Appreciating Dave Niehaus with Ken Levine

Longtime Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus once said the following to Ken Levine: “I figured it out, Kenny. For me to get to a .500 record, the team would have to go 2,042-0.”

Niehaus was the Seattle Mariners original broadcaster when the team joined the American League as an expansion franchise in 1977. Niehaus became a beloved figure throughout the Puget Sound, even through all the Mariners losing, until his passing in 2010.

This week’s “Crafting the Call” pays tribute to Niehaus’ unique style. Our special guest is Ken Levine, who worked with Niehaus on the Mariners game broadcasts, and worked with me in Los Angeles on Post Game Dodger Talk.

We enjoyed Dave’s enjoyment as Mariners manager Lou Piniella throws a tantrum arguing with the umpires, Dave’s iconic description for a grand slam as we re-watch Edgar Martinez’s salami in the 1995 playoffs, the final out in the Kingdome, transitioning from one spectacular center fielder to another, and of course, hearing Dave describe Ken Griffey, Jr.’s greatness.

Here’s the full episode.

Crafting the Call is a YouTube series that I developed along with Jesse Goldberg-Strassler. Each week, we examine different aspects of baseball play-by-play announcing, offering our perspective as working professionals for fans, and advice for fellow broadcasters. To help support our work, subscribe, like, comment, or send us a suggestion for a future episode.

Here’s a list of previous episodes:

Episode 1 – How to call an inside-the-park home run

Episode 2 – Vin Scully’s perfect words to describe Koufax’s perfect game

Episode 3 – Eck vs Gibson, four legends with four different calls

Episode 4 – How calling a Triple Play can be treacherous

Episode 5 — Harry Caray without the shtick

Episode 6 — Clocking a broadcaster’s fastball

Episode 7 — Opening Day philosophies

Episode 8 — “Touch ’em All Joe,” four voices call the end of the 1993 World Series

Episode 9 — Don’t blink … someone might Steal Home

Episode 10 — Early season check-in … how’s your voice?

Episode 11 — Appreciating longtime Reds announcer Marty Brennaman

Episode 12 — One Day in Baseball, May 1 through the years

Episode 13 — How did he catch that? Plus catchphrases to capture the moment

Episode 14 — Chris Caray analyzes his grandfather Skip Caray

Episode 15 — The calls that defined the 2001 World Series

Episode 16 — Close your laptop: Barry Bonds is up