The Soul of the Athletics

What I especially liked about Bill was that sports was not his whole life. He was devoted to lifelong learning and education in other fields, which is something all of us should aspire to. I think Bill understood your job should not be your life. The irony is that no one can fill his announcing shoes now that he's gone.

Rest easy Bill. My condolences to his family.

So long, Bill... get in one more "Holy Toledo!" for us.

Several seasons ago now, Bill and Ken were in the booth for a particularly raw and rainy night like you can only get in the Oakland Colliseum. King quipped, "It's just like being on the moors in the `Hound of the Baskervilles'."  I'm not sure there's an announcer alive today who not only could have thought to say that, but who could have pulled it off as artfully as Bill King.  It's become a catch-phrase in our house to this day.

Bill King was a huge part of my childhood - we'd listen to him at our grandparents' house during our summer visits. He was so much more than just a guy who called our favorite team's games. Damn...

Thanks for the thoughts, Blez. A'snation mourns.

He means so much to us because he was original.  Creativity is all we can do on this earth to make life worthwhile.  Perfect spokesman for Bay Area sports. Intelligent, interesting, all with humility and humor.

It was a true honor to meet him at Spring Training.  I told his assistant that I grew up listening to Bill, and he just looked at me and said, "we all did."

Goodbye to a legend -- there will never be another announcer who will be with me like Bill.

And man, it's going to be tough using my Bill King voice recorded bottle opener!!!!

Thank you Bill. God Bless you and your family.

I'm missing Bill King already. He was the best.

Pumping gas in Sausalito. Applauding at an ACT production of "A Street Car Named Desire."

Always friendly. Always bright.

A great guy, a great announcer ... a great, great loss.

Too soon. Too sad. The 2006 season MUST be dedicated to Bill.

King me, baby.

Forever.

I am in a snit. And my heart aches.

We all loved Bill King. And we all will miss him greatly.

It's amazing how someone so alive in all of our minds can pass away so quickly.  His voice, personality and soul reached millions and shaped more than one generation of sports fans.  Thank you, Bill.

King was a great one and unique.

Bless his soul and his family.

I'm loving these highlights. If there's a CD out there, I'd buy it in a heartbeat! We need a way to make Bill King live forever!

I will also miss his voice and the interesting stories. RIP Bill......
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He was The Perfect man for the Bay Area... an announcer who could and did use vocabulary like "the gloaming..." fantastic.

Here, here to the suggestions about the Hall of Fame, retiring a jersey, and I'd love to get a copy of his highlite calls.

A sad evening in the Bay Area and for all of A's Nation.

TOUCH-DOWN RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAIDERS!!! The Raiders set up up for a run left, The defense stacks up to block them, Van Eegan falls for another 5 yards behind Shell & Upshaw. They've re-set the left side for another run, everyone in the world knows where they are going to run left... Van Eeghan falls for 6 more yards and the first down, Holy Toledo!
Ghost to the post, Clem Daniels gains 24!, Hewritt Dixon rumbles for 8 more!, Snake, Tooz, Alzado, Marcus Allen, Lamonica throws A bomb, Flores drops back, he fakes, Plunkett throws deep, Hayes looks like human flypaper!, Atkinson hits the reciever and the ball drops, Little Arthur Whittinton has gained a 100 yards and it's only the 3rd quarter folks....

Warriors games. Everyone here knows the pace and Bill painted the picture with excitement and clarity, you knew where everyone was, why and where the ball was, is, and would be. Seemless spontaineous accounting with tidbits only Bill can contribute.

20+ years Raiders announcer
20+ years Warriors announcer
20+ years A's announcer

I'm sad now
We lost family today

Bill King, rest in peace... You were the greatest. The voice of spring, the voice of summer, the voice of fall. I will miss you forever.

You remind of being six years old and driving in my dad's beatup green Volvo Stationwagon to a Little League game. You remind me of some of the happiest moments of my life - 20 wins in a row, A's winning the West or wild card so many years ... in the backyard swinging a bat and listening to the A's game ... long lethargic summer days ... cold nights at the Net, with your voice and my headphones keeping my ears alive ... road trips, entering the Bay Area, hearing that familiar voice again, knowing I was home ... March, rebirth, rejuvenation with you in spring training, listening to those engrossing stories, of which you had a limitless supply ... enduring school with your aid... entering summer, knowing freedom once again, feeling it in that gravely voice, and riding the A-train towards fall ... and then those most painful moments - moments in which your voice offered the only solace. The playoff losses. But every year, you would tell us you'd see us again next spring, a twinge of sadness in your voice, but offering the listeners hope, always.

