The Funny Thing About Dave Niehaus’ Most Famous Call
Contributor David Swidler with a larger-than-life Niehaus
Most every remembrance about Dave Niehaus made mention of his most memorable call: His description of Edgar Martinez’s game-winning double that beat the Yankees in the 1995 ALDS (now helpfully removed from YouTube by Major League Baseball lawyers.)
The funny thing about that call: Few Mariner fans actually heard it live.
If you were a hardcore Mariner fan, you were at the game, or watching it on the nationally-televised ABC broadcast, called by Brent Musburger. But, being a hardcore Mariner fan, one of your first thoughts after your euphoria wore away was “I wonder how Niehaus called it.”
The call was played over and over again that night on local television, even national television, which is how I was able to hear it from my NYU dorm room.
Even though we didn’t hear it live, Niehaus’ call became ingrained in that memory to the point that I’d forgotten it wasn’t really part of my experience. Just more evidence of what Niehaus meant to Mariner fans. He was bigger than reality.
3 thoughts on “The Funny Thing About Dave Niehaus’ Most Famous Call”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
is an online magazine of news & culture. A conversation about the things on Seattle's mind.
- More about us.
- Got a tip for us? Send an email to .
- If you'd like to contribute regularly, .
- Follow us on Twitter @thesunbreak.
- Like us on Facebook.
Dear Constant Readers:
You can subscribe to The SunBreak for just $1 per month, and help keep the news & culture coming. Just $12 for a whole year!
Thank you!
Your SunBreak Delivery Options
-
Subscribe via RSS -
Daily Email Digest of The SunBreak
… I muted Joe Buck and listend to Jon Miller (longtime Giants broadcaster) make the live (not five seconds delayed) call of the G-Men winning the World Series this year. Now, that Jon Miller call is really and truly part of my experience … as is a World Series championship.
Nice write-up, Seth.
I didn’t hear it live. Why? Cause I vas dere Charlie!
Absolutely the best sport moment of my life. Just returned from visiting family on the East Coast, on pins and needles watching the playoff, then the series. And then – I was there. What a night!
I was hoarse for days
… while watching on TV. EVERYONE knows you muted to bozos on the screen to listen to Niehaus.