The 1977 Atlanta Braves Broadcast Team
Pete Van Wieren -Ernie Johnson-Skip Caray
Skip Caray was born n St. Louis. He came to radio naturally. His father is legendary Cubs announcer Harry Carry. His career began in the 60's as an announcer for the Atlanta Crackers. In 1967 he became the voice of the NBA's St. Louis Hawks who the following year moved to Atlanta. Skip was the original play-by-play radio announcer for the Atlanta franchise. In 1975, he began a 33 year career as a Braves announcer. In 2004, Caray was inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame and is a six time winner of the Georgia Sportscaster of the Year Award. Skip devoted many hours to volunteer work including for local charities including the Hemophilia Association and served as a board member for Camp Twin Lakes .
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Ernie Johnson was born in Brattleboro, Vermont and came to Atlanta in 1965,a year ahead of the team moving from Milwaukee. He set up the Braves Radio Network across the southeast and became a friend to many Georgia broadcasters. He traveled extensively across the state speaking to civic groups and promoting the Braves. Johnson was instrumental in helping Pete Van Wieren get his first major league job with the Braves. He was inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame in 2001, received three regional Emmys, and was named Georgia Sportscaster of the Year three times. On September 2, 1989, at a time when attendance for home games was lowest in the league, 42, 000 fans showed up for Ernie Johnson Night (when he retired) at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium . They came to say "thank you and so long for now".
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Pete Van Wieren was born in Rochester, New York Prior to joining the Braves in 1976, he worked for the Washington Post and did play-by-play for the Tidewater Tides in Norfolk, Virginia. He was also a television sportscaster in Ohio, New York, and Virginia. He is known as "The Professor" for his pre-game preparedness and baseball research ability. He was inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame in 2004, is an eight time winner of the Georgia Sportscaster of the Year award. He served as play-by-play announcer for the Atlanta Hawks from 1991 to 1994, covered hockey, college and pro football for WTBS, and served as a sports reporter for CNN.
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