Saturday, November 13, 2010
Last updated 6:48 p.m. PT
Joshua Trujillo / seattlepi.com
Sadness, sympathies and stories dominated the afternoon at Safeco Field, where sportscast legend Dave Niehaus was remembered on Saturday.
The Mariners opened up their ballpark for fans who wanted to pay tribute to the man who for so many was the essence of Seattle baseball.
The tribute was supposed to last from noon until 3 p.m., but the outpouring was so huge that the doors were kept open past 4 p.m.
In all, 3,643 people showed up to honor the man they respected and enjoyed so much. And now, three days after Niehaus' death, it's really starting to hit fans how greatly he'll be missed.
A gloomy, gray Saturday fit the mood as a steady pilgrimage by Seattle's baseball faithful came to say goodbye to "Mr. Mariner."
"It was just this homey, consistent feeling that just made me feel like this was my home, and Dave was part of my home, part of my family," said Michael Bishopp of Snoqualmie, who came to pay his respects.
Fans sported team colors like it was game day. They filed in to sign condolence books.
It was a tough moment for people such as Gay Bitts of Whidbey Island.
"Just the flourish of his words were ... you could smell things that he was talking about," Bitts said. "And if I was at home in my back yard, mowing the lawn, I could listen to him. I could really see everything through his eyes. It's amazing."
An older generation was there, teaching a younger one about the loss of Dave Niehaus - a man who called the team's games for 34 years.
His jersey, No. 77, hung from the press box. (See seattlepi.com's photo tour of the press box.)
"I don't think they will ever be an announcer in Mariners baseball history who will capture the game or the essence of the game like he did with his words," said Troy Travis of Mountlake Terrace. "I feel like he'll always be our grand salami."
It was a reference to Niehaus' trademark phrase for describing a grand slam: "Get out the rye bread and mustard, Grandma, it's grand salami time!"
In tribute, the team served up free salami sandwiches.
"He just became one of the family," said John Dyers of Federal Way. "And, you know, when we had the bad teams -- he would just come up with little stories to take your mind off the bad stuff and make you think about something else."
Fans paid their respects at home plate. Niehaus' widow and daughter accepted sympathies, along with Niehaus' radio partner, Rick Rizzs.
Jason Simon proudly wore his "My Oh My" jersey, signed this year by Dave Niehaus. He says he'll always treasure it - and the man who brought him such joy.
"He treats everybody like a friend," said Simon, of Mill Creek. "We were just talking baseball like we knew each other forever. You see the thousands of people here -- it's because he didn't treat anyone like a stranger."
"I think he represents everything good about Seattle. He represents everything good about the Mariners."
The Mariners say a formal, public memorial is still being planned, but it will not happen until after Thanksgiving. It will be on weekend day in early December.
A private service for the Niehaus family is set for Monday.
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