Of all our memories of games at the Metrodome, none is more enduring than sound of Bob Casey initating play and marking the movement of the game. What a contribution he made and he will be sorely missed. He was baseball for the sheer joy of it.

Awwwww.... :~(

Bob Casey's Kirby Puckett call delighted my out-of-town friends and me because so many little tykes with their high-pitched voices would make the call along with Bob. For the rest of Kirby's career we'd make the call several octaves higher.

- jekyll

:(

This is so hard to see happen/hear happen. The guy is incredible.

Batgirl wrote: "Noooooooooooooooo smoking in the Metrodome! If you must smoke, go outside or QUIT!" (or "go to Wisconsin" or "go to a casino" or one of his other great variations.)

My personal favorite: "If you smoke, you will go to the Mayo Clinic."

And I'll never forget the way he says GOOOOZ-man.

RIP Bob.

Ilk

Too verklempt to comment meaningfully. We'll miss ya, Bob.

Bob Casey was one of the elements that provided the baseball *experience*. The cool air, the summer sounds, the sound of the ball hitting the bat and then being captured by a glove, the idle chatter, sipping on your favorite beverage, kicking back and relaxing with a couple favorite companions, and a great public address announcer to serenade you through a game. *That's* what we love about baseball. That's what has made baseball our national pasttime.

It's a shame to hear about Bob Casey's passing. His addition to the baseball experience will be sorely missed.

Oh no! I'm gonna miss the sound of his voice and his presence on the field before the games so much.

We loved watching for him before the game and seeing his bright shirts and so many things. I'm really really sad about this.

He was almost a sort of the collective grandfather for the crowd while you were there.

I remember a game when the camera turned on him when he had his head down on the counter in front of him. He quickly perked up and started his routine. Everyone laughed and it was as if to say, "Wake up Grandpa - the game's about to start."

The Twins announced that they're going to dedicate the 2005 season to him - good call.

A Twins game just won't be quite the same without him.

I still love Kirby Puckett. A lot of probaseball players do bad things, a majority, we don't hear the half of it.

"Now batting for the Twins, number 34 the center fielder,
KIRBYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY PUCKETT!"

Still is music to my ears. R.I.P.

"Please do not throw anything - or anybody - onto the playing field."

Gonna miss old Bob.

Today is a sad day indeed.

During the summer of 2001 I had the opportunity to be the stadium announcer for the Duluth/Superior Dukes. It was a glorious job for a baseball junkie.

And even though the Dukes really weren't all that good that year, I always tried to make the baseball experience one the fans (and, to be honest, the players) enjoyed.

How did I do that?

Simple.

I tried to sound like Bob Casey.

RIP Bob

I always loved it when Bob would announce "Eddie Guadardo." He had a little trouble with non-Anglican last names, but it was just part of his appeal!

It's with sorrow that I sit and consider how many memories of Twins games that I associate with Bob. RIP, Bob.

Sorrowfully,
Just Beth

By the time I got around to being born, Bob Casey had already been the one and only Voice of the Twins for 21 years. Opening Day won't be the same ever again. God bless you, Bob. Thanks for everything.

Mr. Casey will definitely be missed and Twins baseball will definitely not be the same. When I was at TwinsFest, one of the first things I had to do was sign the get well card for Mr. Casey.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Casey family.

We love you and we'll miss you, Mr. Casey!!!

Heavy Hearts - encompass Twins land today -

May you Rest In Peace - Mr. Casey - greener pastures await you

Much Love
Wonder Woman

It just wasn't a Twins game until I heard Bob Casey's voice coming from the speakers. So many great memories. "NO SMOKING!!," him mumbling through the pre-game safety precautions up until "don't throw anyone OR ANYBODY! onto the field!," watching him be woken up by a foul ball straight back that rattles his cage, and most of all, the name mispronounciations. A couple of my favorites were "DAG! Mientkiewicz!" (how someone can mince Doug and not Mientkiewicz was beyond me), and "Hide-key Mat-susi." So often, my strongest memories of a Twins game involve Bob Casey setting the scene. He will be greatly missed.

