Marylanders Celebrate Chuck Thompson's Life

BALTIMORE -- Marylanders are remembering one of the greatest voices in sports broadcast history.

Chuck Thompson suffered a stroke Saturday in the bedroom of his home in Timonium. He called for his wife Betty, and according to doctors at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, the main vessel supplying blood to Thompson's brain burst.

He died early Sunday morning with his entire family by his side. He was 83.

On Monday, Baltimore City Mayor Martin O'Malley ordered the Baltimore City flag lowered to half-staff to honor Thompson.

The mayor released a statement Monday afternoon, saying: "With the passing of Chuck Thompson, the city of Baltimore has lost a son, and the sports community has lost an icon. The voice of the Baltimore Orioles and the Baltimore Colts, treasured by thousands over the years, is now silent. But the memory of Chuck Thompson will live on in our hearts and in the spirit of our city."

Thompson played sports in high school. In his book "Ain't The Beer Cold," Thompson credits shaking hands with Lady Luck for his broadcast career.

O'Malley hopes Thompson's family will take comfort and pride in knowing that Thompson was dearly loved by the region's sports fans.

"Today, in Baltimore, the beer's a little warmer," O'Malley said.

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Listen: Tribute To Thompson's Career (WBAL Radio)
Listen: Thompson's Love Of The Fans (WBAL Radio)
Images: Thompson Memories In Pictures

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Thompson was also the voice of the Baltimore Colts for nearly 30 years. He called several championship games for the Colts, but did not go with the team when they moved to Indianapolis.

In 1993, Thompson was the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annual to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball."

"Chuck could have taken his talent anywhere, but he loved Baltimore, and Baltimore loved him back," O'Malley said.

Thompson forever fielded questions from fans about his favorite broadcasting memories. Not wanting to slight anyone or hurt anyone's feelings, he rarely, if ever, would call one play or one player his favorite, WBAL-TV 11 News Sports Director Gerry Sandusky reported.

Ironically, as we remember Thompson, nearly everyone has a favorite memory of the legend.

"My whole career, my whole professional life was Baltimore." - Chuck Thompson in a recorded TV interview

"Obviously this is very bad news," said Orioles great Cal Ripken. "Like everyone who grew up in Baltimore, my memories of Chuck are too many to count. He was one of the most recognizable voices in sports and a broadcasting legend. More importantly, he's a very good man who has been a fixture in our town for as long as I can remember."

"I'm going to miss him very much. He was somebody we grew up with -- we took our transistor radios to bed with him, we lived and died on Sunday afternoons with the (then-Baltimore) Colts, so many evenings and afternoons with the Orioles. He became a friend over the years, we're going to miss him very much," Gov. Bob Ehrlich said.

"We have lost a wonderful man. Connie and I loved Chuck very much and we will miss him. I was with him three weeks ago, and that voice has never changed. He was the best and meant so much to Baltimore. My prayers and thoughts are with his family at this sad time," said former Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson.

Bill Hughes, who met Chuck Thompson when the legend first came to Baltimore around 1949.

"The old International Orioles played here, and I remember I was about 12 or 13 years old, and Chuck came out of this wooden box, and that's where he did his game from, and he needed somebody to go get him cigarettes. I got them for him, brought them back with his change, and he said, 'keep the change.' And I was like, wow," Hughes said.

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11 Sports Remembers Chuck Thompson Kate Amara Reports: Fans, Colleagues Remember Thompson Gerry Sandusky Reports: Gov, Brooks Robinson Remember Thompson

Those who worked with Thompson in the press box, like Chuck Schevitz, remembered how the legend treated everyone, WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Kate Amara reported.

"If you want to talk O's, you calk Chuck Thompson first, then you talk O's," said Thomas Greene Sr., a Camden Yards security guard.

"In the press box, he treated everyone the same -- whether you sat in the first row or the last row. It was real thrilling to have Chuck Thompson talk to you. He treated everyone like friend and everyone was important to him," Schevitz said.

And fans alike hold Thompson in high regard.

"He was like a father to us," said Barry Simon, an Orioles fan.

The Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum has a microphone, championship ring and cap on display in remembrance of Thompson.

"Chuck always had a cap on, because he was bald, he didn't have a lot going on with the hair. So, we thought it was really appropriate to put (a cap out) in the exhibit," said Mike Gibbons, a representative of the Babe Ruth Museum.

The museum also plans to show tapes of Thompson's play-by-play broadcasts in addition to other memorabilia, Amara reported.

"My whole career, my whole professional life was Baltimore," Thompson said, in a recorded interview.

A memorial Mass will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. The family is planning a private funeral, and there will be no public viewing.

Thompson is survived by his wife, a son and daughter and eight grandchildren.

Watch: WBAL-TV 11 will broadcast the services LIVE on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Stay with TheWBALChannel.com and WBAL-TV 11 News for the latest news updates.

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