Pete van Wieren

Career highlights and roles

Van Wieren began his career in regional broadcasting and became a central figure in Atlanta's sports media. He called play-by-play for baseball and also covered other professional teams in the city. His assignments included announcing games for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA, preseason contests for the Atlanta Falcons, and earlier work with the NHL's Atlanta Flames. In addition to team broadcasts, he was a presence on national cable as part of Turner Sports, where he worked on college football telecasts for TBS and NBA coverage for TNT and TBS.

Broadcasting style and partnerships

Van Wieren was known for a clear, steady play-by-play delivery and a conversational style that appealed to both casual fans and longtime followers. His partnership with Skip Caray formed one of the most recognizable broadcasting duos in Braves history, and together they helped bring the team's games to a national audience during the 1980s and 1990s. Colleagues and listeners often noted his encyclopedic knowledge of the game and his ability to provide context without overpowering the action.

Teams and media outlets

• Atlanta Braves — primary role as play-by-play broadcaster for many seasons.
• Atlanta Hawks — called NBA games at the regional level.
• Atlanta Falcons — provided play-by-play for preseason football.
• Atlanta Flames — early-career work in NHL broadcasting.
• Turner Sports — contributor to TBS and TNT for college football and NBA coverage.

Personal background and later life

Born in Rochester, New York, Van Wieren became a fixture in Atlanta after moving into the city's sports scene. He announced his retirement in 2008 following many years on the Braves' broadcast team and after the death of his longtime partner, Skip Caray. In early 2010 he was diagnosed with lymphoma, a development he and his family made public while he continued periodic involvement with the game. Van Wieren died in Atlanta in 2014 at the age of 69.

Legacy and significance

Van Wieren's voice remains part of the memory of an era when the Braves were a national draw on cable television. Fans remember him for the clarity of his play-by-play, his affable presence, and his role in chronicling many of the franchise's pivotal seasons. His work across multiple sports and networks illustrates the versatility required of regional broadcasters who also appear on national platforms.

For more information about broadcasters and Atlanta sports history, see related resources and archives on sportscasting and through regional team histories such as the Braves media records. Additional biographical and career material can be found through collections that document the city's professional teams and the broadcasters who covered them.