Man, that stinks. Bob Casey's voice WAS baseball to me. I loved his announcement style. Is there any word on who is going to replace him.

Bob Casey is probably announcing games in the Big Ballpark in the Sky!

My condolences to his family and to all Twins fans everywhere!

I recall his opening admonition to writers and fans- "here are the lineups. Write em down. Now!" Sorry for your troubles, Casey family.

His longevity is especially remarkable...after all, his career predates the Twins by 10 year. Since '51 he was the PA announcer for the Millers at Nicollet Park, a mythic site where a bank now stands.

Along with the classic Kirby intro, I always kinda liked his "Kint Hrbek" one, as if he were trying to do away with the vowell in Hrbek's first name, too.

RIP, Bob. It's going to be so weird to not hear his voice there anymore. It's a sad day. :(

We'll miss you, Bob!!

Twins games won't be the same. Thanks for the years of dedication and memories that will remain in Twins fans hearts forever. Rest in peace Bob!

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright.
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And, somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout,

But there is no joy in Twinsville --
Mighty Casey has signed out.

We'll miss you Bob...

My heart is empty with the news of Bob Casey's death.

I have far to many fond memories of this wonderful man. One of my personal favorites was a game against the Mariners two years ago. When he said his famous "No Smoking" line. He added "And that includes you Bret Boone!!" I laughed so hard and it still makes me smile.

He made Twins games what they are and I know the Twins are going to do him proud this season and bring home that World Championship.

RIP Bob. You will be missed terribly.

Bob Casey's impact on the Twins' community can be seen by how many people have expressed their grief at losing a beloved part of their ballpark experience. There was no one better than Bob Casey and no one who left as much of an impact on the psyche of a region's baseball fans. There isn't a kid in the Midwest who doesn't announce names in the same way as Casey announced Kirby (including myself). I used to step up the "plate" in my backyard, right before hitting the World Series winning home run for the Twins, by announcing my name just like Kirby's. I can't believe that I won't hear Bob Casey at Twins' games this year. No one will ever be able to replace him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, and thank you Batgirl for thinking of offering Casey's fans a chance to send their memories of him to his family.

So sad to read this morning in the Strib about Casey.

RIP o' voice of the beloved Dome-bound-Twins!

Forever thinking of your voice on gameday,

TFD

Condolences to the Casey family.

He will be missed by Twins fans all over the country!

I am sure there is nooooo smokiing up there!

It won't seem like Twins baseball without Bob Casey. A couple of years ago, my son saw him at a Spring Training game. He was talking with Kent Hrbek. My son got his picture taken with both of them. Hrbek and Casey were so polite and funny. They joked with my son and were so great with other fans around the area. My son has the picture on his bulletin board in his dorm room.

My condolences to the family. Twins baseball is forever grateful.

Wow. Going to a home game just won't be the same.

Casey Park has a great ring to it. Much better than {insert ridiculously out of place corporate name here} ballpark.

It's a great tribute to the man, in a day and age when so many stadium announcers are anonymous, that he was a celebrity of sorts. The man didn't upstage the game nor blend in with the all the background noise unknown. He enhanced our enjoyment of the Great American Game and for that, we will be eternally grateful. Thank you, Mr. Casey. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

This is a very sad day for Twins fans. I simply can't imagine going to a home game and not hearing that distinctive voice. He brought so much life to the experience. He will be greatly missed.

My favorite: "If you must smoke, go back to Detroit."

k-bro

The Twins organization will have to add to their current ad campaign. I can see it now: angels with harps, fluffy clouds, St. Peter's gate opens and a light shining down on Bob Casey while the voice over proclaims "This is Twins Territory."

I miss Bob so much already.

My favorite Bob Casey moment came at a Twins Rally when I saw him standing away from the crowd and I asked him to sign my homer hanky and he said "Why on earth do you want my autograph?" I think that's why I loved him so much, he was so humble. He was such a wonderful fixture and I will miss him dearly.

