Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2008 > August > 03 > Entry
8/3: Legendary Braves announcer Skip Caray, 1939-2008
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves announcer Skip Caray’s passing today hit the local broadcasting scene hard. He was respected and in many cases, revered by his brethren. Here are some comments I got Sunday night:
John Kincade, who hosts the afternoon 680/The Fan Buck & Kincade sports talk show, said he appreciated how real Skip Caray was. “The man never sugarcoated anything,” Kincade said. “If the Braves were playing terribly, he told you. Many people who work for teams or have covered them for a long time don’t have the guts and integrity to do that.”
Kincade was also bemused when Caray would make fun of whatever movie was coming up next on TBS after the game. “He’d say, ‘If you have already organized your sock drawer and have nothing better to do, watch this movie.’ ”
He also enjoyed when Caray would pinpoint a fan in the stands who caught a foul ball and say, “That was caught by a fan from Dahlonega,” even though he naturally had no clue where the fan was from. And during weekday afternoon games, he’d spy an older gent with a fetching young woman and facetiously say, “Isn’t it wonderful so many fathers have brought out their daughters today.”
Mike Bell, an afternoon host at sports station 790/The Zone, has done a funny imitation of Skip Caray for years and he’d even do it in front of Caray. “The last time I did it for him two weeks ago, he said, ‘Chip does a better impression of me.’ He always took it well,” he said.
Back in 2002, when Bell would co-host a pre-game Braves show, he recalled Caray coming up to him and noting, “Everytime I watch you, I don’t feel like I learn anything!” “He had such a wry sense of humor,” Bell said. “Getting your balls busted by Skip Caray is like a badge of honor.”
Chris Dimino, a morning co-host at sports station 790/The Zone who last saw Caray at Turner Field this past Wednesday, said when he was a young sportscaster trying to break in by doing the prize wheel before Braves games, Caray would be nice enough to ask him his thoughts on the game. “I was a nobody and he treated me like a somebody,” Dimino said.
He said he’s a bit shocked about the passing because he said Caray was sounding better on the air now than he was earlier this year.
He loved how Caray would get impatient with listeners during pre-game Q&A who would ask the same questions, especially one he’d have to explain again and again to the point it became a running joke: “Can you explain the infield fly rule?”
Dimino noted that Caray told the station just two weeks ago that he had changed his will to give a huge chunk of his money to Camp Twin Lakes, which provides programs for seriously ill children.
I’ll add some more comments from the morning sports talk shows tomorrow…
Comments
By LB
August 4, 2008 7:14 AM | Link to this
The one thing I liked most about Skip is that he was never too important or prideful to give an autograph for a fan.
By rp
August 4, 2008 7:43 AM | Link to this
Braves Win! Braves Win! Braves Win! Braves Win!
…today the Braves family lost something pretty important…..
The thing about baseball is that there will be another game today. The sun will come out-maybe just a little brighter then yesterday, the field will be green -maybe just a little greener, the pitcher will pitch, the batter will bat, and fielders will field. The fans will know when the announcer speaks- yeah, Skip- we will know….
By Bud
August 4, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
I guess now it’s a little easier to understand why Skip was so grumpy and cantankerous in his latter years in the booth.
I still miss Don Sutton from the Braves broadcast booth…Don and Pete made the best combo ever.
By grhof
August 4, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
The membership of the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame voted to induct Skip, Ernie, and Pete this year. Skip was notified a few weeks ago and expressed his gratitude for the honor. www.grhof.com
By Stacy Bloodworth
August 4, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
Skip Caray was to Braves basseball like Larry Munson is to Georgia football and he will be sorely missed. Even though his son does some of the Braves games, it’s not the same w/o Skip. You can’t replace a legend.
By Daniel
August 4, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
I have been listening to Skip since the womb and so has my daughter. Living in Alaska I was surrounded by Braves fans who in turn were Skip fans as well. I now work with a Nova Scotian who grew up with the Braves and Skip. It always gave me a chill to hear those famous calls replayed that I heard live. Today they have brought me to tears. My whole family and a good chunk of this continent will miss you dearly, bye Skip.
By Ynit
August 4, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
A true legend. Watching him on TBS he always did a great job and was a very funny man. You will be missed Skip!!!!
By Eric Page
August 5, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
Skip, Chip, Mark Lemke and I were riding up the elevator to do the Braves pre-game show one day in ‘06 when Skip turned to me and said, “Do you know what a 350-pound woman and a BRICK have in common? They’ll both eventually be laid by a Mexican!”
It was a thrill to work with Skip, even for only one season. Condolences to Chip, Josh, and all family and friends.
By baloney
August 5, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
Dimino said “I was a nobody”.Newsflash to Dimino…You’re still a nobody.
By baloney
August 5, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
Dimino said “I was a nobody”.Newsflash to Dimino…You’re still a nobody.
By John B
August 5, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
I miss the whole Braves crew from a few years back, but to my family, Skip was Braves baseball. I got his humor and sometimes it made the broadcast. Our condolences to his family.
PS to Eric Page, what are you 12?
By Tammy Rupp
August 6, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
I have listened to Skip and crew since 1978 and will miss his play by play of each inning that he was broadcasting. I rely solely on radio because they call the ballgame and since I am blind I can’t keep up with the TV broadcasts as well. We will all miss you Skip, rest in peace.
By Tammy Rupp
August 6, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
I have listened to Skip and crew since 1978 and will miss his play by play of each inning that he was broadcasting. I rely solely on radio because they call the ballgame and since I am blind I can’t keep up with the TV broadcasts as well. We will all miss you Skip, rest in peace.