Favorite baseball memories: Griffey and a legendary home run call
May 4, 2016, 8:19 AM | Updated: 8:36 am
As baseball season gets into full swing, we are asking 710 ESPN Seattle and KIRO Radio hosts about their favorite baseball memories. Leave your own unforgettable moment in the comments.
First pitch, first swing. Gone.
When Mike Salk moved to Seattle in 2009, he wasn’t sure how he felt about Ken Griffey Jr.’s return to Seattle. That is until he sat in the seats at Safeco Field on June 19 as he watched Junior hit a pinch-hit, game-tying home run that ultimately catapulted the Mariners to a win.
“Just one of those great moments,” Salk said. “They’re playing that Alan Parsons Project song “Sirius” that you used to hear for Bulls and Suns when introducing their teams.”
But the live Griffey experience was one thing. It was listening later to play-by-play announcer Dave Niehaus’ legendary call (“Fly away, the old time religion lives! Junior does it!) that officially sold Salk on his new favorite team.
“Niehaus’ call is just, it’s gold. It’s as good a home run call as you will ever hear from any announcer as he’s yelling, ‘the old time religions lives,’” Salk said. “It’s so amazing. That was the first time I truly grasped how great Dave Niehaus was and what it could be like to be a Mariners fan after living my entire life elsewhere.”
Other baseball memories: ‘C’mon, son. Rock and fire’ | Why grandpa’s are the best | It all started with an 11-year-old named ‘Boogie’ | A backyard diamond made of pillows | A great reason to yell during a Mariners’ game | Career in baseball started with dad’s lefty glove
