On Sunday evening, long time Atlanta Braves broadcaster, Skip Caray, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 68. Skip Caray is the son of the legendary Cubs broadcaster, Harry Caray, and was regarded as one of the great broadcasters in the game. Skip was hired by the Braves in 1976 and was known for his sarcastic wit, humor, and honesty (even to a fault). For the last few seasons, Skip got to work with his son Chip as a member of the Braves broadcast team. Over the last couple of seasons, Skip had some health problems which limited his work with the Braves. On Sunday, he collapsed and died at his home while feeding the birds in his yard. Despite his health problems, this was a shock to his family, the Braves organization, and to the baseball world.
It shocked and saddened me as well. When I began reading the stories about Skip and re-living the audio broadcast of the Braves 1992 NLCS win over Pittsburgh ( two words - Sid Bream), I cried. I hadn't planned on it. I had heard on my way to work that he had died and I was shocked. However, when I began to read about it and it began to sink in, the tears flowed. I cried for 10 minutes or so, going through more tissues than I could count.
Growing up in SC and watching the Braves, Skip Caray was my favorite Braves announcer. I loved his nasally voice, his wit and sarcasm, his stories, and just those things that made him unique as an announcer (he used to say things like "and a fan from Macon, Georgia caught that foul ball" making little kids everywhere think that Skip knew where every person in the stands was from). I started watching the Braves in 1984 and watched well over a 100 games a year as a kid all the way through high school and even into college. It was something we did almost every night as a family. In sports, players come and go. However, the announcers rarely change and they are your lifeline to the team. It is through them that you get to know the team and get those descriptions of everything that happens on the field. In many ways, it is the announcers that are the face and personality of your team. And for me, Skip Caray was that. There are no memories about the Braves or baseball without him. For many summers throughout my childhood, Skip Caray, Pete Van Wieren, Ernie Johnson, Don Sutton, Joe Simpson (and others) were part of my family nearly every night. Some of those combinations I loved and Skip and Pete were the best. I remember games and have many childhood memories that are associated with those voices. And Skip was always my favorite, flaws and all.
So when he passed away so suddenly, I felt as if part of my childhood, my memories, and a member of my family died. I can't quite explain or put into words the feelings, memories, and experiences that are tied to Braves games and Skip Caray. It's something I can re-live, remember, and feel but never really explain. It's just part of me and my childhood. And I will always remember that.
Rest in peace, Skip. And thank you.
(To close, here is a great post written about Skip and what he was about - http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/bradley/entries/2008/08/03/skip_caray_did_it_his_way.html)
Just reading that article and the comments made me cry all over again.
Skip Caray (with his son Chip)
1939 - 2008
