by Eric Yang
Staff Writer

Niehaus has been a symbol of Mariners Baseball ever since their inaugural season in 1977.

For Seattle Mariners radio and television play by play announcer Dave Niehaus, the Ford C. Frick award and the Hall of Fame have been a long time coming. After 31 years of calling the game, and on his 73rd birthday, the voice of the Mariners was named this year’s winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting and admitted into the Hall of Fame. Can you say, “My oh my”?

Baseball people will always say that as a broadcaster, you can only be as good as the team on the field. But Niehaus called every game like the Mariners were in a pennant race, despite the Mariners numerous losses during their early years.

His famous calls like, “It’s grand salami time!” or, “Fly away!” will always be remembered by Mariners Fans.

No one will soon forget the call he made on Edgar Martinez’s double down the left field line that allowed Ken Griffey, Jr. to score, lifting the Mariners to a victory over the New York Yankees after trailing 2-0 in the 1995 ALDS. That moment saved the Mariners from leaving town and played a major role in the creation of Safeco Field.

The first player to congratulate Niehaus on his award was Mariners former allstar center fielder. Griffey Jr. called from Florida and said, “I bet you don’t know who this is!” Niehaus replied, “Oh, yes I do. How are you, Junior?”

During his press conference with the Seattle media, Niehaus would continue to show what a class act he has always been.

“I would like to thank the fans of the Pacific Northwest,” he said, “It’s an honor to be the first pure Mariner to be elected to the Hall of Fame.”

“When I step up there to take this award on July 27 and accept this award it will not be for me but for the entire Mariners organization and the region,” said Niehaus.

Niehaus is the first person who comes to mind when I think of Seattle Mariners Baseball, because of his longevity and history with the organization. We`ve had star players like Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki, Griffey, and Martinez, but long after the players have come and gone, Niehaus has remained the Mariners’ one constant.

When Niehaus retires Mariners broadcasts won’t be the same. He employs a smooth, fluid tone to uniquely describe each moment of a Mariners games to each listener as if the listener is there with a box seat ticket behind home plate.

However, he does not see retirement in the near future and Mariner fans can keep listening to his voice over the summer months as a newly elected Hall of Famer and one of the greatest baseball voices of all time.