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The Oakland A’s lost a beloved member of their family on Friday.
Longtime public address announcer Dick Callahan died this morning, the team reported. The A’s full statement:
The Oakland A’s are heartbroken to learn that Dick Callahan passed away this morning. He lent his warm and welcoming voice to the Oakland faithful as our public address announcer for 15 seasons and more than 1,000 games at the Oakland Coliseum. We have lost a beloved member of our family who was a great friend to all who knew him. His passion and love for the A’s was like no other and his impact will never be forgotten. We extend our condolences to Dick’s family and friends during this time.
Callahan took over P.A. duties in 2005, when his predecessor, Roy Steele, stepped aside from full-time duty. From that point on, any trip to the Coliseum was narrated by his soothing, friendly voice, from pregame announcements to player intros to mid-inning promotions.
Last July, Callahan announced he would sit out the 2020 season at age 79, due to a health scare. Team executive Amelia Schimmel subbed in for the pandemic-shortened summer, though fans only got to hear her in the background of the TV broadcasts since nobody was allowed to attend in person.
Callahan also spent two decades as the P.A. announcer for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, through their 2000-01 season.
Very sorry to learn that A’s PA man Dick Callahan has died. It wasn’t easy to take over from Roy Steele and Callahan was marvelous. Best wishes to his loved ones, he will be so greatly missed.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) January 29, 2021
A couple more media reactions:
- MLB insider Martin Gallegos: “Often ran into Dick Callahan in the press box elevator at the Coliseum. Really nice guy. His legendary voice is one of the first things I recall from attending A’s games as a teenager. RIP”
- Melissa Lockard of The Athletic: “Such awful news. My boys got to say ‘Play Ball’ at a game at the Coliseum in 2019 and it was such a thrill just to hear Dick be the one to announce their names over the PA system. The Coliseum has been blessed with some incredible voices. He will be missed.”
- Bleav podcast host Ben Ross: “This is such sad news. Dick was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I always enjoyed our conversations at the Coliseum and he made me feel at home right away. And man what a voice. #RIP”
- Last July, Daniel Brown of The Athletic wrote a wonderful profile on Callahan
RIP to an A’s legend and a wonderful person.
