Pete Van Wieren

[Steak Snabler]

Longtime Braves broadcaster dead at age 69 from cancer:

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/braves-broadcaster-van-wieren-dies-after-bout-with/ngssg/

I'm a huge Braves fan as many of you know, and grew up watching/listening to Pete and Skip Caray on WTBS and radio. Skip was always more colorful and good for a laugh (which we needed with those bad Braves teams of the late 80s), but I always preferred the cerebral approach of "The Professor."

He did not make the trip to Cooperstown for induction weekend (even though he was originally from upstate New York), which was telling. RIP.

 

[Songbird]

Part of my after-school experience every day: come home, putz around, turn on TBS at 4:30 and baseball.

(And when it wasn't TBS then WOR for the Mets or WGN for the Cubs, and sometimes you surfed all 3.)

 

[nietsroob17]

A piece of my childhood is officially closed now. Pete, Skip Caray and Ernie Johnson Sr. were so integral to Braves baseball. Now, at least, I can picture them all back together, representing for America's Team from above.

Maybe they can settle that ostrich race, once and for all.

So long, Pete.

 

[Chef2]

I'll still never forget the Giants-Braves game where Jeffrey Leonard was up with 1 out for SF......Caray chimbs in with........"We'll get right to (insert movie name) just as soon as Leonard hits into a 6-4-3 double play."

Next pitch.

6-4-3.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I'll still never forget the Giants-Braves game where Jeffrey Leonard was up with 1 out for SF......Caray chimbs in with........"We'll get right to (insert movie name) just as soon as Leonard hits into a 6-4-3 double play."

Next pitch.

6-4-3.

It was "The Magnificent Seven," and here's the clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJv51w7DBFw

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkgrqlgEv_4

Induct Skip and Pete, together.

 

[Mark2010]

Crap. One of my favorite broadcasters.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

Grew up watching Braves games on TBS and will always remember how Skip and Pete called games. Those two were great together.

 

[Mark2010]

Van Wieren also called college football and NBA games on TBS. I had hoped when TNT got their first NFL package in 1990 that he would do NFL games, but they went with Caray instead.

 

[Chef2]

Thanks Steak and Fart.....

Those clips bring back a lot of memories.

 

[Colton]

A piece of my childhood is officially closed now. Pete, Skip Caray and Ernie Johnson Sr. were so integral to Braves baseball. Now, at least, I can picture them all back together, representing for America's Team from above.

Maybe they can settle that ostrich race, once and for all.

So long, Pete.

Exactly... RIP.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

Not even a week after one of the best days in Braves history, and this happens.

I listened to a lot more radio in the 70s, 80s and 90s than I do now. That broadcasting crew fostered my love of sports in general and baseball in particular. It was such a great fit between the three of them. Skip provided comic relief and Pete broke the game down in such a cerebral way, the end result was just a complete listening experience. If you haven't read Of Mikes and Men, I highly recommend it. Very interesting picture of life around baseball.

As a sportswriter, I had occasion to chat with him several times, and no matter the topic, he was personable and offered great insight. We all value information wherever we can find it, and he had a diamond notes segment that shamed the vast majority of full-time beat writers.

 

[Mark2010]

Yeah, lots of people of my generation grew up listening to sports on the radio, long before cable TV became a mainstay. Having done a little radio broadcasting myself, I can appreciate the art and how great some of the legendary announcers were.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

I am truly saddened by this.
For them both to be gone early just bites the big one.
Pete was so, so good at his job it's a joke.

 

[playthrough]

Darn. I was an Atlanta child of the 70s and 80s too and Pete and Co. were the voices of summer. And when you're a kid you don't really care that the team lost a crapload of games.

 

[Batman]

In tribute, they should start the funeral at 7:35.

 

[Mark2010]

I wonder if the Braves will wear a PVW patch on their uniforms.

 

[HanSenSE]

In tribute, they should start the funeral at 7:35.

Unless it's on Wednesday, when it's at 5:05 ET. Got to clear the church for Wednesday night movie midweek service.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

In tribute, they should start the funeral at 7:35.

Followed by an episode of the Andy Griffith Show.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

I wonder if the Braves will wear a PVW patch on their uniforms.

The one for Ernie Johnson had an old microphone on it. Skip Caray's was just "SKIP"

I think they should do Pete's with a pair of wire-rimmed glasses.