I hope he's calling line-ups somewhere. . .

I will never forget going to Twins games in the late 80's and early 90's, hearing Bob announce Kirby Puckett's name as he came up to bat. In my mind then, just as in my mind now, there is no better, fitter or more exciting way to pronounce his name than that. Bob Casey was the voice of baseball for my youth. Thanks for the wonderful memories.

The tough part of exiling myself to Colorado has been the lack of Twins games on TV. Everytime I;ve found a home game on TV the last couple of years, I've always been fixated on watching Bob in his little (bat?)cave behind home plate. As a former PA and radio announcer myself, I can't think of anyone who's had a spot closer to the action (although I think Bob was down there so he could read the uniform numbers more easily). He was always fascinating to watch as well as listen to.

I like the ring of Bob Casey Park. It had better be no smoking, even if it's outside.

And they need to play a recording of Bob's pregame regardless of who takes the job.

Is there any Casey multimedia out there? I'd love a .wav of the Kirby or noooo smoking call.

My condolences to the Casey family, and the Twins community. As you might expect, I have no personal attachment to Bob Casey, but I fear that my plans to (finally) catch a game at the Dome will be carried out far too late.

bubblemint, I am having trouble putting my thoughts into words, but I shall try: I hope that when I pass, someone puts as much thought into choosing an epitaph as you did in your post. I cannot think of a more appropriate tribute, including oft-favorite baseball poetry. Thank you for sharing that -- it brought tears to my eyes even never having heard Casey.

YankeeFan

Mr. Casey was, above all, a gentleman. I had a chance to meet him last year, 2004, at Twins Fest and, more importantly, to introduce my son to a Legend. Mr. Casey was gentle and gracious, only too happy to shake the hand of a young man that smiled at every Kirrrrrrrrrrbeeeeeee pucket introduction. We've been blessed to have him for so long as part of our Twins fabric.

Going to a Twins game will not be the same without Casey at the mike. I'll miss him, and so will legions of fans all around Twins territory.

When I heard that Bob had returned from Florida and was in the hospital, my heart sank. The news yesterday made me realize that going to the ballpark will never be the same again.

When I returned from Iraq late last September, I came back home on leave. I picked up tickets to the last regular-season game, and listening to Bob work his magic, I finally felt back at home. Still on leave during the playoffs, I was at the Dome for Game 4 of the ALDS. Little did I know that I was witnessing Bob's last official game. How I will cherish that experience for the rest of my life!

I hope St. Peter gives Bob the job of announcing the names of Twins fans as they pass through the Pearly Gates.

Carter Hayes,

>I hope St. Peter gives Bob the job of announcing the names of Twins fans as they pass through the Pearly Gates.

Wow is that ever profound. I hope so too.

Bob Casey - along with Herb and Halsey Hall - will forever be the voices of the Twins to me. Just as Ray Christensen and Julius Perlt are forever voices of Gopher football and basketball. He will truly be missed this season as the Twins win their 4th straight division title and their 3rd world championship.
Thanks for the memories, Bob.

Mr. Casey,

Thank you for making an indoor, air-conditioned bubble into a baseball stadium. You will never be forgotten.

Florida

Bob, safely tucked behind a pearly gate, tests the mic and then announces:

"Now batting, the Apostal Paul!"

God bless and a happy smile for a life wonderfully lived!

They should rename the PA Announcers booth the 'Bob Casey Booth' or something like that

Bob will be missed

Having been a Twins fan for the past 35 years, but living in the Chicago area, I did not have the opportunity to hear Bob's distinctive voice in person at the old Met or at the Dome as often as I would have liked. He is as much a Twins icon as Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, Kent Hrbek, and KIRBYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY PUCKETT! Bob is a legend, not only Twins baseball, but in all of Major League Baseball.

We will miss you, Bob, and will never forget you.

I gotta wonder how many rallys Bob Casey inspired the way he put the extra emphasis in the Twins names. Kirby Puckett probably got 10 extra points on his lifetime batting average because of Casey. He'll definitely be missed and impossible to replace.