March 5, 20233 yr Former White Sox pre game host, and llongtime Rays radio voice, has died. He was only 58. He was great on the pregame, sometimes calling fans drillrods. Many were hoping he would get a White Sox pbp position some day. Apparently had heart issues.. RIP Edited March 5, 20233 yr by Dick Allen
March 5, 20233 yr Stunned at this news. I knew Dave well, he was always generous with his time and advice. Loved the Sox passionately. Wanted badly to become a permanent part of the Sox broadcasting crew but JR would never give final approval (that according to Dave) and he got tired of waiting. Thinking of his family at this time.
March 5, 20233 yr Sad -only 58 with a family. He used to live in the Oak Lawn area, stopped in occasionally at TC's pub on 99th and Cicero. Friendly guy.
March 5, 20233 yr After Rooney and Hagin, one of my favorite radio guys and really embraced the Rays' ride when Chicago never materialized for him.
March 6, 20233 yr My interview with Dave from 2004: https://www.southsidesox.com/2023/3/5/23626564/dave-wills-shares-his-love-for-the-chicago-white-sox-in-this-2004-interview
March 6, 20233 yr https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2023/03/05/rays-radio-dave-wills-dies-andy-freed-stuart-sternberg/ "Before going to the Rays, Wills spent 11 years on the White Sox’s radio team in his native Chicago after starting his play-by-play career with the minor league Kane County Cougars from 1991-95. He also did radio play-by-play for the University of Illinois-Chicago men’s basketball team and assorted other broadcast work. “Dave was the classic Chicago South Sider: friendly, welcoming, big voice, big character, caring and die-hard when it came to his sports,” White Sox communications vice president Scott Reifert said. “The Chicago genes never completely left him, and he was celebrated each time the Rays visited. Dave loved baseball, and his voice and presence will be missed in ballparks and by fans across the major leagues. A sad day.” Edited March 6, 20233 yr by caulfield12
March 6, 20233 yr “Man, he was as big as life. Dave was always a legend in the city of Chicago,” Jackson said. “And he was a good man for the game of baseball. If you had Dave as part of any organization, you’ve got yourself a true warrior going to war with you guys and for you guys. “That’s what I remember most about Dave when he was doing his job. He was there to let the people know the truth. He was there to be honest about the organization. And he wasn’t afraid to go ahead and hold people to task. I loved that about him. He’s going to be missed.”
March 6, 20233 yr 2 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said: My interview with Dave from 2004: https://www.southsidesox.com/2023/3/5/23626564/dave-wills-shares-his-love-for-the-chicago-white-sox-in-this-2004-interview Thank you for sharing the nice article, it helps bring who Dave Wills was to life. My first call to the postgame show was with him and he made me feel like a million bucks on the air as a 6th grader. I’ll never forget it. Edited March 6, 20233 yr by The Beast
March 6, 20233 yr 10 hours ago, Dick Allen said: Former White Sox pre game host, and llongtime Rays radio voice, has died. He was only 58. He was great on the pregame, sometimes calling fans drillrods. Many were hoping he would get a White Sox pbp position some day. Apparently had heart issues.. RIP Sad news. Too young. RIP Dave Wills.
March 6, 20233 yr 15 hours ago, Sambuca said: Exactly. That is literally all you know. Yes the thing I stated I knew about it is the thing I knew about it. Well done
March 6, 20233 yr 1 hour ago, FourEyesShottenhoffer said: Yes the thing I stated I knew about it is the thing I knew about it. Well done My reply was to all of your comments, and your overall message alluding to this being a side effect of the Covid vaccine. I have nothing more to say about this. Have a nice life.
March 6, 20233 yr 55 minutes ago, Sambuca said: My reply was to all of your comments Yes all my comments have been factual. Thanks for acknowledging that
March 6, 20233 yr RIP Dave and condolences to the Wills family, always loved listening to Dave, and his big "White Sox Baseball...........NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXT" lead in on the radio would always fire me up.
March 7, 20233 yr 4 hours ago, JoeCredeYes said: RIP Dave and condolences to the Wills family, always loved listening to Dave, and his big "White Sox Baseball...........NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXT" lead in on the radio would always fire me up. he also did a prerecorded version of that at the park. usually followed by gene honda saying" listen to the postgame on espn radio 1000"
March 7, 20233 yr This is horrible news. I LOVED Dave Wills pre and post game shows. His passion for the Sox was infectious! I listened to a few of his TB Ray broadcasts as well and he was awesome! The Sox should have promoted him, no doubt! May he RIP and my thoughts and prayers are with his family. P.S. nobody hated the Cubs more than Dave Wills. (legend!)
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