And that's how it was every loss. Tuning in after the game without knowing what happened in the game, we could hear the entire story without you mentioning, just in your voice. A win was a rather light voice, a loss, a bit more sad, but not obviously so. And you would tell us, every time, win or lose, that you'd be with us tomorrow at 7:05 first pitch, pregame starting at 5:30 with Marty's Right off the Bat...

No more. Let's win one for Bill King.

how sad

I think that it was Bill King who originated the term "the big blue baggie" for the Metro Dome. He hated the place, and wasn't shy about saying so. He was wholly disgusted when Dave "the rat" Kingman's ball was lost in the lights, hit the ceiling, lodged and then came down and was declared in play. Bill would rip into the place on every road trip in the 80's. He helped to light the fire under us to root for our boys when they were in enemy territory.

Finally, there was the night the Ray and Lon were captives in the booth as Bill's body was having a natural reaction to the sausages he was eating in Milwaukee. That was a hoot. It was guys just being natural in the pursuit of giving us the games full character.

I've listened to a lot of baseball in my time. There were summer nights with the old Senators, and later summer nights with the Boston Red Sox. Baseball on radio is one of the best things about our country. Through all of that the very best, and the most fun was Bill King. He was an amazing man. I am thankful that he was in our world.

Players come and go.  Owners come and go.

Bill King has been the constant.  He's been the background noise, the wry older friend who seemed to know a lot about everything and would guide me effortlessly through a baseball game that, despite my angst about it, was only a game.  His ability to turn a phrase was remarkable, especially in memorable game situations.  I'll miss his ninth inning calls.

But what will leave a real void is the smaller stuff, the jokes about his age and appetite, the nightly aside about the marine layer at the Coliseum, the complaints about Texas and interleague play, and the exhaustive knowledge and appreciation of the game - even if it was a great play by the opposing team.  Ken Korach is a fine announcer, and a worthy replacement, but it won't be the same.

I wish I was as good at anything as Bill King was at broadcasting a baseball game.  And baseball was only his third-best sport.

"Sasaki ready and pours it in. Tejada swings and lifts it high in the air to right, down toward the corner. Ichiro going back, and that ball is gone. A home run for Miguel Tejada, his 200th hit of the season, and the A's have tied the game against Sasaki. Holy Toledo!''

Eddie

Bill King should join local bay area broadcaster Lon Simmons in broadcaster wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

http://www.athleticsnation.com/story/2005/10/19/14839/503

Ultimately, it is the HOF voters who decide.  But fans have input.

Voting begins November 1, 2005.

Personally, he brought calmness to my impatience for the game to begin immediately; for once I heard his voice I knew the time was near for the soothing resonance of King's voice to lull me into a trance of well-being.  Whether it was the excitement of winning or the gut-wrenching emotions of losing, he always made me feel as part of the team, part of the family if you will.  

It's uncertain in my mind how long this hurt will remain, only to be summoned again once the radio broadcasts resume with the aforementioned void.  One certain thing, however, will remain forever . . . the memories of that voice, that magnificent voice on the radio.

Because of you I'd be grateful to be stuck in traffic, as long as there were some innings left in the game.

Because of you I got more dishes done, I cleared out more weeds in my backyard, I got laundry folded, I cleaned out the garage, I finally painted my bathroom window: I specifically did these things when there was a game on because I had you, Ken, Ray and the A's to keep me company.

Because the passion with which you did your job got me hooked on the A's.  This news hasn't fully hit me yet.  It's hard enough not having you around to listen to after the end of the A's season.  I think it will really sink in when I'm listening to the A's next season, in the 9th inning of a close ballgame.

Because you kept it real.  

If I could only write as well as you called a game, this would be a more fitting tribute.  I wish I could've thanked you in person.

Farewell...

Bill King was more than just an announcer.

He and Lon Simmons were my friends when I was a kid. No, I never met them, Although I did bump into Lon in the hall once and said "Hi", but they were there every day throughout my developmental years.

I would hurry home from whatever practice I had and make sure that I was listening to the broadcast.

I would sometimes close my eyes, lay on my bed and the day would disapear. All that exhisted was the A's of the 80's going for a win against a "Capable Foe".

Bill and Lon would tell stories of times and players gone by and the time would pass as if in an instant.

As I write this tears well up in my eyes, they are not only tears for the passing of a friend but for the passing of my childhood.

It will take many years for this man to be truly appreciated and I HOPE that somewhere out there right now another Bill King has been born that will touch as many people as the KING himself.

