Strike Three.

Today was a sad loss for the Atlanta Braves family. Skip Carey, their longtime, award-winning announcer died in his sleep Sunday at the age of 68.

Skip has been a part of my life through radio and television since I was a kid. To think that I will no longer hear his voice as part of the Braves broadcast saddens me to no end. He was like family. My dad and I always laughed at the sharp wit and laser-sharp analysis that some found some displeasing, for us it was a joy to hear.

I can remember one game at Shea stadium against the Mets many years ago. John Smoltz had already given up four home runs in an inning and was falling apart. Ryan Klesko, to make matters worse after the fourth homer, picked up the baseball after a base hit into left field along with a handful of swirling garbage and proceeded the throw the ball at a ninety-degree angle into the wall of the stadium to his right, which caused a complete meltdown by Smoltzie. The next pitch was a heater right into the back of some Met player, which rightfully cleared both benches. As the melee ensued, Skip quipped, "I think Smoltzie is throwing at the wrong guy." That was Skip in essence.

I don't care what others say about the nepotism and how he wouldn't have ever had made it without his father Harry and frankly it may be true. But Skip carved out his own life in the hard luck life of announcing and he will certainly be missed by many and if not, he is most definitely being missed by me.

Rest in peace Skip. We love you.

More about Skip's passing here, here and here.

At the second link, you can find Skip's famous call as Sid Bream, bad braced knee and all, scored from second base in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS against Pittsburgh. Still gives me the chills.