I mentioned on Tuesday that Turner Sports was working on putting together a few different tributes for Skip Caray, and I wanted to share the first one. Caray's friend and co-worker, Ernie Johnson intro'd this piece just after 5pm this evening and I don't think it could be more fitting....

"We’'ve been thinking a lot about Skip Caray these days. He died Sunday at the age of 68. Tough times for all of us here at Turner Sports as we remember Skip. He did Braves games for 33 seasons and if you ever watched him on TBS, you knew that here'’s what you were going to get: He would be witty, he would be down right funny, he could be grumpy, sometimes all in the same half inning. He was Harry Caray’'s son, yet he was his own man and he was a broadcast original. My father worked with him for 20 to 25 years so I got a chance to know Skip Caray as more than a broadcaster, I knew him as a devoted father and husband and I know his two sons, Josh and Chip, followed in his footsteps and took the same career path. I also know that on Monday they will be gratified, as will his widow, Paula, to see the number of people who turn out in Atlanta for a memorial service to remember Skip Caray. It will be a bunch of fans for whom the game will never be quite the same because a one-of-a-kind voice has fallen silent.”" - Ernie Johnson

It's amazing to see how some people are truly admired a person, and while it usually happens after their death, the results can be amazing. Most every paper, ESPN and Major League Baseball have all paid tribute to the Braves' broadcaster and Turner Sports will have a handful of their own over the next few days.

TBS will first highlight the work of their colleague with a tribute at the start of the PGA Championship on TNT. Ernie Johnson will intro the piece and longtime friend and partner, Jim Huber will do the voice over for the video. While TBS wasn't always behind the announcer (for whatever reason), he certainly made a great number of friends in the business. A lot of people shared their thoughts yesterday and today and I felt like posting some of them....
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Statement from the Caray Family: "We are overwhelmed by the number of friends, colleagues, co-workers, MLB players and people in the baseball community who have reached out to us and so grateful and touched by their support and prayers. We are also deeply appreciative by the outpouring of support from the fans who grew up watching him and shared the ride."

Braves Manager Bobby Cox: "We lost a real good friend," he said. "I met Skip in '77 when I signed on with the Braves. He helped me along. We weren't very good, and Skip, Pete and Ernie were the broadcasters. We'd go on those caravan tours and all. He was great to me. He'd give me a ride home a lot of nights from the park when my car wasn't working, my old Chevy."

Braves Catcher Brian McCann: "Right now, you just think about his family," McCann said. "That's where everybody's prayers are right now. ... When I first came to the Braves, he was one of the first people who came over to me in the clubhouse and introduced himself — like he needed an introduction. ... He was the man."

Braves Broadcaster Joe Simpson: "Everybody knew he was a great broadcaster," Simpson said. "But I will say that he was the best partner in the history of sports broadcasting. He was just awesome. There might have been some that were just as good. But nobody was better."

Skip Cary's Wife Paula: "He had so many wonderful offers from other teams [through the years], but he would never go because this is where he wanted to be. He loved Atlanta, loved doing the Braves. When he got here, nobody knew who he was," Paula Caray said. "And he was very proud of the fact he made it on his own here."

Broadcaster Pete Van Wieren: A few hours after hearing Skip Caray had died, some of the Braves broadcaster's friends gathered late Sunday at Lefty O'Doul's, a venerable watering hole across the street from the team hotel in downtown San Francisco.

"Will [Ohman, Braves reliever] came over to the bar and said, 'What was Skip's favorite drink in his drinking days?' " Van Wieren said. "I said, 'Double Dewar's on the rocks.' And Will ordered a shot of Dewar's for everybody."

When someone mentioned Caray probably would have gotten a kick out of that, Van Wieren said, "He would have liked that. In fact, Will wanted to get us doubles, and we said, 'No, we're not doing that.'

"Skip would not have liked that. He would have called us soft."

Turner Sports: "Turner Sports will recognize the legacy of Skip Caray over the next several weeks on the Turner family of networks which will include a remembrance during TNT’s coverage of the 90th PGA Championship on Thurs., Aug. 7; a special feature on his legacy during the Sunday MLB on TBS telecast on Sun., Aug. 10 and a tribute during the Braves game telecast on Peachtree TV on Tues., Aug. 12, what would have been Caray’s 69th birthday."
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I'll try to get some of the videos up when I can, but the meantime don't be soft, and order a double of Dewars in honor of a stellar broadcaster and a well-liked, all-around good guy.

Braves recall their friend Caray (AJC)
Farewell to Skip Caray (Sports Illustrated)

The Baseball community lost a good one yesterday as Braves announcer, and son of the legendary Harry Caray, Skip Caray passed away Sunday afternoon....

ATLANTA -- The Braves family lost one of its most beloved members on Sunday, when Skip Caray passed away at his Atlanta-area home.

Caray, who would have celebrated his 69th birthday on Aug. 12, went to take a nap Sunday afternoon and didn't awaken. He is survived by his wife, Paula, two sons, Chip and Josh, two daughters, Shayelyn and Cindy, and seven grandchildren.

"Our baseball community has lost a legend today," said Braves president John Schuerholz. "The Braves family and Braves fans everywhere will sadly miss him. Our thoughts are with his wife Paula and his children."

"I'm just in shock," Chip [Caray] said. "I know he wasn't feeling good, but this was unexpected. He hung the moon for me. I got to talk to him [on Saturday], and the last thing I got to say to him was, 'I love you.'"

A lot of my good friends from Virginia are Braves' fans simply because they had no team in the area and the Braves were always on National TV. Well those days are over my friends as the Braves will no longer be broadcast nationally. Skip Caray had a gracious and humble goodbye to his audience of the last 30(!) years....

"The people all over the country who send you Christmas cards every year; the people who when dad passed, 5,000 of them sent notes or condolence cards; when I lost my brother the people all over the country who sent condolence cards as well — how do you thank those people and how do you say goodbye to those people? I don't know, but I'm trying to do it. You all must know how we feel and how I feel about you. You brought me back five years ago when they tried to bury me on television. The executives didn't [bring me back]; you did.... To all you people who have watched the Braves for these 30 years ... thank you. We appreciate you more than you will ever know. ... When we first came on the air on TBS, which was then WTCG, the big TV shows were M*A*S*H, Dallas, Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days and Charlie's Angels. We outlasted them all. The only one that beat us was 60 Minutes. We don't want to get all maudlin here, but thank you folks and God bless you. And we're going to miss you every bit as much as you miss us."