RIP you jolly ole man, I know you left no stone unturned.

Today, reading the various tributes, I almost feel like not enough is being said about the man. A simple AP link on ESPN, a back page sports piece in all but the local papers---doesn't anyone else realize the magnitude of this in our lives?

A's baseball, for me, began in the summer of 1987. I was eight, and the A's were just getting good. Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco were larger than life---and my dad was explaining to me why Dennis Eckersley could only pitch two innings "He throws so hard they have to save him for the end".

All this excitement came to me via Bill Kings voice. Sure, we went to a handful of games. We watched a few on TV. But what I remember is listening to Bill on the radio. Every long McGwire shot, every "Rickey Run"---King was the one who told me about it. #49 for McGwire, #939 for Rickey, Hattebergs 20 game winner, and so on and so forth....I remember them through the words of King. Even his ever optimistic--but witty--descriptions of the hapless A's of the mid-nineties, helped keep me listening through those lean times.

The thought of A's baseball without him is strange, almost improbable. The A's start a season without him at the helm? April is when this will sink in the most, when Ken Korach (who I like a lot) is calling innings 1,2,5,6, and 9, and Bill is nowhere to be found---except somewhere in our memories.

All of us, as ATHLETICS NATION, are mourning the loss of Bill King and I take consolation in the fact that there are so many people who can relate to what I'm going through right now.  
I get teary eyed reading everyone's thoughts on Bill and the great memories that we have of him.

Thank you for such a great community, Blez.

Ken will do a great job, but there was only ONE Bill King, my favorite curmudgeon.

I will think of him during every A's game I listen to the rest of my life.

Here is what I sent him:

On Monday Night a large part of my childhood passed away.

Every time I would hear Bill King's voice my mind would fill with countless hours spent listening to A's broadcasts in the 80's.

He was like an Uncle who would take you to the game and describe the game so eloquently that it seemed to be more than 18 grown men playing a child's game. It was a contest of the highest regard and everything that happened was colorful and had purpose.

When he spoke the opponent was always a "Fierce Competitor" and our pitchers always, "Looked into get the sign" before "Delivering the ball". No matter the outcome he always praised the game over the team. That is just the way he was.

His passion would ring out in thunderous tones and his intensity kept me glued for hours that passed as quickly as tears filled my eyes at the word of his passing.

In this ever changing world Bill King was a constant. From childhood to adulthood I felt like I knew the man and am sad that he has passed.

One thing about Bill though is that I am sure he sees all of our sadness as a pure waste of time. He seemed the type of soul that would look down at all of this and give a great big, "Holy Toledo, what are you crying for, there are only 135 days left until spring training?"

That is just the way I picture him and it is the way I will always remember him. I mean, heck, I spent more time with him than pretty much anyone else every summer!

There are a few things I would like to see done in his honor.

1. I would like to see a Mic on the LF wall with the big bronzed name KING above it.
   
2. He needs to be in the baseball HOF this year in 2006
   
3. In the LF Bleachers we will be continuing his legacy by adding a "Holy Toledo" chant to our AN-tics

That carried over into adulthood, as I loved listening to those late games in extra innings at night...recent faves...Carlos Penas walkoff, long Yankees game in the Bronx (both a coupla seasons ago).  Most recent awesome call was sitting here at work, the sulk off...who could have called it better.

But for the last umpteen seasons...I get home, and turn on the radio for the the pregame, and listen listen listen to King.

My wife, who didn't know about him till we were together got me that bottle opener, not so much for the 20 wins, but because it's simply a great call.

P.S.  Bill King was brilliant during rain delays...I never tuned out cause of rain...in fact, rain delays were shows unto themselves.  I'd tell my wife, honey, it's a rain delay, and she'd say, all right, turn on Bill.  Awesome.

P.P.S. I love Fosse and Kourach for many the same reasons King was so good...their objectiveness, love and knowledge of the game in general, their stories, the tones of their voices and the pace of their broadcast...King is one-of-a-kind, but Fosse and Kourach are also the tops in my book.  And I've heard many to compare them to.

P.P.P.S.  And his mustache is legendary...it would look stupid on ANYBODY else, but him.  It was 100% cool.  Maybe I'll grow one to pay homage to him....

So glad to have Athletics Nation to turn to, coming home from a trip to Anchorage, where I caught a single-paragraph blurp in the Anchorage news on Tuesday morning referencing his passing, and immediatley breaking into tears. Now sitting here relishing the beautiful words being written about Bill and his legacy.  Helps with the pain immensely. God bless you, Bill.