Political leaders express shock, sadness at icon's passing

The death of Dave Niehaus, a Seattle institution, was felt far beyond baseball. The news that the voice of the Mariners had died Wednesday shocked and saddened local leaders.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn said the city "lost a friend." Gov. Chris Gregoire said, "The Pacific Northwest lost one of its sports icons."

Both were right.

"We invited him into our homes and he was with us when we were joyful about the Mariners and when we were sad," McGinn said. "Dave Niehaus will be sorely missed. ...

"We send our condolences to his family and hope they are comforted by the happiness he brought to our lives."

Gregoire said, "Niehaus will be remembered for his passion for all things baseball, high professional standards and gentlemanly conduct. Dave was an institution here starting with the team's first pitch in 1977. With all due respect to the great Alvin Davis, Dave is 'Mr. Mariner.'

"My thoughts and prayers are with Dave's family and friends. I hope they take comfort in knowing how many happy memories he created for hundreds of thousands of fans."

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin listened to Niehaus' radio and TV broadcasts often.

"He was a great guy, somebody I listened to regularly over the years," Conlin said. "My kids grew up with his voice. It's a great loss for our community."

King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer is a longtime baseball fan who travels to Arizona regularly for spring training.

"He was as much a Mariner icon as any player we've ever had," he said. "He was not just the voice of the Mariners, he was the embodiment of the spirit of the Mariners.

"Whether people were from Federal Way or from Yakima, they could connect with 'My, oh, my.' He wasn't just a part of the baseball family, he was a part of the Washington state family.

"I appreciated his friendship and his stories. I love spring training, and you would always see Dave in Peoria, working the outfield, working the stands, making that personal connection."

Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, who led the legal effort that brought the Mariners to Seattle, also felt the loss.

"This leaves a great hole in our community," he said. "He was not just the voice of baseball, he was the voice of optimism.

"Even in bad seasons, he was always enthusiastic, always saw the best in everyone. He will certainly be missed."

Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com