Pete Van Wieren and why I love baseball

Pete Van Wieren died today.  He was 69 years old and he is one of the three formative voices that raised me on the game that I love.....the game of baseball as the voice of the Atlanta Braves.

Pete, Skip Caray and Ernie Johnson Sr. were the three major voices of the Braves from the 70's until the 2000's.  As I was growing up listening and watching to some AWFUL Braves teams in the late 70's and 80's....those three men rotated between radio and TV during each game.  Of the three, I can honestly say that Pete was my favorite.  Skip was the comedian and the son of a famous broadcaster.  Ernie was the old storyteller who had played in the old days.  Pete was your next door neighbor who got called in to do a game.  Pete was a teacher who really loved the game and knew all the stats.  Pete was your co-worker who would talk about the WITH you....not talk down to you or talk around you.  Pete was the Professor....a true professional.

Tonight, as the Braves play the San Diego Padres....Skip Caray and Joe Simpson are spending the whole game talking to different players, announcers, team executives and others about Pete.  They are telling stories, talking about family, card games on the bus, eccentricities, and all kinds of other things.

This is why I love baseball......Baseball is a game that lives life with you.  Baseball is a game that mirrors life and it is designed to watch while you live your life, talking to friends and telling stories.  Football is a war.  Basketball is a concert indoors.  NASCAR is a vacation destination.  But baseball is life.  Baseball is the only game that you could put the game into the background while two guys tell stories about their dad and their mentor who have passed away.  Joe Simpson lovingly told people that if they don't like what they're about to do then they could "bite me."  I'm betting no one turned the channel.  We want to hear the stories.  We want to enjoy the memories.  We want to laugh.  We allow ourselves to tear up.  And we WATCH THE GAME OF LIFE AS THE GAME OF BASEBALL.

I'll miss you Pete.....we'll be back with scores and highlights right after this.