Ron Fairly, Major League Baseball Player And Broadcaster, Dies At 81

Fairly (Photo: Seattle Mariners)

RON FAIRLY, who followed his 21-year major league baseball career with a long broadcasting career for three MLB clubs, died WEDNESDAY (10/30) at 81 in INDIAN WELLS, CA. He had been battling esophageal cancer.

After playing in the majors with the LOS ANGELES DODGERS, MONTREAL EXPOS, ST. LOUIS CARDINALS, OAKLAND ATHLETICS, TORONTO BLUE JAYS, and CALIFORNIA ANGELS, FAIRLY retired as a player in 1978 and joined ANGELS broadcasts as analyst alongside BOB STARR on KTLA (TV) and KMPC-A/LOS ANGELES in 1979. He moved to call SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS games on KNBR-A and KTVU (TV)/SAN FRANCISCO in 1987 through 1992 and joined the SEATTLE MARINERS radio and television crew in 1993, serving as analyst with play-by-play voices DAVE NIEHAUS and RICK RIZZS for the M's broadcasts on KIRO-A (through 2002) and KOMO-A (2003-2006) retiring in 2006 but returning from time to time as a guest analyst, including as part of the team's rotating set of analysts in 2011-12.

MARINERS Pres./CEO KEVIN MATHER said, “RON was a key voice in our history. He joined our team at the start of an important era of SEATTLE baseball, beginning the same year as LOU PINIELLA and bringing over a decade of exciting baseball to our fans on TV and radio. Our thoughts are with his three sons: MIKE, STEVE and PATRICK; and his grandchildren.”

“RON was not only a great broadcaster, he was a great friend,” said RIZZS. “He loved the game of baseball and everyone in it, and it showed. He was one of the best storytellers I’ve ever been around. DAVE, RON and I spent a lot of hours together traveling, dining and calling baseball games and Ron’s passion for the game, his love of his family and his loyalty to his friends always stood out to me."

Former MARINERS radio producer/engineer KEVIN CREMIN added, “’RED’ was a true gentleman of the game and in life. He spanned many eras of baseball and had great stories to tell about all of them. He will be missed.”

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