If there's a broadcast heaven...

The idea of a baseball broadcast without announcer Dave Niehaus -- the undisputed "voice of Seattle baseball" -- seems unfathomable. Niehaus, who broadcast the Mariners' inaugural game on April 6, 1977, passed away today.

The man who broadcast more than 5,200 games was arguably the Job of Major League Baseball (MLB). Although the Seattle organization spent millions upon millions of dollars on player salaries, Niehaus never enjoyed the opportunity to call the play-by-play of a Mariners World Series. Niehaus' ability to draw a listener into the game is unquestionable. Always energetic and optimistic, never apathetic or sardonic, Niehaus never conveyed that Chone Figgins... Richie Sexson... Bob Kearney... at the plate with men on base and two outs didn't constitute automatic failure. You never heard fear in his voice when Niehaus announced that José Mesa... Bobby Ayala... Edwin Nuñez... was warming up in the bullpen with Oakland Athletics at the corners and a slim one-run Seattle lead.

We would've bought whatever Niehaus was selling us. He would've enjoyed one hell of a career selling securities to cash-strapped buyers.

We'll miss you, Dave.

DAVE NIEHAUS

19 February 1935 to 10 November 2010