Memories of Dave Wills and the Tampa Bay Rays by Luke Knickerbocker
Memories of Tampa Bay Rays’ Beloved Broadcaster Dave Wills
Dave Wills called the baseball games for my beloved Tampa Bay Rays for nearly two decades. I have enjoyed hearing his friendly voice as he would narrate inning after inning throughout the baseball season. Dave Wills and his sidekick Andy Freed have been at it as a dynamic duo for so long, they almost feel like part of our family. I want to share some memories of Tampa Bay Ray’s beloved broadcaster Dave Wills who recently passed away.
My wife Jamie and I were married in Arcadia, Florida on July 22, 2006. We went on a road trip for our honeymoon, and St. Petersburg, Florida was our first stop. As an avid baseball fan, I put a Ray’s game on our itinerary. My new wife and I went to a Rays’ baseball game with our matching Bride and Groom shirts. One of the ushers saw us and gave us two free tickets to come again later that season! We were just starting to make some wonderful memories with our Tampa Bay Ray’s family.
We loved listening to Dave Wills on the radio as newly-weds
When my wife and I got married nearly 17 years ago, we did not own a television. As newly-weds, we would play Scrabble while listening to the baseball game on the radio. While driving, we would often have the Rays game on and hear Dave and Andy calling the play-by-play action on WDAE 620 AM. Their exuberance was contagious, and I would add it became addictive!
We quickly became accustomed to having their voices in the background, whether in our living room or car. Dave and Andy had became a normal part of our life during baseball season. It sounds crazy to admit, but even while we were at the birthing center awaiting our daughter Abigail to be born on July 1, 2010, we had the Ray’s game on the radio! (And yes, we won the game too!) Little did we know how Dave Wills was impacting our family as he became part of our family’s most memorable moments.
Dave Wills turned magical moments into lasting memories.
From their inaugural season, the Rays went from being non-competitive to being perennial contenders in the American League East. You could count on Dave and Andy being in their place year after year, making it more fun to jump on the fan “band wagon”. In 2008, times were tough economically, and I was let go from a job. I found another one shortly after, but transition can be difficult for young families. But that October, some precious memories were made as we had our second son born and the Rays went to their first World Series! I never grew tired of hearing Dave after a victory bellow out the words, “And this one is in the WIN column!”
Even when our family moved around the country, we could still tune in to hear Dave and Andy’s familiar voices. When we had moved from Florida to Texas in 2011, we felt at home as we heard the epic call of Evan Longoria’s walk-off home run against the Yankees to clinch to move on in the Post Season.
Dave Wills and Andy Freed were there during some tough times.
The year 2020 will always be remembered for the lockdowns and chaos brought by the corona virus. It had been a shortened season, and our family was serving as missionaries in Nepal, Asia at the time. We had been severely restricted due to the government’s rules. But keeping up with the Rays daily all season was a breath of fresh air. For the second time, our Rays overcame all odds by returning to the World Series. Riding the emotional rollercoaster with our team while living on the other side of the world was a nice mental break from all the madness at the time.
I think sports is one of those outlets that allow you to take a break from the seriousness and demands of life. It has been so much fun to experience so many special moments in the last 18 years with our radio companions alongside us by proxy. At the time, you don’t realize how much someone you can’t see and haven’t met can add so much to your life and even help make lasting memories!
Now I get to make Ray’s memories with my sons
A couple years ago, our family moved to South Tampa. I try to get out to a Ray’s game at least once or twice a season. A couple years ago, I saw on the news that a highly touted rookie was making his big league debut against the Red Sox! I had to go witness history! That night, Wander Franco hit his first homerun, and it was exhilarating to watch with my sons. Even though we lost that game, we still had some memories to take with us. As Dave would often say after a tough loss, “Thank you for listening to the broadcast. We hope you enjoyed the game, in spite of the outcome.”
On March 4, 2023, as I was driving from Lakeland to Tampa, I was able to tune in to my first preseason baseball game of the year. Dave and Andy were back on and it was just like old times! It was a very exciting game against our rival Yankees. I checked the score later and learned that we ended up with a solid win. But little did anyone know that it would be the last time we would get to hear Dave Will’s call a baseball game.
As I saw the report come out that he had just passed away the following morning, I was shocked! It felt similar to losing a friend or relative. I had heard so many interesting stories by Dave and Andy and had grown attached to them. They had become synonymous with Ray’s baseball. It will definitely be different listening to games from now on. But one thing in particular has given me comfort, making the news of his passing a little more sweet than bitter.
A lasting memory with Dave Wills
Two weeks ago, our family attended the FanFest at Tropicana Field in St. Pete, Florida. We had stopped by the WDAE radio booth and saw Ronnie and TKras. I asked them if Dave and Andy were around, but they said that they were present somewhere in the building. I was so excited when I found Dave Wills doing an interview on the stage. Our family decided to stay around until they finished. When Dave exited the platform, I called out, “Mr. Wills!” When I finally got his attention, he stopped to talk with me for a few minutes. I shared some of the aforementioned memories with and told him how thankful I was for his work behind the microphone all these years.
I shared with Dave Wills how meaningful his broadcasts had been and how he and Andy had become part of some of our family memories. It appeared to me that he teared up a bit while I thanked him for his impact. I imagine that it’s rare for someone in the radio business to hear how meaningful they are to so many people listening to them.
What I gave Dave Wills two weeks before he passed away
Before we parted ways, I got a picture with Dave. I offered him a gospel tri-fold brochure that I have written titled: Five Facts that Everyone Must Know: Your Eternity Depends on it! Inside the tract, I retell some of the most important Bible stories and connect them together like dot-to-dot to show the picture of God’s purpose for mankind. It tells of Creation, Man’s Fall, and God’s love of sending Jesus to this earth. It tells of the Gospel of how Jesus died in our place for our sin and rose again. With Christ as our personal Savior, we may be prepared to enter eternity.
Mr. Wills gratefully received the paper and we went our separate ways. How could either of us know that in two weeks he would take his last breath while asleep. I hope that in some small way, this paper was a help to Dave. We all have an appointment with death. There are many questions we all have, and God’s Word has the answers!
My friend, you still have the opportunity to prepare for your eternity. Please take the time to read the paper that I shared with Dave Wills two weeks before his passing. Nobody is guaranteed to live tomorrow. Make peace with God today while there is still hope! Click here to read the tract I gave Dave Wills.
Dave’s memory lives on
Though Rays’ baseball games will sound just a little different in 2023 without Dave’s voice, we will go on! May each day be lived more purposefully as we remember our friend Dave Wills. Make everyday count and treasure the relationships you have. Hey, even take in a trip to Tropicana Field a time or two! I’ll still be listening to my radio and cheering on my team. Dave’s memory will live on as each time we win, I’ll be reminded of Dave enthusiastically saying, “Rays win! Rays win! Rays win!”
Thank you Dave, and Go Rays!
Memories of Dave Wills Tampa Bay Rays is written by Luke Knickerbocker, Bible Teacher and Author Ministry Website: www.PilgrimofTruth.com Works at Southside Baptist Academy Serves at Southside Baptist Church 3911 W. Bay Avenue, Tampa, Florida
Learn more about how to have eternal life by watching this special message about the Needs of the Wealthy from the series Free Indeed: True Stories of People Who Met Jesus.
