This has been a tragic week for former announcers in the industry.
The longtime voice of the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels tragically lost his life earlier this week.
Steve Klauke passed away on Tuesday morning, having just retired from being the Salt Lake Bees’ announcer last September.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Klauke was hit by a pickup truck while crossing the street at the crosswalk on a green light on Monday night. He was hospitalized and, unfortunately, would later succumb to his injuries overnight.
“Steve Klauke was a dedicated longtime employee and world-class broadcaster,” Larry H. Miller Company co-founder and owner Gail Miller said in a statement. “Steve will forever be remembered as ‘the voice of the Bees’ and holds a special place in our hearts. We will always treasure and honor the immeasurable impact he had on the sports community in Utah and beyond.”
After a remarkable 29-year run as the Bees’ announcer, Klauke, a three-time Utah Sportscaster of the Year, didn’t hang up his mic. He remained active, lending his voice to Weber State University football and men’s basketball games.
Beyond his highly respected and lengthy career with the Bees, where he became a Minor League Baseball mainstay, Klauke also lent his voice to Major League Baseball games, calling games for both the Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays.
“Steve was one of the best voices in sports, and he was a dear friend,” former Bees president Marc Amicone told MLB.com. “I will cherish the countless hours we spent together at the ballpark where I got to watch and listen to him do what he loved so much.”
Klauke is survived by his wife, Sue, and their children, Adam and Lisa.
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.