Roy Steele, who worked as the A’s public address announcer at the Oakland Coliseum for close to 40 years, has died.
“We mourn the loss of “The Voice of God,” Roy Steele, who passed away today at his home,” the A’s said in a statement. “As the PA voice of the A’s for nearly four decades, his booming baritone filled the Coliseum from the Mustache Gang to Billy Ball, the Bash Brothers and Moneyball. Beloved by all, he touched the lives of generations of A’s fans. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Before Steele ever graced A’s fans with his smooth, authoritative voice he had compiled a robust body of work.
According to whitecleatbeat.com, Steele was a Baptist minister for 17 years. He worked at Marine World Africa USA, then based in Redwood City, introducing water ski acts. He was a disc jockey. For a time worked at a park and rec department.
Steele and the A’s hit Oakland about the same time, in the late 1960s. Team owner Charlie Finley was looking for a public address announcer. Steele got the job without having to audition.
Neither Finley nor Steele knew what lay in store for them. The A’s won five consecutive division titles in the early 1970s, winning three World Series. Finley sold the team in 1980, just as the A’s were becoming one of the premier teams in the majors. Manager Tony La Russa guided the team to four postseason appearances in five years, including a World Series championship. Through the highs and lows, Steele was a soothing constant for generations of A’s fans. Along the way, Steele sprinkled some personality over the proceedings. As with his play-by-play on the scoreboard dot racing competitions that were all the rage in the ’80s.
Once in 2004 when the A’s were really rolling Steele intoned at the end of yet another triumph: “An 11-1 home stand,” he marveled. “Who are these guys, anyway?”
For years showed up for work most every day. He called more then 3,000 games (1,093 consecutive between June 1990 and April 2004). He missed the 2006 season and worked when he could in 2007-08 before missing the 2009 season.
Eventually he was diagnosed with achalasia, a rare disorder of the esophagus. Eventually he had to turn the mic to Dick Callahan the well-known voice of Bay Area athletics. Callahan took the job somewhat reluctantly.
“It’s Roy’s job,” he said in 2006. “I’m just minding it. He has a magnificent voice, a great delivery. “He’s absolutely a legend.”
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Author: Gary Peterson