RIP Skip Caray

[Chef]

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 ..."

Awesome.

 

[bydesign77]

Around these parts, when the Braves make the postseason, it's tune the TV to watch, mute the sound and turn up the radio. Skip was a huge part of that.

 

[playthrough]

RIP. I've got the same memories as others here, having grown up in Atlanta. I too will always associate him with the terrible Braves teams, his wit was absolutely made for them. (Frankly, I thought Braves baseball became somewhat less fun when the playoff berths piled up in the 90s, too many bandwagon fans came out at first and then they got complacent, amazingly. But that's another thread...)

I remember one postgame wrap-up from the mid/late-80s when the team finally won one after a prolonged losing streak. Caray came on from the commercial break with a sarcastic "ah, win, win, win," like it was another day at the office for the '27 Yankees.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

I think Van Weiren a couple of times quipped, "and now we're heading to Skip's favorite inning, the bottom of the fifth." I could be wrong about that though.

I heard the story a couple of weeks ago -- I think it was Van Weiren telling it -- about how there was a point when the Braves would get to the next city on a road trip and everyone was coming up to Skip and Pete asking for their autographs and nobody knew who the Braves' players were. They were nationwide household names. Biff Pocoroba or Bill Nahorodny? No so much.

 

[deskslave]

Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!

 

[Steak Snabler]

Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!

"They may have to hospitalize Sid Bream! He's down at the bottom of a huge pile at home plate!"

Thanks for posting that, DS.

 

[doubledown68]

What I love about longtime broadcasters is (for me at least) how they become part of my youth... just little snippets of summers gone by, when you thought you'd be 10 forever and that school might never end.

For me, when I hear KC's Denny Mathews on the radio, it reminds me of car rides to Happy Rock park to see my dad and his friends play softball. It's root beer with crushed ice and Guys and Kansas City life commercials on the way back.

With Skip, it's sultry summer nights, watching the Braves just because they were on (and because Mom wasn't home... a non-sports fan who married a sports nut and had two nutty sons).

Just little snippets. The Braves were just on in my house to pass the time. But it was a time when life was simpler. I miss that time.... and in a small way, hearing Skip's voice always took me back there. Bon voyage, Skip.

 

[dooley_womack1]

I remember dozing off during a Braves game for about 4 hours, then waking up to the end of the game that ended too late to have fireworks on the Fourth of July, when Rick Camp hit the homer.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I remember dozing off during a Braves game for about 4 hours, then waking up to the end of the game that ended too late to have fireworks on the Fourth of July, when Rick Camp hit the homer.

Skip's line the next day: "It was the only time I ever got home at dawn with a clear conscience."

 

[Hammer Pants]

Damn. Loved the way he called a game and, more importantly, he was absolutely awesome the few times I spoke with him.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

We just got word that Skip Caray has passed away.

Sorry, can't link to anything yet because we just got the news.

Heard him call the 15-6 Braves loss last Sunday. I loved Skip Carey, and the TBS team with him, Sutton and Van Wieren was my favorite ever.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

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.

wfw

 

[dooley_womack1]

I remember him telling some stories of him and Alex Hawkins painting the town red. Great stuff.

 

[sportshack06]

Jeez...This sucks.
Had no idea, until they just gave his obit on SportsCenter about 20 minutes ago and I've just sat here stunned since.

Skip was the kinda guy, who would show his scruffiness on the call-in show (Hey Skip, I was wondering, what exactly is the infield fly rule), but then shows his true emotions, just like he did in the Braves finale on TBS last year.

He was I feel the best broadcaster of his era, for his way to keep interest during those awful years of baseball. It felt great to actually hear him broadcast those successes in the 90s and 2000s, but those first couple of years were the best. 1991 and 1992 - Skip actually sounded like a kid in the candy store...."From worst, to first...listen to this crowd"

The Cabrera hit sends chills down my spine, as does the World Series clincher.

However, while folks on this thread remember Skip for their funny calls, I have one that I've not seen of.

It's a hot day at Atlanta Fulton County and of course, the Braves are getting drilled. No one's there. However, the camera finds a young couple out in the outfield pavillion seats. Camera cuts back and forth between the game and this couple who are sharing kisses. Skip then drops a line of wit. "Pete, it appears as if he's kissing her on the strikes and she's kissing him on the balls", which was then proceeded by about 3 minutes of silence in the booth.

That ranks up there with when the Braves were playing the Phillies and Mike Schmidt was doing something, and Skip then says "Mike ****"....followed by audible laughter in the booth for Lord only knows how long.

Heard Skip on XM driving on town on Thursday - it was the last game he ever did. I knew he had been in bad health, but he sounded really bad...I guess it was the bronchitis that caused him to miss the weekend series. However, once I got home and was watching on SportsSouth... Jon Sciambi and Joe Simpson were discussing pizza, and Skip came over and did something with those guys and he was on TV....looked pretty healthy.

Damn, just damn.

RIP Skip.

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

Was just talking to someone last weekend about the likelihood of Skip getting the Hall of Fame award soon.

He was an entertaining broadcaster, the kind that seems to be vanishing as the business gets more and more corporate.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

I did not know his given name was Harry Caray Jr.

Thanks, buck.

I must be stoned (I know... big double entendre, there)

 

[buckweaver]

I did not know his given name was Harry Caray Jr.

Yeah, I wasn't aware of that until today, either. Turns out Chip is Harry Christopher Caray III.

 

[buckweaver]

It's a hot day at Atlanta Fulton County and of course, the Braves are getting drilled. No one's there. However, the camera finds a young couple out in the outfield pavillion seats. Camera cuts back and forth between the game and this couple who are sharing kisses. Skip then drops a line of wit. "Pete, it appears as if he's kissing her on the strikes and she's kissing him on the balls", which was then proceeded by about 3 minutes of silence in the booth.

Sorry, hack, that line was attributed to Dizzy Dean before Skip even called his first game.

 

[Italian_Stallion]

I watched Skip on WTBS, too. I also listened to Jack Buck on the radio. Snippets of our youth. I still remember the night Ken Hill threw a no-hitter for the Cardinals. Hell, it might not have happened that way. But that's the way I remember it. The green glow of the radio dial and Jack's voice cracking over the airwaves.

RIP Skip.

 

[D-3 Fan]

I'm sitting here stunned as well after reading the bottom line on ESPN. Sunday afternoons as a lad watching Skip and Pete, and Don on WTBS, then TBS. This is a big big blow for the Braves organization and for the Caray family. Correct me if I'm wrong, but has it been ten years since Harry's death??