The Death of Skip Caray

I'm guessing that 80% of the people who read this blog have no idea who Skip Caray is.  And, you know, I really don't care.  This is my blog and I'd like to say a few words about a baseball broadcaster who I loved to listen over the past 30 plus years who passed away on Sunday. 

Skip Caray was one of the long time voices of the Atlanta Braves on both radio (WSB) and on television (WTBS).  His dry wit and sarcastic nature helped viewers and listeners of Braves broadcasts stomach the outcome on the field when the Braves really sucked in the 70's and 80's.  Perseverance pulled through as Caray was rewarded with calling 14 straight seasons of division titles for the Braves, including the 1995 World Series championship.   

Caray was part of a group of baseball broadcasters that first came into my house in 1979 in the early days of cable television.  WTCG (later WTBS) would have the Braves game on live at the regular time, but they'd have the replay of the game on at 1 a.m. in the morning.  And as a baseball fan, having regular week night games on the television was just heaven.  But having the replay on late at night after I got home from the bars was just gravy.  Falling asleep to baseball on the TV became a habit.

Caray had a very laid back style of announcing games.  It was tough to believe he was the son of the bombastic Harry Caray, who eventually became a character bigger than the players he was watching on the field.  But one thing father and son had in common was to call a spade a spade.  If someone made a bad play for the home team, the Caray's were the first to point it out to viewers and listeners.

Here's a picture of Skip Caray with his dad, Harry, in the middle, and Skip's son, Chip, on the left.  Chip Caray is a notable sports broadcaster these days on TBS.  He's also one of the better of the young announcers coming up in the ranks.   

One of the more funny moments I remember from Skip Caray's career was during another Atlanta blowout loss in 1986.  A buddy and I were watching the game one night and Skip Caray was calling the game.  It was something like 15-1 and it was in the 8th or 9th innings.  After the other team scored another run, Caray said, "Well, folks, if you promise to patronize our sponsors, you have my permission to go walk the dog." 

Caray, who was a notorious drinker before giving up alcohol for health reasons eight years ago, once ended a broadcast I was watching one evening by saying, "That's the story from Atlanta, folks.  And now, I'm off to have a cold one.  So long, everybody."

Caray's health had been in decline for the past couple of years.  He even had a near-death experience last year as he suffered from congestive heart failure and diabetes.  But he was able to battle back and was able to call Braves home games this season.  It just so happened that Caray's last game was July 31 - a game I listened to on my new XM radio as I was driving to St. Louis.  Even though he had a myriad of health problems, you couldn't really hear it in his voice.

It's too bad I won't be able to listen to Skip Caray's nasally, yet soothing voice calling baseball any longer.  Caray said that he called the games with truck drivers in mind - he tried to make it interesting enough to keep them awake on the road.  He was fun to listen to even if you weren't a Braves - or baseball - fan.

Comments

[Phyllis Burrows]

He was one if a kind. I listened to him for years. He will never be forgotten.