RIP Skip Caray

[TyWebb]

This hits hard. Skip was a huge part of my baseball life and why I became a baseball fan. Truly a huge loss to not only the Braves, but to all of baseball.

The man could rattle off how to figure out slugging percentage better than anyone because at least once a week someone called in during the pre or post game show to ask. With a sigh, he'd say it all in one breath and move on to the next caller.

I still get chills when I hear the Bream/Cabrera call. That is probably my personal all-time sports highlight.

 

[Sxysprtswrtr]

RIP, Skip. What sad news.

I'm not a huge baseball fan, but I did grow up listening to Braves broadcasts because of my location -- and in my region, you either listened to Braves or you just didn't follow baseball. Thanks Skip for all the memories.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

The Braves are getting hammered in the eighth inning and he says, "if you promise to patronize our sponsors, you have our permission to walk the dog." (dang, fop beat me to it)

Another time, in the 70s, Rowland Office is playing center field and the Braves are in Cincinnati. Reds batter hits the ball to center and it bounces up and his Office in the pills. Caray: "Line drive left center. Whoa, left center all right..."

And his story about peeing into a cup under the table on press row in an overtime Hawks game is priceless.

He could be surly at times, and personally, I grew kind of tired of it. But even his critics must acknowledge that in his own way he shot from the hip nearly as much as his dad. That is a quality in decreasing supply it seems, and he will surely be missed.

RIP, Skip.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

I thought Skip was at his best during those pre-dynasty years when the Braves were lousy. No matter how god-awful the game was, he kept me watching because of his droll sense of humor. Smart, funny, loved the game but didn't take it too seriously. He was great.

"If you agree to patronize our sponsors, feel free to go out and walk your dog."

I think at some point the Braves or TBS told him not to say that anymore.

(And that, folks, is a double D_B. I don't care.)

 

[novelist_wannabe]

He probably told them if they stopped getting the **** beat of them, he'd gladly stop using the line.

 

[forever_town]

I think at some point the Braves or TBS told him not to say that anymore.

As a listener, I would not have thought Skip would be speaking on behalf of the Braves or TBS. I would have thought he'd be speaking for himself and his broadcast partner.

 

[slappy4428]

well, damn.
I liked Skip a lot better than Chip... and almost as much as the Old Man...

 

[the fop]

The Braves are getting hammered in the eighth inning and he says, "if you promise to patronize our sponsors, you have our permission to walk the dog." (dang, fop beat me to it)

Another time, in the 70s, Rowland Office is playing center field and the Braves are in Cincinnati. Reds batter hits the ball to center and it bounces up and his Office in the pills. Caray: "Line drive left center. Whoa, left center all right..."

And his story about peeing into a cup under the table on press row in an overtime Hawks game is priceless.

He could be surly at times, and personally, I grew kind of tired of it. But even his critics must acknowledge that in his own way he shot from the hip nearly as much as his dad. That is a quality in decreasing supply it seems, and he will surely be missed.

RIP, Skip.

I'd not heard the Rowland Office one. That is awesome.

 

[John]

Another voice of summer that you recognized like an old friend.

RIP.

Well put.

Days at the beach with my grandfather who played minor league ball, sitting in front of the TV watching the Braves of Murphy and Horner suck it up. Skip was as much part of the soundtrack to those trips as the waves crashing and the wind rustling the sea grass in front of the house we always rented.

 

[mike311gd]

I don't think I've ever done anyone's voice as much as his. I'll never think of Greg McMichael without thinking of Skip Caray.

I agree. I can't say the words "Chipper Jones" without doing a Skip imitation.

RIP.

He's the reason I remember all those old Braves names. Honestly, my best friend and I will get going on those early-'90s names and have trouble stopping. I wonder how many broadcasters have that impact.

 

[westcoastvol]

A big part of me has died, as well.

He, Pete Van Wieren, Ernie Johnson, Sr., the amazing John Ward and my dad (not a sportscaster, but often told me to hush so he could hear the radio) are the distinct voices of my youth.

My best (and only) Skip Story was when I created a public service announcement that had a baseball theme to it. Being here in L.A., Vin Scully was asked and was willing to be the voiceover. I chose Skip. It was a wonderful half hour.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

For years, those of us not close to MLB markets had two choices: WGN and Harry Caray with the Cubs or TBS and Skip Caray with the Braves.

Usually, the folks chose the Cubs, in part because of Harry and the loveable loser tag the team had (and still has). But listening to Skip was worthwhile, especially as he continued to keep humor light as the losses piled up for the Braves.

RIP Skip. You'll be missed.

 

[Angola!]

Maybe this has already been said, but I'll ask anyway:

I called my dad to tell him and we know we both like the Caray's, but is Skip Chip's dad or what is the relation? We couldn't remember. We just remember listening to both of them for many, many years.

 

[mike311gd]

Harry, Skip, Chip right down the line.

 

[deskslave]

And according to the atlantabraves.com story, another son, Josh, who is a broadcaster for the Rome Braves.

 

[Blitz]

My teen years were spent with WTCG, and Caray & friends
Hubie's Hustlers (the lunch-pail Hawks of Dan Roundfield, John Drew and Tree Rollins, etc. era)
Losing lots to Philly in the postseason
Phil Niekro doing cold, cold opening days on the mound, on the road, with those baby blue Braves unis
Post-Chief Noc-A-Homa era, and pre-Chief
Bob Horner's legendary 2-for-40 season-opening at-bat schneids
Jerry Royster's infielding
Jerry Matthews and Dale Murphy in the outfield.
And Skip Caray & friends keeping it all so real.

RIP Skip

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

"Listen to this crowd"

 

[Chef]

RIP Skip Caray.

My best memories of watching those WTCG/WTBS games: One, they used to replay the game at 2 a.m. Central time (my cable company didn't put it on the PBS station until midnight to 6 a.m. -- got to watch Bill Tush's morning news, too, sometimes); two, Caray is on the call at the top of the ninth, home game, runners on first and second, one out. He goes (paraphrasing): "Well folks, we'll get to our movie 'The Searchers' with John Wayne as soon as we get the old 6-4-3 here." Hitter smacks grounder. "6. 4. 3. Braves win." It was uncanny!!! Good times, good memories from (as someone else mentioned earlier) a latchkey kid, too. Thanks Skip.

I remember the exact same play.

They were playing San Francisco, and Jeffrey Leonard was the batter.

I spent many a summer night listening to Skip, Pete on WTBS.

RIP to a legend.

 

[buckweaver]

My favorite Skip line, from back in the late 1980s, during another 100-loss season and at the midway point to make the game official:

"And now, we've reached the bottom of another fifth ..."

 

[forever_town]

My favorite Skip line, from back in the late 1980s, during another 100-loss season and at the midway point to make the game official:

"And now, we've reached the bottom of another fifth ..."

That's funny just seeing it in your post.